What kind of tuner do I need for my banjo?

Most tunes in the bluegrass repertoire use this tuning but there are some that require other tunings like double C, drop C, sawmill, or D tuning, to name a few. When tuning your banjo, don’t turn the peg too hard or fast as it could damage your instrument or break a string. Using a tuner will help you find the notes you’re looking for faster.

Which is the correct tuning for a plectrum banjo?

C, G, B, D. The most standard plectrum banjo tuning. This is very close to the standard 5-string tuning (without the 5-string), but the 4th string is dropped down to C. D, G, B, E. This tuning is the same as the top four strings of a guitar and is often referred to as “Chicago Tuning”.

How many strings does a tenor banjo have?

The same as open G tuning, just 3 steps lower in pitch. Tenor banjos have four strings and a short, narrow neck. Confusingly, the name ‘tenor’ gives the impression that the banjo is going to sound pretty low in pitch, as you’d expect from an instrument that follows classical four-part harmony organization.

Why is the banjo called open G tuning?

The reason it’s called Open G is that if you strum the open strings once you’ve tuned it this way, it gives you a G chord without having to fret any notes (by the way, if you’re interested here’s a handy banjo chords chart in this tuning). Close to standard G tuning but the second string is tuned up to a C note.

How can I tune my banjo to a G Note?

At some point, the tuner’s readout should change from an F♯ to a G note, but at this point the tuner tells you that your 3rd string is a flat G note instead of a sharp F♯. Continue raising the pitch of the string until the tuner indicates that the string is exactly in tune to a G note.

How can you tell if a banjo is major or minor?

By eliminating the third of the chord, you cannot tell if it is a major or minor chord and gives it a modal sound. The most standard tenor banjo tuning. This is referred to as “Standard Tenor Tuning” for obvious reasons. This tuning is the intervals of fifths and is exactly the same as viola or mandola. Referred to as “Irish Tenor Tuning”.