The banjo is usually tuned in an open tuning, which enables you to play more open strings and less difficult chords with the left hand. There are dozens of different tunings that have been used over the years, but listed below are some of the more popular tunings that are used.

 

This is a very popular tuning for old-time tunes such as Shady Grove, Little Sadie, and many others. It is also sometimes called “sawmill tuning” or “mountain minor tuning.” From G tuning only the 2nd string is retuned.

Very popular among clawhammer banjo players and probably even more popular than G tuning for playing fiddle tunes. Many fiddle tunes are played in the key of D by fiddlers and banjo players will play along using this tuning and put a capo on the 2nd fret to get in the key of D. Notice that from G Modal tuning only one string is changed.

This was the first tuning that Pete Seeger taught in his classic book, “How to Play the 5-string Banjo.” It is not really an open tuning but allows you to easily form the most used chords in the key of C (C, F, and G). This was the standard tuning for the 4-string plectrum banjo. It is not the most popular tuning but can come in handy for playing in the key of C and is quickly accessible from G tuning.

D tuning is probably the most common alternative tuning for bluegrass banjo playing. The 5th string can either be tuned to A or F#, depending on which sounds best for different songs.