Have you ever been intrigued by the bright, ringing sound of a banjo but felt hesitant to pick one up, worried about navigating a new instrument with unfamiliar tunings? As a guitar player, the world of banjo might seem a distant and mysterious place. But what if we told you that your guitar skills can be directly translated to the banjo, simply by using a Tuned Guitar approach?
Many guitarists are surprised to learn that banjos are incredibly versatile instruments, adaptable to various tunings, including one that’s remarkably familiar: guitar tuning. This opens up a fantastic gateway for guitar players to explore the unique voice of the banjo without a steep learning curve. Let’s dive into how you can unlock the banjo using the comfort of a tuned guitar.
Why Tune Your Banjo Like a Guitar?
For guitar players, the immediate advantage of tuning a banjo like a guitar is the instant familiarity. Imagine picking up a banjo and already knowing the chord shapes and scales. This is precisely what tuned guitar on a banjo offers. Here’s why this approach is particularly appealing:
- Seamless Transition: Your years of guitar practice instantly become relevant. Chord shapes, scales, and even many of your favorite guitar licks can be played on a banjo tuned guitar style with minimal adjustment.
- Faster Learning Curve: Instead of grappling with new tunings and fingerboard patterns simultaneously, you can focus on the banjo’s unique techniques and sound. This accelerates the learning process and makes the banjo feel less intimidating.
- Creative Exploration: The banjo’s distinct timbre combined with familiar guitar fingerings can spark new creative avenues. You’ll find yourself approaching music from a fresh perspective, blending banjo twang with guitar sensibilities.
- Versatility: Tuning your banjo like a guitar doesn’t limit you. It’s a starting point. As you become more comfortable, you can explore traditional banjo tunings while always having the tuned guitar option to fall back on.
Banjo Types and Guitar Tuning: Adapting to Each Style
The beauty of the banjo family is its diversity. From four-string tenors to five-string bluegrass banjos and even six-string banjo guitars, there’s a banjo for every musical taste. And yes, you can apply tuned guitar principles to most of them.
4-String Tenor and Plectrum Banjos: Guitar Tuning Made Easy
Tenor and plectrum banjos, with their shorter necks and four strings, are exceptionally easy to adapt to tuned guitar.
-
Tenor Banjo: Traditionally tuned in fifths (C-G-D-A), the tenor banjo can be perfectly tuned guitar style to D-G-B-E, mirroring the first four strings of a guitar. This tuning is sometimes referred to as “Chicago tuning,” particularly in plectrum banjo circles. This change brings chord shapes and melodic patterns much closer to what a guitar player already knows.
-
Plectrum Banjo: The plectrum banjo is already quite close to guitar tuning in its standard C-G-B-D tuning. Switching to D-G-B-E (tuned guitar) only requires adjusting two strings, making the transition even smoother. The subtle shift opens up a world of guitar-like possibilities on the plectrum banjo.
Image of a plectrum banjo illustrating the instrument type for guitar players considering tuned guitar approach.
5-String Banjos: Conquering the Fifth String with Tuned Guitar
The five-string banjo, iconic in bluegrass and folk music, presents a slight variation when considering tuned guitar. The challenge lies in the short fifth string, typically tuned to G.
However, the solution is incredibly simple for guitar players wanting to use tuned guitar:
- Tune the first four strings (lowest to highest) to D-G-B-E, exactly like the first four strings of a guitar.
- Leave the fifth string as is (G) or experiment with slightly adjusting it later.
By tuning the first four strings to tuned guitar, you can immediately apply your guitar chord knowledge. A G chord, C chord, D7 chord – all your familiar shapes work on the first four strings of the banjo.
Close-up of a 5-string banjo headstock, highlighting the fifth string tuning peg and emphasizing the accessibility of tuned guitar approach for beginners.
6-String Banjos: The Ultimate Guitar-Banjo Hybrid
For guitarists who want the most direct transition, 6-string banjos are designed to be tuned guitar style, E-A-D-G-B-E, exactly like a standard guitar. These instruments bridge the gap seamlessly, allowing guitar players to pick up a banjo and play without any tuning adjustments. While they offer instant familiarity, it’s worth noting that 6-string banjos have a slightly different sonic character compared to traditional 5-string banjos.
