GCEGDE Banjo Tuner

GCEGDE Faux Banjo - Banjo tuning, chords & scales

Description - Faux Banjo

A tuning i used extensively on math-adjacent alternative punk music. I got a banjo way back and i vaguely remember finding this tuning as "standard banjo tuning" on some random site. so I just started using it for everything.

Verbal Analysis

The "Faux Banjo" tuning, as described by its creator, is a unique and vibrant setup tailored for "math-adjacent alternative punk music." Despite its name suggesting a banjo, this tuning offers a fascinating sonic landscape. For a guitarist approaching this tuning, it would mimic certain banjo voicings and open string drones, providing a fresh perspective. The open strings resonate with a rich, complex sonority, moving beyond simple major or minor chords, lending themselves to unconventional harmonic textures and intricate melodic lines often found in math rock and experimental genres. Its somewhat unusual intervals between strings facilitate both ringing open tones and sharp, percussive riffs, creating a distinctive voice ideal for dynamic and intricate compositions.

The open tuning G2-C3-E3-G3-D4-E4 strongly implies a C Major harmony (C-E-G) with a low G root and an added D, effectively creating a Cmaj9/G sound. This provides a strong, resonant foundation, but the arrangement of notes, particularly the jump from G3 to D4 (a perfect fifth up) and D4 to E4 (a major second up), allows for interesting arpeggiated patterns and quick melodic runs across adjacent strings. Chords based around C Major will feel very natural and full. Additionally, the presence of multiple Gs and Es means that dominant G chords or even G6 voicings could be easily emphasized or implied. The tuning encourages exploration of suspensions and open harmonies, perfect for dynamic and intricate compositions.

Technical Analysis

This tuning for a Banjo sets the open strings to:

String 6 (lowest): G2
String 5: C3
String 4: E3
String 3: G3
String 2: D4
String 1 (highest): E4

The sequence of intervals between adjacent strings, from lowest to highest, is a Perfect 4th (G2-C3), a Major 3rd (C3-E3), a Minor 3rd (E3-G3), a Perfect 5th (G3-D4), and a Major 2nd (D4-E4). This varied intervallic structure avoids the predictable patterns of standard tunings, opening up a wide array of chord voicings and melodic possibilities with minimal finger movement. The open strings themselves form a G-C-E-G-D-E voicing, which can be primarily interpreted as a Cmaj9 chord with a low G root (Cmaj9/G), offering a rich, extended harmony. The C-E-G on strings 5, 4, 3 forms a C Major triad, while the G on string 6 acts as a strong pedal tone, making C major and related chords very accessible and resonant.

How to Tune

To achieve the "Faux Banjo" tuning from a standard starting point, carefully adjust each string as follows:

String 6: Tune up 3 semitones to G2.
String 5: Tune up 3 semitones to C3.
String 4: Tune up 2 semitones to E3.
String 3: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to G3.
String 2: Tune up 3 semitones to D4.
String 1: Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to E4.

Please note that several strings are tuned up by 2 or 3 semitones. While none exceed the advised threshold of 4 semitones up or down, it is always advisable to check your instrument's intonation and neck relief after significant tuning changes to ensure optimal playability and string longevity.

String 6: Tuned to G2 (the lowest note).
String 5: Tuned to C3.
String 4: Tuned to E3.
String 3: Tuned to G3.
String 2: Tuned to D4.
String 1: Tuned to E4 (the highest note).