After you’ve bought the best banjo strings for your instrument, it’s time to learn how to tune it correctly. Just like any other instrument, the banjo can get out of tune and when this happens, it simply won’t sound good. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, knowing how to tune your banjo is a must and here, we are going to give you some tips on how to do it.
The importance of being in tune
Tuning your instrument is an essential skill you should acquire as a musician. Even if you are new to the world of banjos, you should know by now that there will come a time when you’ll have to tune your 4,5, or 6-string companion.
Many instruments, including banjos, come directly set up when you purchase them. But these settings will not last forever and, the more you play the instrument, the closer you get to having to tune it yourself. The default setup for banjos is usually the Open G tuning and we are going to talk later about it and other tuning options.
The strings of this instrument get out of tune quite easily and when this happens, the banjo will stop providing the sound you seek. For this reason, it’s important to know how to tune the banjo and also to check it regularly to see if it needs tuning.
Furthermore, if you are not playing solo, but with a band, it’s crucial to know how to tune your banjo because you have to make it fit the tune of the other instruments in the band; otherwise, your overall sound will be affected.
How are the strings numbered?
This is one of the first things you will learn when starting to tune your banjo. The strings are not numbered in the typical order from one to five. The order is given by the way you hold the banjo when you play it. The string that is closest to the ground is the first one. This coincides with the 5th physical string and it is also called the top string.
The fourth string is the one that produces the lowest note. For this reason, it is also called the bottom string. Another thing you should know is that each string has a different thickness and this is called a gauge.
How to tune a 5-string banjo?
When you are tuning your banjo, you are basically adjusting each string of the instrument by rotation. This way, each string will produce a different note as you rotate the tuning peg. Normally, you don’t need to turn the peg a lot in order to adjust the tuning. Turn it bit by bit as you play the banjo to test the sound.
There are different ways of tuning a banjo. The most common one is the Open G tuning, but this isn’t the only method. There is also the Double-C tuning and other options. Moreover, as you gain more experience in playing this instrument, you can even come up with new tuning methods and experiment with them.
The type of tuning method you choose will also vary based on the banjo you play. This instrument can have a different number of strings and the tuning has to be done accordingly. The most common type of banjo is the one with five strings. Therefore, we will quickly walk you through the main steps of tuning a 5-string banjo in Open G – the most common tuning pattern.
The Open G
This model means that the instrument will be tuned according to an open G chord. With this tuning method, when you strum the instrument and you don’t finger any of its strings, you will basically play a G chord. G, D, G, B, D is the order of the notes for this tuning method that starts from the 5th string and progresses to the 1st one.
The G tuning is the standard tuning for banjos. When you use this tuning and you play all the instrument’s strings at once, you will get a G major chord.
The Double C
This type of tuning implies that you tune two of the instrument’s strings in C. The order is the following G, C, G, C, D. This type of tuning is predominant in Old Times compositions.
The C tuning
Another name for this tuning is the ‘Drop C’. The order is G, C, G, B, D. This name suggests there is a drop in comparison with the Open G tuning that sees the D on the 4th string. In the C tuning, this drops down to a C.
The G Modal
The G Modal tuning follows the pattern G, D, G, C, D. This model resembles the popular G tuning. The difference is that the second string is a C in the G Modal tuning. Moreover, this tuning method is based on a Gsus4 chord.
The third of the G chord is no longer present in this tuning and this creates ambiguity as it is hard to distinguish whether you are listening to a minor or a major chord. At the same time, this gives the sound a modal note, which makes it special.
Other names for this tuning method are the Mountain Minor Tuning and the Sawmill Tuning. The G Modal tuning is also used in Old-Time music.
The D tuning
The D tuning means that when you strum the instrument and you don’t fret the strings, you will play a D chord. The D tuning has the following pattern: F#, D, F#, A, D. Alternatively, you can start tuning the 5th chord to A and not F. This is another method of tuning the banjo in D.
Can you tune a banjo by ear?
It is possible to tune an instrument such as the banjo by ear, but not all people are good at this, especially in the beginning. Tuning by ear requires the ability to be able to easily distinguish any note just by quickly listening to it. Those who have this skill are able to name and to reproduce any note with ease. This means they have a perfect pitch.
If you are able to do this, then tuning your banjo will come quite easily for you. All you have to do is pay attention to the instrument as you play it and adjust the strings based on the sound you hear.
Basically, to be able to tune the instrument in Open G, for example, you will need to be aware of the note you want each string to provide according to the pattern. Then, you have to start testing them one by one and to get them to the desired note.
How to tune the instrument to itself?
It is also possible to tune the instrument to itself. In this case, you analyze how one of the strings sounds, and then you start tuning the rest of the strings in relation to that string. The string you normally start with, in this case, is the 4th string. This string corresponds to the low D. All the other strings can be tuned starting from here.
You can choose to use a tuning fork to help you out, or you can play the notes on the piano. After the 4th string has been tuned to low D, you can proceed with the next string. This will be the 3rd string and it should be tuned to a G note. The G is obtained by fretting the 4th string on the 5th fret. From this point on, you can proceed with the rest of the strings and tune each one of them according to the previous one.
Using an electronic tuner
Nowadays, to tune a banjo correctly, you can also use an electronic tuner. This device will help you get the string on the right tune by establishing its pitch. Once the tuner picks up the pitch, you can see it displayed on the device. Also, the tuner will show you how close you are to the note you aim to get.
An electric tuner is one of the easiest ways to get your instrument tuned easily and rapidly. This device doesn’t cost a lot and there are plenty of options you can find in music stores. If you also have another instrument to help you tune your banjo, such as a piano, you can use it to get the right notes.
Tuning the banjo is relatively easy. Moreover, just like any other process, the more you practice, the better you get at it.