How Many Strings on a Banjo
Most banjos have five strings. That is the standard, and it covers roughly 90% of what people mean when they say “banjo.” But banjos also come in 4-string and 6-string configurations, each built for different genres, tunings, and playing styles.
Here is a straightforward breakdown of every type of banjo by string count, what each one is used for, and which one makes sense for you.
5-String Banjo
The 5-string banjo is the most common banjo in the world. It is the instrument used in bluegrass, old-time Appalachian music, folk, and country. If someone tells you they play banjo without further detail, they almost certainly mean a 5-string.
What makes it unique is the short fifth string. This string starts at the fifth fret with its tuning peg mounted on the side of the banjo neck, not at the headstock like the other four. It acts as a drone — it rings open throughout most playing, adding the rhythmic, syncopated sound that defines the banjo.
Standard tuning: Open G (gDGBD). The lowercase “g” indicates the fifth string, which is pitched higher than the surrounding strings. That reversed pitch order — high string on top, then low to high across the remaining four — is unlike any other fretted instrument.
Two main playing styles dominate the 5-string:
- Three-finger picking (Scruggs style): Uses thumb, index, and middle finger with fingerpicks. This is the fast, rolling sound of bluegrass. Earl Scruggs pioneered this technique in the 1940s and it remains the foundation of bluegrass banjo.
- Clawhammer (frailing): A downward striking motion with the back of the fingernail, followed by the thumb catching the drone string. This older technique suits old-time music and produces a rounder, more rhythmic tone.
Alternative tunings include Double C (gCGCD), open D (f#DF#AD), and Sawmill (gDGCD). Each opens up different melodic possibilities. For a full guide on getting in tune, see how to tune a banjo.
The 5-string also comes in a long-neck variant (25 frets, ~32-inch scale) credited to Pete Seeger, who wanted an instrument pitched lower to support his baritone voice. Standard 5-strings have 22 frets and a 26.25-inch scale length.
If you are starting from scratch, the 5-string banjo is almost always the right choice. Check our best beginner banjo guide for specific recommendations.
4-String Banjos
Four-string banjos come in two distinct types: the tenor banjo and the plectrum banjo. They look similar but differ in neck length, tuning, and musical tradition.
Tenor Banjo
The tenor banjo has a shorter neck (17 or 19 frets) and is tuned in fifths, like a viola or mandolin. It was developed in the early 1900s when violin players wanted a louder instrument that could cut through jazz ensembles while using familiar fingering patterns.
Standard tuning: CGDA (low to high), same intervals as a viola. Irish musicians often tune lower to GDAE, matching a fiddle one octave down. This Irish tuning requires heavier gauge strings to maintain proper tension.
The tenor banjo is most associated with:
- Traditional jazz and Dixieland — providing rhythmic chording in early jazz combos
- Irish and Celtic music — playing fast melodic lines, ornaments, and triplets. The shorter 17-fret neck makes those rapid passages slightly easier because the frets are closer together.
If you already play mandolin, violin, or viola, the tenor banjo will feel immediately familiar. Learn more in our guide on how to play a 4-string banjo.
Plectrum Banjo
The plectrum banjo has a longer neck (22 frets) — the same scale length as a 5-string banjo — but without the short fifth drone string. It is played with a flat pick (the word “plectrum” literally means flat pick), which produces a bright, crisp attack.
Standard tuning: CGBD. Some players use “Chicago tuning” (DGBE), which matches the top four strings of a guitar and also happens to be baritone ukulele tuning. This makes it easy for guitarists or uke players to cross over.
The plectrum banjo was essentially the first Dixieland jazz banjo. Historically, it emerged when players removed the fifth string from a 5-string banjo and started flatpicking it. Notable plectrum players include Eddie Peabody, Perry Bechtel, and Johnny St. Cyr, who played in Louis Armstrong’s band.
6-String Banjo
The 6-string banjo — sometimes called a guitar banjo or “ganjo” — is tuned and played exactly like a guitar: EADGBE. It gives guitarists access to the bright, punchy banjo tone without learning new chord shapes, scales, or fingerings.
Keith Urban popularized the 6-string banjo in country music, and it has since become common in folk, pop, and singer-songwriter contexts. Django Reinhardt also played 6-string banjo on several recordings with the Hot Club of France.
The 6-string is the most divisive banjo among purists. Some don’t consider it a “real” banjo because it lacks the defining short drone string. But from a practical standpoint, if you already play guitar and want that banjo sound in your recordings or live set, the 6-string is the fastest path.
Alternative tunings from the guitar world translate directly: drop D (DADGBE), open G (DGDGBD), and Nashville tuning (high octave strings only) all work and sound distinctive on a banjo body.
Less Common Variants
Beyond the three main types, several niche banjos exist:
- Banjolele (banjo ukulele): Four strings tuned like a ukulele (GCEA) on a small banjo body. Popularized by George Formby in the 1930s and 1940s. Lightweight, portable, and fun for novelty and casual playing.
- Bass banjo: Four strings tuned like a bass guitar (EADG). Rare, mostly seen in Dixieland or novelty ensembles.
- 12-string banjo: Six pairs of strings, played like a 6-string guitar banjo but with a rich, chorus-like shimmer. Extremely uncommon.
Open Back vs. Resonator
Regardless of string count, banjos come in two body styles. Open-back banjos have no back plate, producing a softer, mellower tone suited to clawhammer and old-time playing. Resonator banjos have an enclosed back chamber that projects sound forward, making them louder and brighter — the standard for bluegrass.
The body style affects volume and tone character more than string count does. Most beginners buying a 5-string should decide between open back and resonator based on the style of music they want to play.
Brief History
The banjo’s roots trace back to West Africa, where instruments made from gourds and animal skin with varying numbers of strings were played for centuries. Enslaved Africans brought these instruments to the Americas, where they evolved into the gourd banjos of the 17th and 18th centuries.
The modern 5-string banjo took shape in the early 1800s. Joel Sweeney, a white performer who learned from enslaved African Americans, is often credited with popularizing the instrument among wider audiences, though the banjo’s development owes far more to the unnamed African American musicians who created and refined it.
Metal strings replaced gut strings in the late 1800s, giving the banjo a louder, more resonant tone. The tenor and plectrum 4-string variants emerged in the early 1900s to serve jazz ensembles. The 6-string banjo appeared around the same period but gained mainstream traction much later.
For more on the instrument’s story, read our facts about banjo article.
Which Banjo Should You Pick?
Choosing by string count comes down to what you want to play and what you already know:
| Type | Strings | Best for | Already play… |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-string | 5 | Bluegrass, old-time, folk, country | Nothing (starting fresh) |
| Tenor | 4 | Irish, Celtic, traditional jazz | Mandolin, violin, viola |
| Plectrum | 4 | Dixieland jazz, chord melody | Guitar (with pick) |
| 6-string | 6 | Any genre, especially country/pop | Guitar |
If you have no prior instrument experience and no strong genre preference, start with a 5-string. It has the most learning resources, the largest community, and the widest range of musical styles. Our best banjo roundup covers options at every price point.
If you are a guitarist who wants to add banjo flavor without learning a new instrument from scratch, the 6-string is the practical choice.
If you play fiddle tunes or Irish music, the tenor banjo is your instrument. And if you are drawn to early jazz and Dixieland, the plectrum banjo is worth exploring.
Whatever you choose, stringing it properly and keeping it in tune are the first steps to sounding good.