Guitar (gDGBE) Tuning
Tune your banjo to Guitar (gDGBE) — G4, D3, G3, B3, E4
About Guitar (gDGBE) Tuning
Guitar tuning (G4-D3-G3-B3-E4) matches the top five strings of a standard guitar, making it the ideal tuning for guitarists transitioning to banjo. The only difference from Standard Open G is the 1st string — raised from D4 to E4. All guitar chord shapes for the top five strings transfer directly.
This tuning is sometimes called Chicago tuning and was common in early jazz and vaudeville banjo playing. Four-string tenor and plectrum banjos historically used guitar-related tunings, and the 5-string Guitar tuning carries on that tradition. It's especially practical for singer-songwriters who play both guitar and banjo.
The trade-off is that you lose the open G major chord that defines standard banjo tuning. The open strings in Guitar tuning don't form a clean chord, which means you need to fret shapes for every chord — just like guitar. You gain versatility and familiarity at the cost of the banjo's characteristic open-string ring.
String Notes
Recommended Strings
Standard banjo strings work, though the 1st string rises from D4 to E4, increasing its tension. If the 1st string feels too tight or the tone is thin, try a slightly heavier 1st string to compensate. All other strings are at standard pitch.
How to Tune to Guitar (gDGBE)
- 1.Start from Standard Open G (gDGBD). Only one string changes — the 1st string.
- 2.Raise the 1st string from D4 up to E4 (329.63 Hz). This is a whole step increase.
- 3.All other strings stay the same: 5th = G4, 4th = D3, 3rd = G3, 2nd = B3.
- 4.Verify by fretting the 2nd string at the 5th fret — it should match the open 1st string (E4). This is the same interval check guitarists use.
- 5.Try playing a guitar G chord shape (3rd string open, 2nd string open, 1st string at 3rd fret) — it should sound correct.
Common Chords in Guitar (gDGBE)
G Major
Use familiar guitar G chord shapes on the top five strings. The 5th string drone in G still works perfectly.
C Major
Same C chord shape as guitar. The transition from guitar to banjo is seamless with these familiar forms.
D Major
Standard guitar D shape works directly. The 5th string drone may or may not fit — mute it when playing D if it clashes.
Em
Guitar Em shape transfers directly. One of the easiest chords in both guitar and Guitar-tuned banjo.