Free Online Banjo Tuner
Tune your 5-string banjo to Open G (g D G B D) in seconds. Use your microphone for real-time tuning, or tap any string to hear its pitch and tune by ear. Free and works on any device.
Standard tuning: g D G B DHow to tune a banjo
You can tune your banjo two ways with this tool: in real time with your microphone, or by ear with the reference tones. Here is the microphone method, step by step.
- Tap Tune with microphone and allow access when your browser asks. On a phone, hold the microphone near your banjo.
- Play a single string and let it ring clearly.
- Read the big note display. It shows the note you are playing, and the needle shows how many cents sharp or flat you are.
- Turn the tuning peg slowly until the needle sits in the centre and the readout turns green, which means the string is in tune.
- Repeat for each string (g D G B D). Prefer to tune by ear? Tap any string on the tuner to hear its exact pitch.
Banjo tuning notes and frequencies
The 5-string banjo is most often tuned to Open G. Here are the exact notes and frequencies for standard g D G B D tuning.
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 5th string (g, drone) | G4 | 392.00 Hz |
| 4th string | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 3rd string | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| 2nd string | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
| 1st string | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
Banjo tuner: frequently asked questions
What tuning is a 5-string banjo in?
The most common 5-string banjo tuning is Open G, written g, D, G, B, D. Played open, the strings sound a G major chord. The notes are G4 on the short 5th string, then D3, G3, B3 and D4 on strings 4 through 1.
What are the banjo string notes?
In standard Open G tuning the notes are: 5th string G4 (392.00 Hz), 4th string D3 (146.83 Hz), 3rd string G3 (196.00 Hz), 2nd string B3 (246.94 Hz) and 1st string D4 (293.66 Hz).
Why is the banjo 5th string higher than the others?
The 5th string is a short drone string with its tuning peg set at the 5th fret. In Open G it is tuned to a high G4, higher in pitch than the 4th and 3rd strings, and it usually rings as a high drone while you play.
What does Open G tuning mean on a banjo?
Open G means the open strings together form a G major chord. Strum all five open strings in g, D, G, B, D tuning and you hear G major, which is why so much bluegrass and clawhammer playing is built around the key of G.
How do I tune a banjo with this online tuner?
Allow microphone access, play one string at a time and watch the display. It shows the note and whether you are sharp or flat. Turn each peg until the needle centres and the readout turns green. You can also tap any string to hear its reference pitch and tune by ear.
What are some other common banjo tunings?
Besides Open G, players also use Double C (g, C, G, C, D), G modal or mountain minor (g, D, G, C, D) and Open D (f#, D, F#, A, D). Open G is the standard starting point and the tuning most lessons assume.
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