Banjolele tuner online
Standard banjolele tuning is G4 C4 E4 A4, fourth string to first, just like a standard ukulele. The fourth-string G is high: C4, not G4, is the lowest open note. This re-entrant pattern gives the familiar ukulele chord layout.
Open-string notes and frequencies
Banjolele, standard high-G GCEA, fourth string to first. The fourth string is re-entrant; A4=440 Hz.
| String / course | Note | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | G4 | 392.00 |
| 3 | C4 | 261.63 |
| 2 | E4 | 329.63 |
| 1 | A4 | 440.00 |
How to use it
- Select standard high G, or low G if that matches your strings.
- Allow the microphone and play the fourth string with the left hand clear.
- Check G4 for high G or G3 for low G before moving a peg.
- Pick C4, E4 and A4 separately, letting the previous note stop.
- Play a familiar chord, then recheck the four open strings.
Help and explanations
A banjolele is also called a banjo ukulele or banjo uke. Its banjo-style resonator does not turn GCEA into a five-string banjo’s open-G tuning. Choose low G only if the fourth string is made for G3; then the four pitches rise in order as G3 C4 E4 A4.
A banjo body, ukulele strings and a separate setup check
The bright, ringing attack makes the banjolele easy to hear, but sympathetic strings can blur a microphone reading. Rest a spare finger lightly on the strings you are not tuning and pluck the current string once. Read the sustained pitch after the first attack instead of strumming across the whole instrument. When returning to high-G tuning, use the reference sound to confirm that the fourth string sits above the C and E strings.
If the open notes match yet chords sound wrong up the neck, retuning the pegs is not necessarily the solution. Fretting pressure, string condition and bridge placement can affect stopped notes. A movable bridge should be checked by the maker’s setup method; this tuner reads pitches and does not prescribe its position. The menu also includes the ukulele engine’s baritone DGBE and D-tuning options. Use them only for an instrument and strings designed for those layouts, rather than treating every banjo uke as interchangeable.
Tips
- The short, high fourth-string G is part of GCEA, not an extra fifth string.
- Check the string packet before replacing high G with a low-G set.
- Avoid leaning on the bridge or pressing a string while measuring an open note.
Frequently asked questions
Is a banjolele tuned the same as a ukulele?
Yes, the common standard is high-G G4 C4 E4 A4. The usual ukulele chord shapes apply.
What are the four banjolele notes?
Fourth string to first: G4 C4 E4 A4. In the low-G option, the fourth string is G3 instead.
Is a banjolele tuned like a five-string banjo?
No. A five-string banjo commonly uses gDGBD, whereas the four-string banjolele uses ukulele GCEA.
Can I use low G on a banjolele?
Use a suitable low-G string and check the instrument’s guidance. Select G3 C4 E4 A4 after fitting that setup.
Why does my fourth string sound higher than the C string?
That is normal for high-G re-entrant tuning. G4 lies above C4 and E4, although it is physically the fourth string.
Why are chords off even when the open strings are right?
Check fretting pressure and setup, including movable bridge placement if your model has one. Open-string tuning alone does not establish fretted intonation.