How to Fret a 5 String Banjo

Tune the banjo to open G and learn where the notes are.

Learning how to play chords on individual notes on the banjo is not terribly difficult. Chords and individual notes are played by holding the strings down at various places on the banjo fretboard with the left hand. Holding the strings down is referred to as fretting. The goal is to achieve a clear tone. This is often difficult for the beginner especially when playing chords. The left hand feels awkward and uncomfortable, but it only takes a little time and effort to make fretting feel natural and simple. The right hand actually does the majority of work on the five string banjo playing banjo rolls at very fast tempos.

Things You'll Need

• Electronic tuner

Instructions

1. Tune the banjo to open G with an electronic tuner. This is the most common tuning for the banjo. Open G tuning is G-D-G-B-D, going from the fifth string to the first string. Electronic tuners are simple to use. Turn the electronic tuner on and tune each string to the appropriate pitch. The needle or light on the tuner tells you when the string is in tune.

2. Learn to tune the banjo by ear. Electronic tuners are great tools, but you should be able to tune by ear as well. Tune the fourth string to D using a reference note from another instrument as a guide. Ask the guitar player to play the fourth string of the guitar. Tune the fourth string of the banjo until it sounds the same as the reference note. Fret the fourth string at the fifth fret to play G. Play the G and tune the third string until it sounds the same. Fret the third string at the fourth fret to play B. Play the B and tune the second string until it sounds the same. Fret the second string at the third fret to play D. Play the D and tune the first string until it sounds the same. Fret the first string at the fifth fret to play G. Play the G and tune the fifth string until it sounds the same.

3. Play a G chord on the banjo using all open strings. The banjo is tuned to a G chord and this makes it possible to play a G major chord without fretting any notes on the fretboard. Pluck the fifth, fourth, and third strings with the thumb, the second string with the index finger and the first string with the middle finger. Play the notes in consecutive order. This is a typical bluegrass banjo roll. Clawhammer banjo uses a different technique. Form a claw-shape with the index and middle fingers of the right hand. Strike the strings with the backside of the fingernail, this is also referred to as the "frailing" technique. Allow the thumb to rest on the fifth string. Pull the fifth string after striking a note on the other strings.

4. Practice fretting notes on the banjo. Playing individual notes and chords on the banjo requires fretting, or holding the strings down, to produce the notes on the banjo. Place your fingertip on the string directly behind the fret and not on the fret. The fifth string is always played open. A good exercise is to learn the G major scale which is G-A-B-C-D-E-F# - G. Play the open third string (G), fret the third string at the second fret (A), play the open second string (B), fret the second string at the first fret (C), fret the second string at the third fret (D), fret the first string at the second fret (E), fret the first string at the fourth fret (F#) and fret the first string at the fifth fret (G). You can also play the fourth string open (D), fret the fourth string at the second fret (E) and at the fourth fret (F#).

5. Play a C major chord on the banjo by fretting fourth and second strings. Fret the fourth string at the second fret (E), play the open third string (G), fret the second string at the first fret (C) and play the open first string (G).

6. Play a D major chord by fretting the third string and the second string. Play the fourth string open (D), fret the third string at the second fret (A), play the second string at the first fret (C) and fret the the first string open at the fourth fret (F#).

7. Learn to play the banjo with different tunings. Open G is the most common banjo tuning but banjo use other tunings as well. Open D is the second most common tuning. The fifth string may be tuned to either F# or A. Open D tuning is A-D-A-F#- D or F#-D-A-F#-D. The different tuning requires you to relearn the individual notes and chords on the fretboard.

References

• Projects and Hobbies: How To Play the Five String Banjo
• EZ Folk: Tuning Your Banjo