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.
How to tune a 4-string banjo
The way you tune a 4-string banjo depends a lot on the style of music that you plan to play on it. There are three alternate banjo tunings that you can choose from, namely DGBE, GDAE, and CGDA, and each one will produce a sound that is slightly different and suited for a particular style of music.
For example, the DGBE 4 string banjo tuning is usually used for playing full chords because the sound it creates is very similar to what you would get out of a guitar. The GDAE tuning produces a classical sound that feels and sounds very similar to the fiddle.
Lastly, the CGDA tuning is the standard banjo tuning for a 4-string instrument and the one you will want to choose if you want to achieve a standard sound. This arrangement will make your instrument match the way that a viola is commonly played.
Tuning a 6-string banjo
Unlike the standard 5-string banjo tuning, which is regarded by many as the purest form of the instrument, a 6-string banjo is a perfect alternative for guitarists. This type of banjo is also called banjitars, gangos, and guitjos and is tuned like a guitar and optimized to use the same notes and chords as the aforementioned instrument.
This means that if you have used a guitar before, tuning the instrument should feel very familiar, and just like a guitar, the notes that you will need to apply for 6-string banjo tuning are E, A, D, G, B, and E.
Compared to a standard 5-string banjo tuning, a six-string banjo will play at a lower octave, and it also lacks the closed gear on the 5th string.
If you are interested, it is also possible to achieve a five-string banjo tuning on your 6-string instrument, but you should be aware that it takes a bit of work. This is a good idea for people who are stuck with a 6-string instrument but want to enjoy playing 5-string banjo notes.
It is a relatively simple fix, but you will need to keep in mind that converting your instrument to a 5-string banjo tuning will leave you with an extra string, and the neck won’t feel the same. If that’s something that doesn’t bother you, then you can continue reading to learn how you can achieve this.
As we mentioned earlier, a 6-string banjo doesn’t have the closed gear on the 5th string. This gear is hammered into the fretboard, and the string is hooked just under it, and it is pulled down across the fret.
If you replace the 6th string on your banjo with a 1st string and you install a closed gear at the 5th fret, you will be able to achieve an open g banjo tuning or any of the other standard ways of tuning a 5-string banjo. Installing a closed gear can cost you anywhere between 20 to 30 bucks, depending on the place that you go. Removing it will also cost you about the same.
However, this is a fix that is recommended for more experienced players since if you are interested in playing or tuning a 5-string banjo as a beginner, it will be more beneficial to purchase a 5-string banjo from the start. That’s because the 6 strings will make playing the instrument more difficult, and it will also make your hand posture more uncomfortable.
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.
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.
Using an electronic tuner is indeed the easiest method to achieve a perfect banjo open g tuning. However, there are plenty of different types of electronic tuners available on the market and this begs the question, which one should you get?
The most popular type is the one that clips directly onto the peghead, and because it is such a ubiquitous model, there are countless companies that manufacture it. This means that there is a wide variety of models available on the market, and getting the tuner that meets your needs and budget shouldn’t be a problem.
Another common electronic tuner is one that uses a microphone. This model can help bring all your banjo strings notes in tune, but since you need to hold it in front of the drum skin, the process can be a bit tricky. Conversely, you can also rest an electronic microphone tuner on a table near the banjo.
Lastly, there are also some electronic tuners that plug into the instrument. It is very likely that this type won’t be compatible with your banjo since this tuner is mostly used with electric guitars, but you can use it if your banjo has a pickup fitted. Some tuners may also have a dual mode of operation, such as clip-on and mic.
No matter the type of tuner that you purchase, there is one important factor that you will need to keep in mind before spending your well-earned money, and that’s if the tuner is chromatic or not. A chromatic tuner is capable of detecting all the 12 notes, and this includes flat Ƅ and sharp # notes.
Chromatic tuners are also known as universal tuners since they work with most instruments and will help make banjo tuning much more manageable, especially for experienced musicians.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are the electronic tuners that can only detect a limited range of notes. These are generally advertised as bass, ukulele, and guitar tuners. They can only detect five notes, namely G, D, A, E, and B. You can use this type of tuner for G modal tuning or standard G tuning.
For complete beginners, a non-chromatic tuner is a good alternative since the player will probably not be able to comprehend anything about flat and sharp notes, so some of the benefits of a chromatic tuner will be wasted.
However, the major downside of a non-chromatic tuner is that it can only achieve standard G tuning, which means that other tuning methods, such as the banjo C tuning, will not be achieved. For tuning outside of the standard G, you will need to purchase a chromatic tuner.
How to improve your musical ear
While an electronic tuner is indeed a very useful tool, it is equally important to develop your sense of pitch and improve your musical ear. By listening to the tune of the instrument every time you play, you should be able to train your ear to learn what your instrument sounds like when it is in tune.
Keep in mind that a tuner is just a machine, and it doesn’t have a sense of music as the human ear does. Tuning by ear is something that you should want to achieve since this will help you refine the sound and make small tweaks to the pegs. These small changes can deliver a big difference in sound quality.
As a beginner, it will take a lot of training to develop your listening skills, and you will need to treat this as a marathon, not a race. There’s no way to tell how much it will take you to develop your musical ear, but there are things that you can do to speed up the process.
There are many apps and games online that will play you notes that you will then need to identify. These apps and games can also be tailored to teach you the skill you need to tune any instrument by ear, including banjos. The more you will listen, the more your ear will improve at detecting the correct banjo key.
Another important listening skill that you will need to improve is called perfect pitch or pitch recognition, and it involves learning how to recognize the sound of the notes so that you can instantly tell if a note is wrong or right.
Because the standard banjo is tuned to an open G chord, this makes the instrument perfect for developing this essential skill. Just playing the banjo and listening to each note will be enough for you to learn pitch recognition. This is the advantage of the banjo, and it is something that is considerably more difficult to do on instruments such as the violin.
However, you can develop pitch recognition only as long as you make sure that the instrument is always in tune before playing. What’s more, because the banjo is pitched right in the center of the normal musical range, everyone can sing along with it.
For men, the lower strings are the most comfortable to sing along with, while for women, the strings that replicate their normal singing range are the higher strings. This means that you can also try to sing the notes while playing the banjo.
It is well worth a try if you want to improve your pitch recognition. Simply pluck any string and try to find the note using your voice. Once you learn matching the note by singing it, you will find it much easier to match it by turning the peg. This can make tuning the instrument by ear very easy.
Bibliography:
https://www.deeringbanjos.com/pages/how-to-tune-a-banjo
https://jofflowson.com/banjo-for-complete-beginners/how-to-tune-a-banjo
https://www.stringvibe.com/ultimate-guide-banjo-tuning/