Getting Started with Guitar-Tuned Banjo: Practical Steps
Ready to try tuned guitar on a banjo? Here’s a simple guide:
- Choose Your Banjo: Any type of banjo can be tuned guitar style, but 4-string and 5-string banjos are most commonly adapted.
- Retune (if necessary):
- Tenor Banjo: Retune from C-G-D-A to D-G-B-E.
- Plectrum Banjo: Retune from C-G-B-D to D-G-B-E.
- 5-String Banjo: Tune the first four strings to D-G-B-E, leaving the fifth string (G) as is.
- Play Familiar Chords: Start with simple guitar chords like G, C, and D. You’ll be amazed at how naturally they translate to the banjo in tuned guitar.
- G Chord: Fret the first string (E string equivalent) at the third fret.
- C Chord: Fret the second string (B string equivalent) at the first fret and the fourth string (D string equivalent) at the second fret.
- D7 Chord: Use your standard guitar D7 chord shape on the first four strings.
- Explore Melodies and Licks: Try playing simple melodies and guitar riffs on your tuned guitar banjo. Experiment and discover how familiar patterns sound on this new instrument.
Overcoming the 5th String Challenge (on 5-String Banjos)
The fifth string on a 5-string banjo can initially seem perplexing when using tuned guitar. However, it’s a unique asset, not an obstacle. Here’s how to approach it:
- Initially, Ignore (Slightly): Focus on playing melodies and chords on the first four strings using your guitar knowledge. The fifth string will be there, resonating and adding to the overall sound.
- Introduce the 5th String Gradually: Start incorporating the fifth string by using it as a drone note or in simple rolls. Listen to bluegrass or old-time banjo music to hear how the fifth string is integrated.
- The Magic of the 5th String Capo: For playing in different keys while maintaining tuned guitar, a 5th string capo, like an Earl’s Suspender Capo, is invaluable. This allows you to easily change the pitch of the fifth string to match the key you are playing in, just like traditional banjo players do. For example, to play in the key of A, capo the fifth string at the 7th fret.
Image of an Earl’s Suspender Capo, showcasing a tool that helps guitarists using tuned guitar on a 5-string banjo adapt to different keys.
Alternate Tunings are Part of Banjo History: Tuned Guitar is Valid
It’s important to remember that banjo tunings have always been diverse and evolving. While open G tuning is popular in bluegrass, banjo history is rich with countless tunings. Tuned guitar is not a deviation; it’s simply another valid and historically relevant approach.
As banjo historian have noted, there have been a vast number of banjo tunings throughout history, with guitar tuning being among them. The standardization of open G tuning is largely due to the popularity of bluegrass, but other banjo styles and traditions embrace a wider range of tunings.
Embrace Your Musical Freedom: Make Your Own Rules
Ultimately, music is about expression and enjoyment. If tuned guitar on a banjo inspires you to play, create, and explore, then it’s absolutely the “right” way for you. Don’t be constrained by rigid notions of “correct” tunings.
Just like guitarists have explored alternate tunings for centuries, banjo players have always experimented. Keith Richards famously used open G tuning and even removed the sixth string from his guitar – and his music resonated with millions. Pete Werenick, a banjo master, wisely said, “If it sounds good, it must BE good.”
Play Your 5-String Banjo In Your Familiar Guitar Tuning – and Make Music!
If you’re a guitar player curious about the banjo, tuning it like your guitar is the perfect entry point. It eliminates the initial barrier of unfamiliar tunings and allows you to immediately start making music. You might even develop a unique style by blending your guitar background with the banjo’s distinctive voice.
So, grab a banjo – perhaps a Goodtime banjo known for its playability and affordability – tune it like your guitar, and start playing. Don’t let tuning conventions hold you back. The most important thing is to make music and enjoy the journey of exploring this wonderful instrument.
Learn how the banjo can make you a better guitar player
