Banjo Chord Chart (5-String, Open G Tuning)
On a 5-string banjo in open G tuning the first chords are G (all strings open), C (2-0-1-2), D7 (4-2-1-0) and Em (2-0-0-2), with frets listed from the 4th string to the 1st. The short 5th string is left open. With G, C and D7 you can accompany hundreds of folk, country and bluegrass songs.
Works in the UK and the US. This version uses UK music words (bar, crotchet, quaver, stave); the US version uses measure, quarter note, eighth note and staff. · US version of this page
Updated · By the Classfern Music Department
Key facts
- Chord fret numbers on this page run from the 4th string (D) to the 1st string (D); the 5th string stays open.
- G major needs no fingers in open G tuning: g D G B D.
- The three chords of the key of G are G, C and D (or D7). In the key of C they are C, F and G (or G7).
- The F shape (3-2-1-3) and the barre (all strings at one fret) are movable: slide them up the neck for other chords.
- A barre at fret 2 gives A major, at fret 5 C major, at fret 7 D major.
- This chart has 16 chords: 6 major, 4 minor and 6 seventh chords.
Banjo chord chart
Press Hear for the chord strummed, or Roll to hear it picked as a forward roll. Numbers in the dots are left-hand fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). Self-assessed Does your chord sound like ours, with no buzzing strings?
Major chords
- 0 0 0 0
- 2 0 1 2
- 0 2 3 4
- 3 2 1 3
- 2 2 2 2
- 2 1 0 2
Minor chords
- 2 0 0 2
- 2 2 1 2
- 0 2 3 3
- 4 4 3 4
Seventh chords
- 3 0 0 0
- 2 3 1 2
- 4 2 1 0
- 2 2 2 5
- 0 1 0 2
- 1 2 0 4
Sounds are made in your browser. This page never uses the microphone, and nothing is recorded or sent.
What are the basic banjo chords?
The basic 5-string banjo chords are G, C, D7, D and E minor, then F, A minor and G7. In open G tuning G is played on open strings, which is why so much banjo music is in the key of G.
| Chord | Frets | Fingers | Notes | Open 5th string in the chord? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 0 0 0 0 | – – – – | D G B D | Yes (G) |
| C | 2 0 1 2 | 2 – 1 3 | E G C E | Yes (G) |
| D | 0 2 3 4 | – 1 2 3 | D A D F♯ | No – avoid it or let it clash softly |
| F | 3 2 1 3 | 3 2 1 4 | F A C F | No – avoid it or let it clash softly |
| A | 2 2 2 2 | 1 1 1 1 | E A C♯ E | No – avoid it or let it clash softly |
| E | 2 1 0 2 | 2 1 – 3 | E G♯ B E | No – avoid it or let it clash softly |
| Em | 2 0 0 2 | 2 – – 3 | E G B E | Yes (G) |
| Am | 2 2 1 2 | 2 3 1 4 | E A C E | No – avoid it or let it clash softly |
| Dm | 0 2 3 3 | – 1 2 3 | D A D F | No – avoid it or let it clash softly |
| Bm | 4 4 3 4 | 2 3 1 4 | F♯ B D F♯ | No – avoid it or let it clash softly |
| G7 | 3 0 0 0 | 3 – – – | F G B D | Yes (G) |
| C7 | 2 3 1 2 | 2 4 1 3 | E B♭ C E | Yes (G) |
| D7 | 4 2 1 0 | 4 2 1 – | F♯ A C D | No – avoid it or let it clash softly |
| A7 | 2 2 2 5 | 1 1 1 4 | E A C♯ G | Yes (G) |
| E7 | 0 1 0 2 | – 1 – 3 | D G♯ B E | No – avoid it or let it clash softly |
| B7 | 1 2 0 4 | 1 2 – 4 | D♯ A B F♯ | No – avoid it or let it clash softly |
How do you play a G chord on the banjo?
In open G tuning a G chord needs no fingers at all: strum or roll across the open strings, g D G B D. Other G shapes are the F shape at the 5th fret (5-4-3-5) and the barre at the 12th fret.
Because the open strings already make G, beginners can practise right-hand rolls on G before learning any left-hand shapes. Higher up the neck, G is the F shape moved up two frets: 5 on the 4th string, 4 on the 3rd, 3 on the 2nd and 5 on the 1st.
How do you play a C chord on the banjo?
Put the index finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string, the middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string and the ring finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string. The 3rd string stays open. That gives frets 2-0-1-2.
C is the hardest of the first three chords because it uses three fingers on three strings. Press just behind the frets, keep the fingers arched so the open 3rd string can ring, and check each string on its own. The open 5th string (G) is part of C major, so it can ring in a roll.
What chords go together on the banjo?
In the key of G use G, C and D7 (add Em for a minor sound). In the key of C use C, F and G7; in D use D, G and A7. These are the I, IV and V chords of each key.
| Key | I | IV | V (or V7) | Relative minor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | G | C | D or D7 | Em |
| C | C | F | G or G7 | Am |
| D | D | G | A or A7 | Bm |
| A | A | D | E or E7 | – |
Use the progression buttons in the chart to hear the key of G and the key of C as rolls. For playing songs, see the guide to reading banjo tabs.
Do you fret the 5th string on a banjo chord?
Usually not. In most chords the short 5th string is left open and sounds G. It fits G, C, Em and G7; with chords like D or A some players avoid picking it, or capo it to a note that fits.
When a song is in another key, banjo players often use a capo on the main strings and raise the 5th string to match, with a small spike or a separate 5th-string capo. For example, with a capo at the 2nd fret (key of A) the 5th string is tuned or capoed up to A.
Movable banjo chords
Three shapes cover the whole neck. Move each one up a fret and the chord goes up a semitone.
| Shape | Frets (4th to 1st) | G | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F shape | 3 2 1 3 (at the lowest) | 5 4 3 5 | 10 9 8 10 | 12 11 10 12 |
| Barre (G shape) | All four at one fret | Fret 12 (or open) | Fret 5 | Fret 7 |
| D shape | 4 2 3 4 at D (one fret lower on the 3rd string) | 9 7 8 9 | 2 0 1 2 (the open C chord) | 4 2 3 4 |
The open C chord in the chart is the D shape moved two frets down; the open D chord (0-2-3-4) is a different shape that uses the open 4th string.
Classfern’s free music tools on lessonplanner.info run in your browser. For tuning notes, the banjo’s history and first steps, see banjo for beginners; for the same chords on other instruments, try the chord player.
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