Open D Tuning on 5-string banjo
Open D tuning is F#4 D3 F#3 A3 D4, written f#DF#AD. From open G, lower the 5th string a semitone to F#4, the 3rd string a semitone to F#3 and the 2nd string a semitone to A3. The 4th and 1st strings keep D.
| String | Note | Frequency (Hz) | MIDI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th (short drone) | F#4 | 369.99 | 66 |
| 4th | D3 | 146.83 | 50 |
| 3rd | F#3 | 185.00 | 54 |
| 2nd | A3 | 220.00 | 57 |
| 1st | D4 | 293.66 | 62 |
Every frequency is computed from the MIDI number, not typed in. Each one links to its own reference page.
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Why guitarists use Open D tuning
The open strings sound a D major chord, giving the same one-finger chording as open G but in a key that matches a fiddle playing in D, which is where a great many old-time tunes sit.
Where you will hear it: old-time, clawhammer, fiddle tune accompaniment. That list is deliberately limited to genres and playing traditions. Attributing a tuning to specific songs or players is the kind of claim that needs a source, and this page does not make claims it cannot back up.
Open D compared with standard gDGBD tuning
This is the table that tells you how far to turn each peg, in semitones and in hertz. A negative semitone value means the string goes down.
| String | Standard | Standard (Hz) | Open D | Open D (Hz) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th (short drone) | G4 | 392.00 | F#4 | 369.99 | -1 semitone (-22.00 Hz) |
| 4th | D3 | 146.83 | D3 | 146.83 | unchanged |
| 3rd | G3 | 196.00 | F#3 | 185.00 | -1 semitone (-11.00 Hz) |
| 2nd | B3 | 246.94 | A3 | 220.00 | -2 semitones (-26.94 Hz) |
| 1st | D4 | 293.66 | D4 | 293.66 | unchanged |
Notice that equal semitone steps are not equal hertz steps: the same whole step is worth about 9 Hz down at the bottom string and far more at the top. That is why tuners report cents, which are proportional, rather than hertz.
How to tune to Open D, string by string
- Play the 5th (short drone) open and adjust until the tuner reads F#4 at 369.99 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 4th open and adjust until the tuner reads D3 at 146.83 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 3rd open and adjust until the tuner reads F#3 at 185.00 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 2nd open and adjust until the tuner reads A3 at 220.00 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 1st open and adjust until the tuner reads D4 at 293.66 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
Retune in two passes. Changing the tension on one string changes the pull on the neck, so the strings you set first will have drifted slightly by the time you finish the last one. That effect is larger the further the tuning sits from standard, so a tuning that moves four or more strings almost always needs a third pass.
Frequently asked questions
What notes is Open D tuning on a 5-string banjo?
Open D is F#4, D3, F#3, A3, D4, written f#DF#AD. From open G, lower the 5th string a semitone to F#4, the 3rd string a semitone to F#3 and the 2nd string a semitone to A3. The 4th and 1st strings keep D.
What are the frequencies of Open D tuning?
F#4 is 369.99 Hz, D3 is 146.83 Hz, F#3 is 185.00 Hz, A3 is 220.00 Hz, D4 is 293.66 Hz, all in twelve tone equal temperament with A4 at 440 Hz.
How many strings change compared to standard tuning?
3 of 5. the 5th (short drone) goes from G4 to F#4 (down 1 semitone), the 3rd goes from G3 to F#3 (down 1 semitone), the 2nd goes from B3 to A3 (down 2 semitones).
What is the lowest note in Open D tuning?
F#4 at 369.99 Hz, MIDI note 66. Low notes take longer for a pitch detector to lock onto, so play the string firmly and let it ring before trusting the cents reading.
Other 5-string banjo tunings
More tuning references
Frequencies on this page are computed at build time from twelve tone equal temperament with A4 = 440 Hz, using the twelfth root of two (about 1.059463) per semitone. Nothing is typed in by hand. See the full method and sources. Maintained by FusionStudios. Last reviewed: .