Free 5-String Banjo Tuner
Tune your 5-string banjo online. Supports Open G (standard), Double C, and Sawmill/Mountain Minor tunings.
Banjo (5-string) String Reference
Open G / Standard (gDGBD) tuning frequencies:
| String | Note | Octave | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | G | 4 | 392.00 Hz |
| 4 | D | 3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 3 | G | 3 | 196.00 Hz |
| 2 | B | 3 | 246.94 Hz |
| 1 | D | 4 | 293.66 Hz |
How to Tune Your Banjo (5-string)
Standard 5-string banjo tuning is Open G: g D G B D. The short 5th string (drone) starts at the 5th fret and is tuned to high G. When strummed open, the banjo plays a G major chord.
- 1Click 'Start Tuning' and allow microphone access
- 2Start with the 4th string (longest, closest to you) - tune to D (146.83 Hz)
- 3Tune the 3rd string to G (196 Hz)
- 4Tune the 2nd string to B (246.94 Hz)
- 5Tune the 1st string to D (293.66 Hz)
- 6Finally, tune the short 5th string to high G (392 Hz)
- 7Strum all strings - they should ring as a G major chord
Frequently Asked Questions
Standard 5-string banjo tuning is Open G: g-D-G-B-D. The lowercase 'g' indicates the short 5th string, which is tuned to G4 (392 Hz). This tuning forms a G major chord when strummed open.
Double C tuning is g-C-G-C-D. It's popular for clawhammer and old-time music. The open strings form a C chord. It's called 'Double C' because the 4th and 2nd strings are both tuned to C.
The short 5th string starts at the 5th fret and acts as a drone - it rings throughout playing and is rarely fretted. This drone string is essential to the banjo's characteristic sound in both bluegrass and clawhammer styles.
Sawmill (or Mountain Minor) tuning is g-D-G-C-D. It's similar to Open G but with a C on the 2nd string instead of B, creating a modal or minor sound. It's common in old-time Appalachian music.