Many guitar players are intrigued by the banjo but might feel intimidated by unfamiliar tunings. The good news is, you can easily bridge the gap by tuning your banjo like a guitar! This article explores how Guitar Tuning opens up the world of banjo to guitarists, making it more accessible and enjoyable. Whether you’re curious about tenor, plectrum, or even 5-string banjos, understanding guitar tuning on these instruments can be your first step into a new realm of musical expression.
Banjos Tuned Like Guitars: Proven by Players
The idea of tuning a banjo like a guitar isn’t just a theoretical concept; it’s a practice with a history, embraced by musicians across genres. Consider the example of a tenor banjo player in Seattle, part of a folk duo, who tuned his banjo to D-G-B-E, mirroring the first four strings of a guitar. Similarly, a jazz banjoist, playing a plectrum banjo at Disneyland, utilized the same D-G-B-E tuning, often referred to as “Chicago tuning” among plectrum players.
Even the iconic 5-string banjo, often perceived as requiring specialized tunings, can be adapted for guitarists. Imagine a college student, new to the banjo, naturally tuning the first four strings to match a guitar and even removing the 5th string initially. Upon discovering the 5th string’s purpose, he reinstalled it, tuning his banjo G-D-G-B-E (5th to 1st string) and continued playing with a guitar-familiar approach for years.
These real-world examples demonstrate that guitar tuning on banjos is not only possible but also a practical and musically valid approach adopted by diverse players.
Exploring Guitar Tuning Across Banjo Types
Deering Banjo Company even produces 6-string banjos specifically designed for guitarists. These instruments are tuned exactly like a 6-string guitar, eliminating any tuning learning curve for guitar players venturing into banjo.
However, the beauty of guitar tuning extends to other banjo types as well, offering a versatile entry point for anyone wanting to explore the banjo’s unique sound.
4-String Tenor and Plectrum Banjos: A Seamless Transition
Tuning a tenor banjo to D-G-B-E, like the top four strings of a guitar, is straightforward and significantly alters its sonic character from the traditional tenor banjo tuning of C-G-D-A. The conventional tenor tuning features intervals of a perfect fifth between open strings, meaning a large seven-fret jump between notes. In contrast, guitar tuning creates a more familiar and compact feel for guitarists. Chord shapes and melodies become more accessible, requiring less finger stretching across the fretboard.
Plectrum banjos, traditionally tuned to C-G-B-D, are already quite close to guitar tuning. Switching a plectrum banjo to D-G-B-E guitar tuning involves adjusting only two strings, resulting in a subtle but effective shift that aligns perfectly with guitarists’ familiarity.
5-String Banjos Tuned Like Guitars: Conquering the Fifth String
The question of the 5-string banjo and guitar tuning often arises: what about that unique fifth string? For guitarists hesitant about venturing into 5-string banjo, here’s a simple challenge: tune your 5-string banjo to guitar tuning by only raising the first string a whole step.
That’s right, just tune the first string up from D to E, and you’re essentially there! The first four strings now match a guitar’s tuning (D-G-B-E). You can immediately play familiar guitar chords on these strings. For example, a G chord is easily played by fretting the first string at the third fret on your guitar-tuned banjo. Similarly, C and D7 chords translate directly from guitar fingerings to the banjo.
Now, what about playing in different keys beyond G, C, and D? This is where the ingenuity of the 5-string banjo comes in. Just like traditional 5-string banjo players, you can utilize a 5th string capo, such as an Earl’s Suspender Capo, to adjust the fifth string’s pitch for different keys. For instance, capoing the fifth string at the 7th fret facilitates playing in the keys of A and D, while capoing at the 8th fret is suitable for Bb or Eb. This allows you to maintain your guitar tuning on the main strings while adapting the 5th string to suit various musical contexts.
What about flatpicking with guitar tuning on a 5-string? While the 5th string is traditionally associated with fingerpicking and clawhammer styles, flatpickers can also thrive with this setup. Techniques like using a flatpick combined with fingerstyle, as employed by jazz guitarists like Howard Roberts, can be beautifully adapted to the banjo, offering a rich and complete sound, even with guitar tuning. Initially, you might focus on the first four strings, gradually incorporating the 5th string as you become more comfortable with the banjo’s feel and nuances. Exploring basic bluegrass rolls or clawhammer techniques can further expand your playing and utilization of the 5th string.
A History of Alternate Tunings: Banjo’s Versatility
The banjo boasts a remarkable history of diverse tunings, perhaps more so than any other stringed instrument. One banjo historian claimed knowledge of 64 different banjo tunings, with guitar tuning being among them! While Bluegrass music has popularized open G tuning, it’s not the only, or even original, tuning for banjo. Clawhammer banjo, tenor banjos, and plectrum banjos all have their own distinct traditional tunings, highlighting the banjo’s inherent flexibility. Therefore, playing a banjo tuned like a guitar is well within the instrument’s historical and practical tuning spectrum.
You Make the Rules: Embrace Your Musicality
Classical guitar pieces are also sometimes written in alternate tunings, demonstrating that musicians constantly adapt and innovate. Ultimately, the player, the composer, the artist – you – define what is “right” in your music. If guitar tuning on a banjo unlocks your musical creativity, then it is absolutely the right approach for you. Worrying about “cheating” by tuning the banjo like a guitar is like an artist limiting their palette to only pre-mixed colors. True artistry lies in creating the sound you envision, regardless of convention.
Consider Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, famous for using open G tuning on guitar and even removing the lowest string. Was he “doing it wrong”? Hardly. Pete Werenick, a renowned banjoist and teacher, wisely stated, “If it sounds good, it must BE good.”
Play Your 5-String Banjo in Your Familiar Guitar Tuning
If you’re drawn to the 5-string banjo and the familiarity of guitar tuning, embrace it! You might even develop a unique style that inspires others. Many guitarists have successfully learned fingerpicking and clawhammer techniques on a 5-string banjo tuned like a guitar, often using a Goodtime banjo as their entry instrument.
Don’t let unfamiliar fingerings or tunings deter you from exploring the banjo’s rich musical possibilities. If you’re considering a banjo, a Goodtime banjo tuned to guitar tuning is a fantastic starting point. Ultimately, making music is what truly matters. Tuning is simply a tool to get you there.
Learn how the banjo can make you a better guitar player
