Double C Banjo Tuning and Tuner
Double C banjo tuning sets a 5-string banjo to g C G C D, from the short 5th string to the 1st (G4, then C3 up to D4). It is one of the favorite tunings of old-time clawhammer players, for fiddle tunes in C and, with a capo, in D. This page opens the banjo tuner with Double C selected, so each string's target is already set.
String notes and frequencies
Banjo tuning, double C (5 strings): G4 C3 G3 C4 D4, from 130.81 Hz to 392.00 Hz, with A4 = 440 Hz.
| String | Note | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|
| String 5 | G4 | 392.00 |
| String 4 | C3 | 130.81 |
| String 3 | G3 | 196.00 |
| String 2 | C4 | 261.63 |
| String 1 | D4 | 293.66 |
How to use it
- Tap Turn on microphone and check that the Tuning menu shows Double C.
- Lower the 4th string from D to C, a whole step. Pick it, wait for the attack to pass and read the needle.
- Raise the 2nd string from B to C, a half step, in small moves.
- Check the 5th (G), 3rd (G) and 1st (D): they don't change, but they can drift as the bridge settles.
- Strum the open strings: everything should ring clean, with no beating between the two Cs or the two Gs.
Help and explanations
Coming from open G (g D G B D), only two strings move: the 4th goes down a whole step, from D to C, and the 2nd goes up a half step, from B to C. That leaves two C strings an octave apart. The open strings sound C, G and D with no third, neither major nor minor, so the same drones sit well under major and modal melodies.
Double C, string by string
5th string: G4 (392.00 Hz), unchanged. 4th: from D3 down to C3 (130.81 Hz). 3rd: G3 (196.00 Hz), unchanged. 2nd: from B3 up to C4 (261.63 Hz). 1st: D4 (293.66 Hz), unchanged.
To check by ear: the 12th-fret harmonic of the 4th string must match the open 2nd, since both are C. The 4th string at the 7th fret gives G, the open 3rd; the 3rd at the 5th fret gives C, the open 2nd; and the 2nd at the 2nd fret gives D, the open 1st. For the short string, fret the 1st string at the 5th fret: it gives G4, the same as the open 5th.
First chords and the capo trick
Fret the 1st string at the 2nd fret and the open strings become C major (g C G C E); at the 1st fret, C minor. Those two shapes already cover a lot of tunes in C.
Many old-time fiddle tunes are in D. Put a capo at the 2nd fret and raise the 5th string a whole step, to A (A4): the banjo now sounds a D A D E, usually called double D, with the same left-hand shapes. Raise the 5th string slowly, or use a 5th-string capo or spikes if your banjo has them.
Tips
- Change one string at a time: the floating bridge moves as the tension changes.
- Banjos are loud: keep the phone about 20 inches (50 cm) away so the mic doesn't overload.
- Two Cs and two Gs: if the tuner lights up the string with the same name, tap the button of the string you are tuning to lock the target.
- To go back to open G, choose Open G (5-string) in the Tuning menu: raise the 4th to D and lower the 2nd to B.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of double C banjo tuning?
g C G C D, from the 5th string to the 1st: G4 (392.00 Hz), C3 (130.81 Hz), G3 (196.00 Hz), C4 (261.63 Hz) and D4 (293.66 Hz), with A4 = 440 Hz.
How do I tune a banjo from open G to double C?
Lower the 4th string a whole step (D to C) and raise the 2nd a half step (B to C). The 5th, 3rd and 1st stay on G, G and D.
Why is double C popular for clawhammer?
The low C on the 4th string gives tunes in C a solid bass, the G and D drones ring under the melody, and with a capo at the 2nd fret the same tuning covers tunes in D. That makes it a go-to tuning for old-time fiddle tunes.
What chords can I play in double C?
With the 1st string at the 2nd fret, the open strings give C major; at the 1st fret, C minor. The open strings alone sound C, G and D, with no third, which works as a drone under many melodies.
What is double D tuning?
Double C one whole step higher: a D A D E. Most players get it from double C with a capo at the 2nd fret and the 5th string raised to A. For open D with an F♯ on the 3rd string, see the open D banjo tuner.
Can I use double C on a 4-string banjo?
No, double C is a 5-string tuning. For 4-string banjos, choose Tenor, Irish tenor or Plectrum in the Tuning menu.