Online 5-string banjo tuner
In Open G tuning, the open strings of 5-string banjo, from string 5 to string 1, are G4 D3 G3 B3 D4, with concert A (A4) at 440 Hz. The lowest note is D3, at 146.83 Hz, and the highest is G4, at 392.00 Hz. String 5 is short (it starts at the 5th fret) and, open, it is the highest: G4.
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— Hz — cents
Tap “Turn on tuner” and allow the microphone.
Open G tuning
Open G, probably the most common 5-string banjo tuning, especially in bluegrass: the open strings form a G major chord. The 5th string is short and is the highest (G).
Notes: G4 D3 G3 B3 D4.
How to tune the 5-string banjo
The 5-string banjo has a short string: the 5th, which starts at the 5th fret. Open, it is the highest note on the banjo (G, G4), even though it sits next to the 4th string, the lowest (D, D3). That is why, read from the 5th string to the 1st, Open G tuning is G4 D3 G3 B3 D4. Tune the four long strings first and the 5th last: the tuner recognises the string by its note, and the 5th shows up an octave above the 3rd (G4 against G3). When you use a capo, the 5th string has to be retuned or given a capo of its own.
Notes and frequencies of each string
| String | Note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 5 (short) | G4 | 392.00 Hz |
| 4 | D3 | 146.83 Hz |
| 3 | G3 | 196.00 Hz |
| 2 | B3 | 246.94 Hz |
| 1 | D4 | 293.66 Hz |
How to use it
Tap “Turn on tuner”, allow the microphone and play one open string at a time. The tuner recognises the string and shows whether to tighten it (it is flat) or loosen it (it is sharp). Tap a string name to lock onto it and hear the reference note.
Frequently asked questions
What are the open-string notes of 5-string banjo in Open G tuning?
From string 5 to string 1: G4 D3 G3 B3 D4.
What is the frequency of the lowest note in this tuning?
It is D3, at 146.83 Hz (with concert A at 440 Hz). The highest is G4, at 392.00 Hz.
How do I tune the 5-string banjo?
The 5-string banjo has a short string: the 5th, which starts at the 5th fret. Open, it is the highest note on the banjo (G, G4), even though it sits next to the 4th string, the lowest (D, D3). That is why, read from the 5th string to the 1st, Open G tuning is G4 D3 G3 B3 D4. Tune the four long strings first and the 5th last: the tuner recognises the string by its note, and the 5th shows up an octave above the 3rd (G4 against G3). When you use a capo, the 5th string has to be retuned or given a capo of its own.
Does the tuner work offline?
Yes. After the first visit (or once installed as an app), the pages open without a connection and pitch detection happens on your device.
What are cents?
A cent is one hundredth of a semitone. Up to 5 cents off is barely audible; the needle turns green in that range.
Can I change the reference A?
Yes: the − and + buttons set A4 anywhere from 430 to 450 Hz, to play along with a piano or a recording tuned differently. Your choice is saved.
Does the microphone record what I play?
No. The sound is analysed on the fly, inside the browser, and is never recorded or sent anywhere.