How to Tune Your Banjo

So before we get any further, let's talk about how the banjo is tuned.

Open G Chord

The banjo is tuned to an open G chord. This means that the open strings, when played by themselves, sound like this:

• A
• G
• D
• G
• B
• D

Play an open G chord. They sound like this. I just played those just in a row like that. You could tune to my banjo while you're playing along.

Simple Tuning Method

There's a simple way to tune a banjo:

1. Tune your lowest string in tune.
2. Fret it at the fifth fret to match the open third string.
3. Play the fourth fret on the fourth string to match the open second string.
4. Fret the third fret on the second string to match the open first string.
5. Finally, match the fifth fret on the first string to the fifth string.

That's a little system you can use to tune your banjo.

My Preferred Tuning Style

I like to tune the banjo like this, where I:

• Fret the third string.
• Fret the second string at the third fret.

This makes all G's and D's, resulting in a very resonant sound.

String Comparisons

I compare all the strings first to the third string:

• Third and Fourth: That was the third and the fourth.
• Third and Second: That's the third and the second.
• Third and First: That's the third and the first.

Notice the second string was fretted at the third fret, and the third at the fifth. Those are all very open sounds that you can hear when they're in tune.

Once you get used to that...