How to tune a 5 String Banjo ?
Banjos are popular folk instruments, and you can use one for many types of music. But in order to achieve maximum sound quality from your banjo, proper tuning must be observed and practiced to achieve an outstanding tone.
Your clip-on tuner can help you assess each string’s current-sounding pitch, so you can loosen or tighten tuning pegs as necessary to adjust each string to its appropriate pitch.
Basics
Tuning your banjo is an easy process: use a clip-on tuner to examine each string’s pitch, tighten or loosen pegs until each string reaches its intended pitch, then tighten or loosen each of their pegs as necessary to raise or lower its pitch to its designated pitch.
Open G is the most frequently employed 5 string banjo tuning. This tuning uses three notes from its name – G, B, and D – making it suitable for playing basic chords as well as slide guitar.
Double C, also referred to as Drop C tuning or Sawmill tuning due to its lower 4th string tension, is another popular banjo tuning.
Tuning
Tuning your banjo requires practice and time. Electronic tuners are widely available at an affordable cost and can help you tune your instrument so it sounds as intended.
No matter if or how you tune your banjo, it is crucial that you train your ear so as to hear when your instrument needs tuning. While this takes practice and patience, its reward will surely come.
The most widely-used banjo tuning is G (or gDGBD), using open strings of the banjo to form a G major chord. There are other commonly-used tunings among banjo players as well.
G chord
G chord is the most ubiquitous banjo chord and an ideal place to begin learning it as it does not involve fretting any strings.
Once you’ve mastered the G chord, try playing it using different fingers on each string to produce unique sounds and feelings. This will help develop both your guitar-like chops as well as broadening your music knowledge overall!
G chord is a major chord composed of three notes; these notes include a root note (commonly known as the root note), major third and 5th note. It is most frequently heard in Western music styles like blues, folk and country.
C chord
C is one of the most frequently utilized keys for banjo music. This droning key works particularly well when performing songs such as Sail Away Ladies or Leather Britches.
Mixolydian mode works well for tunes such as Texas or Frosty Morning.
This chord forms the core of playing banjo; it includes three notes from its root note to its major third and perfect fifth: root note (first string), major third and perfect fifth.
Sometimes you might hear inverted banjo chords where the notes are played in a different order; either higher up on the neck, or lower down. It can be an exciting way to try new techniques when playing your favorite songs!
D7 chord
The D7 chord, or dominant seventh, is a straightforward chord found across blues, country and mellow-rock songs. It provides an uplifting tone in chord progressions while adding extra zest to pop melodies.
If you’re just getting started playing guitar, Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” is an ideal introduction to D7 chord. One of his most iconic songs, this tune can serve as the ideal starting point.
As part of your D7 guitar practice, play all strings open so as to build muscle memory and make playing this key easier without muted notes.
7th chord
The 7th chord is one of the most essential to know; its ability to open up new genres and provide your songs with more sophisticated sounds is invaluable.
First and foremost, 7th chords consist of two distinct components. First is an underlying triad, then on top comes an additional 7th note (similar to what’s found in “major triads”).
This chord can be played in various ways and is frequently featured in romantic ballads, soul music and classical pieces. Check out Coldplay’s “A Sky Full Of Stars” Skoove tutorial to hear this chord in action!