Standard Tuning for 5-String Banjo
Strings run G4 D3 G3 B3 D4, in playing order. Tune by microphone below, or read the exact frequencies and what changes from standard banjo tuning.
| # | Note | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | G4 | 392.00 |
| 4 | D3 | 146.83 |
| 3 | G3 | 196.00 |
| 2 | B3 | 246.94 |
| 1 | D4 | 293.66 |
Pitch is detected live in your browser and never recorded, stored or uploaded. Frequencies use A4 = 440 Hz.
Getting to Open G (5-String) from standard
This is the reference tuning for Banjo, so nothing changes. Every other tuning on this site is described relative to these notes.
Why players use Open G (5-String)
Open G, so the strings ring a G major chord untouched. The fifth string is the short drone that starts at the fifth fret and is pitched above its neighbours — the reason banjo tab is written the way it is and why rolls sound the way they do.
The interval structure of Open G (5-String)
The strings ring an open G major, and the fifth string is the anomaly that shapes everything about the instrument. It starts at the fifth fret rather than the nut and is pitched higher than its immediate neighbours, so it functions as a fixed drone rather than a bass string. Rolls — the repeating right-hand patterns that define bluegrass banjo — exist because that drone recurs naturally within any sequence of adjacent strings. Tablature lists it first by convention despite it being the highest sounding open string, which is a persistent source of confusion for players arriving from guitar.
Worth knowing: The listed order is fifth string first. It is a high G despite being the string closest to your thumb.
Open G (5-String) tuning FAQ
What are the notes in Open G (5-String) tuning for Banjo?
Open G (5-String) runs G4, D3, G3, B3, D4, in playing order. The lowest-pitched string is D3 (146.83 Hz) and the highest is G4 (392.00 Hz), measured against A4 = 440 Hz. Those are the exact target frequencies the tuner on this page listens for.
How do I get to Open G (5-String) tuning from standard?
Nothing to change — this is the reference tuning for Banjo. If your instrument is already in tune, you're there.
What is Open G (5-String) tuning used for?
Open G, so the strings ring a G major chord untouched. The fifth string is the short drone that starts at the fifth fret and is pitched above its neighbours — the reason banjo tab is written the way it is and why rolls sound the way they do.
What frequency is the D3 string?
D3 is 146.83 Hz at concert pitch (A4 = 440 Hz). That's the fundamental — the string also produces harmonics above it, which is why a tuner reading the wrong octave usually means it locked onto a harmonic rather than the fundamental. This is the lowest string in this banjo tuning.
How is Open G (5-String) tuning structured?
The strings ring an open G major, and the fifth string is the anomaly that shapes everything about the instrument. It starts at the fifth fret rather than the nut and is pitched higher than its immediate neighbours, so it functions as a fixed drone rather than a bass string. Rolls — the repeating right-hand patterns that define bluegrass banjo — exist because that drone recurs naturally within any sequence of adjacent strings. Tablature lists it first by convention despite it being the highest sounding open string, which is a persistent source of confusion for players arriving from guitar.
Do I need different strings for Open G (5-String)?
The listed order is fifth string first. It is a high G despite being the string closest to your thumb.
Tune it by ear, with a meter.
The tuner above snaps to this tuning's strings — no app, no sign-up.
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