TUNING REFERENCE

Open D (Banjo) tuning

F# · D · F# · A · D

Open D (Banjo) is a 5-string banjo tuning with open strings F#–D–F#–A–D.

Instrument
Banjo (5-String)
Strings
5
Open notes
F# D F# A D
With octaves
F#4 D3 F#3 A3 D4

FREE FRETBOARD REFERENCE

F# Minor on the fretboard

Find each scale tone in a catalog tuning. Filled notes marked R are roots; outlined notes are other tones. Open strings are fret 0.

Choose a scale to see it in Open D (Banjo). A scale does not need to contain every open-string note to be played in this tuning.

Banjo (5-String) referenceF# Minor scale in this tuning

Banjo (5-String) · Open D (Banjo) · Frets 0–12 · All scale tones

F# Minor in Open D (Banjo) on Banjo (5-String)Physical string order is preserved, with the first catalog string at the bottom. Read exact frets and pitches in the table below. Roots carry an R marker.0123456789101112F#4D3F#3A3D4String 1, fret 0: F#4, rootF#RString 1, fret 2: G#4G#String 1, fret 3: A4AString 1, fret 5: B4BString 1, fret 7: C#5C#String 1, fret 8: D5DString 1, fret 10: E5EString 1, fret 12: F#5, rootF#RString 2, fret 0: D3DString 2, fret 2: E3EString 2, fret 4: F#3, rootF#RString 2, fret 6: G#3G#String 2, fret 7: A3AString 2, fret 9: B3BString 2, fret 11: C#4C#String 2, fret 12: D4DString 3, fret 0: F#3, rootF#RString 3, fret 2: G#3G#String 3, fret 3: A3AString 3, fret 5: B3BString 3, fret 7: C#4C#String 3, fret 8: D4DString 3, fret 10: E4EString 3, fret 12: F#4, rootF#RString 4, fret 0: A3AString 4, fret 2: B3BString 4, fret 4: C#4C#String 4, fret 5: D4DString 4, fret 7: E4EString 4, fret 9: F#4, rootF#RString 4, fret 11: G#4G#String 4, fret 12: A4AString 5, fret 0: D4DString 5, fret 2: E4EString 5, fret 4: F#4, rootF#RString 5, fret 6: G#4G#String 5, fret 7: A4AString 5, fret 9: B4BString 5, fret 11: C#5C#String 5, fret 12: D5D

Notes-per-string views select the first matching scale tones on each string at or above the starting fret, within a 12-fret window. These are position studies: crossing strings can repeat or skip pitches. They are not guaranteed continuous ascending runs or finger assignments. Four-note layouts can require stretches or position shifts.

Fret positions and pitches · first catalog string to last
Open stringFretsNotes with octaves
1 · F#40 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12F#4 · G#4 · A4 · B4 · C#5 · D5 · E5 · F#5
2 · D30 · 2 · 4 · 6 · 7 · 9 · 11 · 12D3 · E3 · F#3 · G#3 · A3 · B3 · C#4 · D4
3 · F#30 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 7 · 8 · 10 · 12F#3 · G#3 · A3 · B3 · C#4 · D4 · E4 · F#4
4 · A30 · 2 · 4 · 5 · 7 · 9 · 11 · 12A3 · B3 · C#4 · D4 · E4 · F#4 · G#4 · A4
5 · D40 · 2 · 4 · 6 · 7 · 9 · 11 · 12D4 · E4 · F#4 · G#4 · A4 · B4 · C#5 · D5

Intervals from the first string

Each interval is measured by pitch class from the first physical open string. String order is preserved for re-entrant and doubled-course tunings.

StringNoteSemitonesInterval
1F#40Root
2D38Minor 6th
3F#30Root
4A33Minor 3rd
5D48Minor 6th

Compare with Open G (Banjo)

Pitch changes in semitones for each physical string, compared with Open G (Banjo). Negative values lower the pitch; positive values raise it. Check your instrument and string gauges before changing register.

StringDefault pitchThis tuningChange
1G4F#4-1 semitones
2D3D30 semitones
3G3F#3-1 semitones
4B3A3-2 semitones
5D4D40 semitones

Explore this string layout

Browse 5-string banjo tunings. Related tunings below prioritize the default tuning, matching interval structures, and nearby open-string pitches.

Chords available in the open strings

D Major

Scales containing every open-string pitch class

D MajorD Major pentatonicE MinorF# MinorG MajorA MajorB MinorB Minor pentatonic

Related tunings

Open G (Banjo)Sawmill (Banjo)Double C (Banjo)

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