The banjo’s range in notes and hertz
That is a five-string in open G. Double C and other tunings drop the bottom string to C3; the short fifth string is a drone and adds no low notes. Most banjo music is written in tab.
Written and sounding pitch
Banjo music is usually read from tab, letters or numbers rather than a staff, so there is no conventional written range to give. The notes above are the pitches you hear.
Instruments with a similar range
The instruments whose normal range shares the most notes with the banjo’s:
- Viola · C3–D7 32 notes shared
- Cello · C2–A6 32 notes shared
- Guitar · E2–B5 32 notes shared
- 7-string guitar · B1–C♯6 32 notes shared
- 8-string guitar · F♯1–C♯6 32 notes shared
- Brazilian 7-string guitar · C2–B5 32 notes shared
Tune it, play it
- Banjo tuner — tune by microphone, with the banjo’s own target notes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the range of a banjo?
The banjo’s full range runs from D3 to A5 — 146.83 to 880.00 Hz, about 2.6 octaves.
What is the lowest note on a banjo?
D3 (146.83 Hz).
What is the highest note on a banjo?
A5 (880.00 Hz).