4-String Banjo tuner – Chicago (DGBE)
D-G-B-E · Alternative
Press “Start tuner” – the browser will ask for microphone access. Sound is analysed on this device and never uploaded.
This free online tuner listens through your microphone and shows how close each string of your 4-String Banjo is to Chicago (DGBE) tuning (D-G-B-E). Play a string, watch the needle, and turn the peg until the meter glows green. If you prefer tuning by ear, tap any string card to hear its reference tone.
About Chicago (DGBE) tuning
Compared with Tenor Standard (CGDA), Chicago (DGBE) moves 3 strings. Some strings go up and others go down, so the total tension stays close to Tenor Standard (CGDA) while the shape of the fretboard changes completely.1 string stays exactly where it was.
| String | Tenor Standard (CGDA) | Chicago (DGBE) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C3 | D3 | up 2 semitones |
| 3 | D4 | B3 | down 3 semitones |
| 4 | A4 | E4 | down 5 semitones |
Played open, the strings sound D-G-B-E – from D3 at the bottom to E4 at the top, a span of 1 octave and 2 semitones. Step by step across the neck the intervals are a fourth, a major third, a fourth, and that is what decides how chord shapes fall under the hand.
Left open, the strings together spell G6. That is a by-product of how the intervals are laid out rather than the point of the tuning, but it does mean some chords need very few fingers here. See G6 shapes in this tuning →
History
Where the Chicago (DGBE) tuning comes from
Chicago tuning (D-G-B-E) matches the top four strings of a guitar, making the banjo easy for guitarists. It spread in the 20th century as guitar players doubled on banjo; the origin of the name is unclear.
Other 4-String Banjo tunings
Standard
Chords for this tuning
How do I tune my 4-String Banjo to Chicago (DGBE)?
Allow microphone access, pluck a string, and the tuner will detect it automatically. The needle shows whether the string is flat or sharp – adjust until the reading is within ±5 cents (D-G-B-E).
Which notes are used in Chicago (DGBE) tuning?
Chicago (DGBE) tuning for 4-String Banjo uses the notes D-G-B-E, listed from the lowest string to the highest.
Can I tune without a microphone?
Yes. Every string card plays a reference tone – tap it and match your string to the sound by ear.