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Banjo tuning

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. The short 5th string is tuned high, an octave above the 3rd, and the open strings ring a G major chord. Tap a string to hear it.

Tap a string to hear its note, then tune yours to match.

How the banjo is tuned

The 5th string starts at the 5th fret and is mostly a drone, played open by the thumb. It is tuned high, G4, so the strings do not run from low to high, and it rings over everything else.

Open G is the tuning of bluegrass and most banjo music. Old-time players retune to double C, open D or G modal for tunes in other keys, and a capo with a spike for the 5th string moves any of them up.

Banjo string notes

Each open string in standard tuning, from the 1st to the 5th, with the frequency a tuner looks for.

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

Every other note’s frequency is on the note frequency chart.

How to tune a banjo by ear

Tune one string to a tuner or its button above, and the others follow from it.

  1. Tune the 3rd string to G3 (196 Hz), against a tuner or the 3rd string’s button above.
  2. Play the 4th string at the 5th fret, G, and tune it until that note matches the open 3rd string.
  3. Play the 3rd string at the 4th fret, B, and tune the open 2nd string to match it.
  4. Play the 2nd string at the 3rd fret, D, and tune the open 1st string to match it.
  5. Play the 1st string at the 5th fret, G, and tune the open 5th string to match it.

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

To tune with your mic instead, use the banjo tuner.

Banjo tunings

Each tuning’s notes in string order, and when it is used. Pick one above to hear its strings.

Banjo tunings: the notes of each, in string order, and when it is used
TuningNotesUsed for
Open GG D G B DThe five-string banjo in bluegrass and most other styles.
Double CG C G C DOld-time clawhammer tunes in C, and in D with a capo at the 2nd fret.
Open DF♯ D F♯ A DSongs in D, ringing a D major chord on the open strings.
G modal (sawmill)G D G C DOld-time modal tunes: the open strings ring neither major nor minor.
Tenor banjoC G D AThe four-string tenor banjo in jazz and Dixieland: a viola’s notes.
Irish tenor banjoG D A EThe tenor banjo in Irish music: a fiddle’s notes an octave lower.

Questions about banjo tuning

What are the notes of the banjo strings?

In open G, G D G B D, from the 5th string to the 1st: G4 D3 G3 B3 D4. The 5th string’s G is an octave above the 3rd’s.

Why is the banjo’s 5th string tuned high?

It is a short drone string that starts at the 5th fret. Tuned to a high G, the thumb plays it between melody notes and it rings over every chord in G.

What is double C tuning on a banjo?

G C G C D, from the 5th string to the 1st: the 4th string down a whole step to C and the 2nd up a half step to C. It suits old-time tunes in C, and in D with a capo at the 2nd fret.

How is a tenor banjo tuned?

A four-string tenor banjo is tuned C G D A, like a viola, for jazz. In Irish music it is tuned G D A E, a fiddle’s notes an octave lower.

More instrument tunings

Guitar tuning

E A D G B E

Standard, drop D, open G, DADGAD and ten more, each to hear.

Ukulele tuning

G C E A

Standard, low G, baritone and D tuning, with the high G explained.

Bass guitar tuning

E A D G

4-string, 5-string, 6-string and drop D, from the low B up.

Mandolin tuning

G D A E

G D A E in four pairs, like a violin, plus mandola and octave.

Violin tuning

G D A E

Four strings in fifths from the A at 440 Hz, plus cross tunings.

Viola tuning

C G D A

A violin’s G, D and A with a low C in place of the E.

Cello tuning

C G D A

The viola’s four notes an octave lower, down to C2 at 65 Hz.

Every instrument’s standard tuning, side by side, is on the tunings page.

Play along in G major

Open the free editor with a beat in G major playing, tune up 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 tunings

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