How to Tune a 5-String Banjo

Introduction

Wanna play that banjo that's been sitting under your bed for ages? Well first you are gonna have to tune it! Don't worry, it is easier than you think.

By: xdragoox

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Instructions

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Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Tips & Warnings:

If the banjo has not been played for a really long time, turn the tuning pegs slowly, as not to put too much stress on the wood and hardware.
If the banjo has really new strings, you might have to tune it and play it for a few minutes, followed by a few subsequent tunings. this allows the strings to get situated on the neck of the banjo and properly stretch.
Please be advised that if you play Dueling Banjo's while watching "Deliverance," your neighbors might get the wrong idea and call the authorities.

Step1

Grab your banjo and knock off the inch thick layer of dust from sitting in the corner of your room for years. You can use a clean terry cloth or t-shirt to gently wipe it down.

Step2

To properly hold the banjo, sit in a chair and place the banjo between your legs. The body is round, so it will rest naturally on your lap. Your left hand should hold the neck and your right arm will rest on top of the body. (Assuming you are right handed.)

Step3

There are several different tunings that are used on a banjo, depending on the style of music you play. The most common is the G tuning. This allows you to strum the strings and get a G major Chord.

Step4

A chromatic tuner is an essential purchase for banjo players. It takes a long time to tune by ear, unless you have "perfect pitch," which is very rare. (In that case, quit your day job and become a musician.)

Step5

The banjo strings are listed below with the correct tuning. The strings are listed in order from bottom (closest to the floor) to top (closest to your face), if you are holding the banjo in your lap.
D - 1st string
B - 2nd string
G - 3rd string (one octave lower than the 5th string)
D - 4th string (one octave lower and the 1st string)
G - 5th string (the short string on top when holding the banjo)

Step6

The tuner will most likely have an internal microphone for acoustic instruments. Place the tuner as close as possible to the body of the banjo and try to minimize any other sounds in the room, so that the tuner can focus on the strings.

Step7

Use the tuning pegs to lighten (raise the pitch) or loosen (lower the pitch) of each individual string. The tuner will have led lights that indicate how close the string is to the proper pitch. When the green led lights up, you are in tune and can move to the next string.

Step8

Now that you have your banjo cleaned off and tuned up, you can make a homemade batch of moonshine and start practicing dueling banjos! (See warning below)