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Banjo tuner

Tap Start tuner, allow the microphone and play one string. The tuner lights the string it hears and says tune up or tune down until it reads In tune. A five-string banjo is tuned to open G, G D G B D from the 5th string to the 1st: G4 D3 G3 B3 D4.

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Open G tuning

Tap Start tuner, then play a string

G D G B D, tuned to A4 at 440 Hz.

The tuner picks the string it hears. Tap a string to hear its note and tune to that one.

The mic is on only while the tuner is, and what it hears stays in this browser.

How to tune a banjo with the tuner

Start the tuner

Tap Start tuner and allow the microphone. Hold your phone or computer close to the banjo, in a quiet room.

Play one string

Play the 5th string open and let it ring. The tuner lights the string it hears and shows how far off it is.

Turn until it reads In tune

If it says tune up, tighten the string with its tuning peg; if it says tune down, loosen it. Turn a little at a time and play the string again.

Check every string again

Tune the others the same way, then check them all once more: tuning one string pulls a little on the rest.

A string tuned up to its note holds its pitch better, so if one is sharp, go a little below the note and come back up to it.

Banjo string notes

Each open string in standard tuning, from the 1st to the 5th, with the frequency the tuner tunes it to.

Banjo tuning: each string’s note and frequency, with A4 at 440 Hz
StringNoteFrequency
1stD4293.66 Hz
2ndB3246.94 Hz
3rdG3196 Hz
4thD3146.83 Hz
5thG4392 Hz

How to tune by ear, one string against another, is on the banjo tuning page.

Questions about tuning a banjo

How do I tune the banjo’s short 5th string?

To G4, an octave above the 3rd string’s G3: the tuner lights the 5th string when you play it. If it lights another, tap the 5th string above and it measures against G4.

How do I tune a banjo with my phone?

Open this page on your phone, tap Start tuner and allow the microphone, then play one string at a time close to the phone. There is nothing to install, and it works the same on a computer with a mic.

Why does the tuner show the wrong string?

It names the string nearest the note it hears, so a string tuned far off can read as the one beside it. Tap the string you are tuning and the tuner measures against that string, whatever it hears; tap it again to let the tuner pick.

Why doesn’t the tuner hear my banjo?

Check that the browser has allowed the microphone, play close to it in a quiet room and let the string ring. A phone’s mic hears low strings faintly, so play those a little louder.

Is my sound recorded or sent anywhere?

No. The tuner listens in your browser and works out the pitch on your device. Nothing is recorded, saved or sent, and it stops listening when you tap Stop tuner or leave the page.

More tuners

Guitar tuner

E A D G B E

Standard, drop D, open G, DADGAD and ten more.

Bass tuner

E A D G

4-string, 5-string with a low B, drop D and 6-string.

Ukulele tuner

G C E A

Standard G C E A, low G, baritone and D tuning.

Violin tuner

G D A E

G D A E, with the A at 440 Hz, and two cross tunings.

Viola tuner

C G D A

C G D A, a fifth below a violin.

Cello tuner

C G D A

C G D A, an octave below a viola.

Mandolin tuner

G D A E

G D A E like a violin, mandola and octave mandolin.

For any other instrument or your voice, use the chromatic online tuner.

Play along in G major

Tuned up? Open the free editor with a beat in G major playing and play your banjo along with it, then add a melody or your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Start a beatAll tuners

Keep going