Sawmill (mountain modal) Tuning on 5-string banjo
Sawmill (mountain modal) tuning is G4 D3 G3 C4 D4, written gDGCD. Open G with the 2nd string raised a semitone, from B3 to C4.
| String | Note | Frequency (Hz) | MIDI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th (short drone) | G4 | 392.00 | 67 |
| 4th | D3 | 146.83 | 50 |
| 3rd | G3 | 196.00 | 55 |
| 2nd | C4 | 261.63 | 60 |
| 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 Sawmill (mountain modal) tuning
Raising the third of the chord to a fourth removes the major third entirely, so the open strings sound Gsus4 and the tuning is neither major nor minor. That ambiguity is exactly what modal old-time tunes need, and it is why the tuning is also called mountain modal.
Where you will hear it: old-time, modal fiddle tunes, clawhammer. 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.
Sawmill (mountain modal) 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) | Sawmill (mountain modal) | Sawmill (mountain modal) (Hz) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th (short drone) | G4 | 392.00 | G4 | 392.00 | unchanged |
| 4th | D3 | 146.83 | D3 | 146.83 | unchanged |
| 3rd | G3 | 196.00 | G3 | 196.00 | unchanged |
| 2nd | B3 | 246.94 | C4 | 261.63 | +1 semitone (+14.68 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 Sawmill (mountain modal), string by string
- Play the 5th (short drone) open and adjust until the tuner reads G4 at 392.00 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 G3 at 196.00 Hz. Aim to land inside five cents.
- Play the 2nd open and adjust until the tuner reads C4 at 261.63 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 Sawmill (mountain modal) tuning on a 5-string banjo?
Sawmill (mountain modal) is G4, D3, G3, C4, D4, written gDGCD. Open G with the 2nd string raised a semitone, from B3 to C4.
What are the frequencies of Sawmill (mountain modal) tuning?
G4 is 392.00 Hz, D3 is 146.83 Hz, G3 is 196.00 Hz, C4 is 261.63 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?
1 of 5. the 2nd goes from B3 to C4 (up 1 semitone).
What is the lowest note in Sawmill (mountain modal) tuning?
G4 at 392.00 Hz, MIDI note 67. 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: .