How to Tune a 5-String Banjo Accurately: Unique Style
The standard banjo, a stringed instrument commonly used in folk, bluegrass and country music, has five steel strings that provide a metallic and twangy sound when plucked. You'll find a wide range of alternate tunings for your banjo but the standard tuning is called open G. There are generally two ways for beginning players to tune the banjo, with a tuning pitch fork, or with an electronic chromatic tuner device.
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Instructions
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Using an Electronic Tuner
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Place the banjo upright in your lap, and place the electronic tuner about 12- to 18-inches in front of the banjo.
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Turn on the tuner and pluck your banjo strings with a thumb guitar pick to ensure the tuner is picking up an audio signal.
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3
Pluck the fifth string, which is the shortest and top string on the banjo. Turn the string's corresponding tuning key in the clockwise direction to raise the string's pitch, or in the counterclockwise direction to lower the pitch.
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4
Adjust the tuning key until the electronic tuner reads "G."
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5
Repeat this to tune the remaining four strings on the banjo to the appropriate notes. The note sequence should be G-D-G-B-D
Using Tuning Forks
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Place the banjo upright in your lap. Strike the G tuning fork against a hard surface so the G note rings out from the fork.
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Pluck the fifth string on the banjo. Simultaneously adjust the string's tuning key until the banjo string matches the tuning fork's pitch.
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Use the D, G and B tuning forks to tune the remaining strings to the open G tuning.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are a beginning banjo player, avoid tuning the banjo to another instrument such as a guitar or piano. Since you are new to the instrument, it's likely that you lack the training to determine the perfect pitch. Stick to tuning forks or electronic tuners until you train your ear to recognize certain notes.
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