4-String Banjo tuner – Plectrum (CGBD)
C-G-B-D · 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 Plectrum (CGBD) tuning (C-G-B-D). 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 Plectrum (CGBD) tuning
Compared with Tenor Standard (CGDA), Plectrum (CGBD) moves 2 strings. Every change is downward, the largest by 7 semitones, so the instrument sits at lower tension than in Tenor Standard (CGDA).2 strings stay exactly where they were.
| String | Tenor Standard (CGDA) | Plectrum (CGBD) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | D4 | B3 | down 3 semitones |
| 4 | A4 | D4 | down 7 semitones |
Played open, the strings sound C-G-B-D – from C3 at the bottom to D4 at the top, a span of 1 octave and 2 semitones. Step by step across the neck the intervals are a fifth, a major third, a minor third, and that is what decides how chord shapes fall under the hand.
History
Where the Plectrum (CGBD) tuning comes from
C-G-B-D is the plectrum banjo tuning – the old “C tuning” of the five-string banjo without the short fifth string. It dates from the early 20th century, when the plectrum banjo was the instrument of ragtime and dance bands, and was kept alive by players such as Eddie Peabody.
Other 4-String Banjo tunings
Standard
Chords for this tuning
How do I tune my 4-String Banjo to Plectrum (CGBD)?
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 (C-G-B-D).
Which notes are used in Plectrum (CGBD) tuning?
Plectrum (CGBD) tuning for 4-String Banjo uses the notes C-G-B-D, 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.