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5 strings · Short fifth-string drone

5-string banjo tuner for Open G and modal tunings

Tune the short fifth drone first, then the four full-length strings in Open G gDGBD or a common modal, double-C, drop-C or open-D setup.

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Live target±5 cents
G4D3G3B3D4
FlatIn tuneSharp
01Real short fifth-string geometry
02Open G, Double C, Sawmill, Drop C and Open D
03Five independent string and peg targets
Know the target

Open G order from fifth string to first

Standard five-string banjo tuning is written gDGBD: G4 for the short fifth-string drone, followed by D3, G3, B3 and D4 on the four full-length strings.

The tuner maps G4 to the real side-mounted fifth peg and traces that short string only from its side post down the neck, independently from the four headstock strings.

Four clear steps

How to tune accurately

  1. 1Begin with the short fifth-string drone at G4.
  2. 2Tune the fourth string to D3, then G3 and B3.
  3. 3Finish the first string at D4 and recheck the drone.
  4. 4For alternate presets, change one string at a time and retune the complete set.
Reference: A4 = 440 Hz

Notes and frequencies

Physical stringTargetFrequency
String 5 G4 392.00 Hz
String 4 D3 146.83 Hz
String 3 G3 196.00 Hz
String 2 B3 246.94 Hz
String 1 D4 293.66 Hz

Changing the tuner calibration recalculates every target from A4 = 415–450 Hz. The values above use the common 440 Hz reference.

Practical answers

Frequently asked questions

What is standard five-string banjo tuning?

From the short fifth drone to the first string it is G4, D3, G3, B3 and D4, commonly written gDGBD.

Why does the fifth banjo string start halfway down the neck?

It is a short high drone string with a side-mounted fifth tuning peg, so it does not pass through the headstock nut.

Does tuner.love upload my microphone audio?

No. Pitch analysis runs locally in your browser. Microphone audio is not uploaded to a backend and is never replayed through your speakers.

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5 strings · Short fifth-string drone

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Open 5-string banjo tuner for open g and modal tunings