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Banjos can play and stay in tune!!
The banjo has some tuning problems not found on other
stringed instruments. Banjo
bridges are moveable and the bridge can tend to wander
on the banjo head. The banjo head affects tuning because
it can be
adjusted to different tensions. Temperature, weather,
humidity and other factors affect banjos, so that each
time you begin to
play, you will always want to check your tuning and tune
up if necessary.
Here are some plans to learn the art and science of tuning
your banjo, in three steps:
I. Getting Ready
II. References
III.
Ear training and Tuning up.
If you’re
new to the banjo, find the nearest qualified banjo
player, repairperson or luthier, and have your instrument
looked over completely. Have that person make sure
every part is well fitted and adjusted, and if replacement
of any parts is recommended .
I. Getting Ready
- Good quality tuning pegs, installed
and tightened correctly.
- Tailpiece firmly in place.
Make sure tailpiece bolt or other fastening is firm.
- Bridge placed so that banjo
notes correctly at all frets.
- Nut and, (if applicable, 5th
string nut) in good shape. String slots cut to right
depth and gauge.
- New strings, put on correctly.
(See the page on strings.) Use a pencil to "lubricate"
string slots on the bridge and nut(s) (with the
graphite pencil lead), so strings will move through
without binding. Select the right strings and gauges
for the banjo you have. Beginners are encouraged
to use lighter gauge strings, because they are easier
to fret (stop strings against fret wires to make
notes). Light gauge strings are a little more difficult
to keep in tune, however.
- Head tightened - enough
so that bridge does not depress head very much -
usually no more than 3/16 of an inch once strings
are installed and tuned.
II. References
You must have something to tune to. One or more of
these listed below would be good to have handy:
- An electronic tuner
- A tuning fork
- A pitch pipe
- Another musical instrument:
piano, electronic keyboard, xylophone, etc. These
instruments all have been built to maintain a specific
tuning, and some can't be tuned.
Pitch:
Which octaves on the piano or a
keyboard are used to tune banjo strings? For banjos
only, these letters show how the pitches which are
shown on the following pages are related to a piano
or keyboard.
The Five String Banjo
Standard Five String
(22 frets) - Most five string banjos
fall into this group, and will be tuned either to
G tuning (gDGBd), or C tuning (gCGBd).
Long Neck Folk Banjo
(25 frets) - Pete Seeger originated
the extended neck banjo, with three additional frets,
usually tuned eB’EG#B (G tuning intervals down
in E), or eAEG#B (C tuning intervals down to A).
Minstrel Banjo (fretless)
- The predominant tuning for minstrel banjos
is dGDF#A, a whole step lower than the Long Neck Folk
Banjo. This is the minstrel era equivalent of the
C tuning, a fourth (four scale steps) lower.
The Plectrum Banjo
Most plectrum banjo players tune
to CGBd, just like the five string in C tuning, but
of course having no fifth string. However, the guitar
tuning, DGBe, is preferred by some players.
The Tenor Banjo
The tenor banjo is tuned CGda.
Irish or Celtic tenor banjos are usually tuned G’DAe,
but sometimes CGda.
There are many, many other five
string banjo tunings, but for now, the tunings above
will be enough to keep you occupied.
*Because there are no frets on
a minstrel banjo, electronic tuners, other instruments
as references, or musicians with well -trained ears
can serve to tune the fretless banjos.
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