Free Online Banjo Tuner
Tune a 5-string, 4-string tenor, or banjolele. Play each string into your mic to see the closest note, the exact Hz, and whether you are sharp or flat.
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How to Tune Your Banjo
- Click Start Tuner and allow microphone access.
- Pick the tuning that matches your instrument — Open G for a standard 5-string.
- Pluck one string at a time and let it ring clearly. Remember the short 5th string is a high drone.
- The highlighted card shows the closest string. The cents meter shows how sharp or flat you are.
- When the meter centers on green (within ±5 cents), the string is in tune. Repeat for all strings.
Standard 5-String Banjo Tuning (Open G)
| String | Note | Frequency | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 (g) | G4 | 392.00 Hz | Short drone string — high G, rarely fretted |
| 4 (D) | D3 | 146.83 Hz | Lowest main string, deep and driving |
| 3 (G) | G3 | 196.00 Hz | Middle string, the tonic of open G |
| 2 (B) | B3 | 246.94 Hz | The major third that gives open G its sound |
| 1 (D) | D4 | 293.66 Hz | Highest main string, bright and ringing |
Banjo Alternate Tunings
Old-time and bluegrass players retune for different keys and moods. See the target pitches and Hz for each.
Double C (gCGCD)
Use: Old-time fiddle tunes in C — a sweet, open sound
Examples: Angeline the Baker, Over the Waterfall
Sawmill / Mountain Minor (gDGCD)
Use: Modal mountain tunes — the classic clawhammer tuning
Examples: Shady Grove, Cluck Old Hen
D Tuning (f#DF#AD)
Use: Bluegrass tunes in D, popularized by Earl Scruggs
Examples: Reuben's Train, Home Sweet Home
Tenor Banjo (CGDA)
Use: 4-string tenor banjo — jazz and Dixieland standard
Examples: Irish and early jazz repertoire
Banjolele vs Banjo — Which Tuning Do You Need?
A banjolele (banjo ukulele) looks like a tiny banjo but is tuned like a ukulele: G4, C4, E4, A4 in standard re-entrant tuning. It has only four strings. A 5-string banjo uses open G (gDGBD), and a 4-string tenor banjo uses CGDA. Pick the preset that matches your instrument, or simply pluck a string and read the note name — the tuner detects any pitch chromatically.
5-String Banjo
gDGBD
4-String Tenor
CGDA
Banjolele
GCEA
Banjo Tuning Tips
Banjos have unique tuning quirks — the drone string, the head, and the bridge all matter.
Don't forget the 5th string
The short 5th string is a high G4, not a low note. Tune it first — it is easy to overlook and throws off the whole open-G sound if it is flat.
Pluck firmly and cleanly
The banjo head resonates and produces overtones. A firm, clean pluck near the bridge gives the tuner the clearest fundamental to lock onto.
Retune for the key
Old-time players often switch between open G, Double C, and Sawmill tuning to match fiddle tunes. Use the preset buttons to retune quickly.
Check intonation at the bridge
If the tuner reads in tune open but chords sound sharp up the neck, your bridge placement may be off. A compensated bridge helps intonation.
Change strings regularly
Banjo strings go dull and lose intonation faster than guitar strings under heavy picking. Change them every 2–3 months of regular playing.
Re-check after the head settles
A new or freshly tightened head drifts as it settles. Tune, play for 10 minutes, then re-check before performing.
Banjo Tuner FAQ
Standard tuning for a 5-string bluegrass banjo is open G, written gDGBD from the short 5th string to the 1st string: G4, D3, G3, B3, D4. The 5th string is a high drone tuned to G4.
The 5th string is a drone string that starts at the 5th fret, so it is much shorter and tuned to a high G4. It provides the ringing drone of bluegrass and old-time playing and is rarely fretted.
A banjolele (banjo ukulele) is tuned like a ukulele, not a banjo: G4, C4, E4, A4 in standard re-entrant tuning. It has four strings and a banjo-style body.
Standard tenor banjo is tuned CGDA: C3, G3, D4, A4. Irish tenor players often use GDAE (G2, D3, A3, E4), the same as a violin or mandolin one octave lower.
Beyond open G (gDGBD), common tunings include Double C (gCGCD) for old-time fiddle tunes, Sawmill or Mountain Minor (gDGCD) for modal tunes, and D tuning (f#DF#AD) popularized by Earl Scruggs.
Both often use open G, but clawhammer players frequently retune to modal tunings like Sawmill (gDGCD) and Double C (gCGCD). Clawhammer is a down-striking rhythm style; bluegrass uses three-finger rolls.
Banjo strings produce strong overtones and the head resonates, which can confuse the tuner. Pluck firmly and let the note ring. The short 5th string reads as high G4 — do not confuse it with the 3rd string G3.
Yes. The preset buttons include Open G, Double C, Sawmill, and D tuning, and the tuner detects any pitch chromatically — so it also works for CGDA tenor banjo or GCEA banjolele.
Ready to Tune Your Banjo?
Click the button below to jump back to the tuner, allow microphone access, and get in tune in under a minute.
Open Banjo Tuner