Banjo Chord Chart
5-string banjo, open-G tuning (g D G B D) · tap a chord to see & hear it
How to play
- Tap a chord to load its shape and hear it rolled. The diagram is the neck upright: the top bar is the nut, the four lines are strings 4 3 2 1 (open notes D G B D, left to right).
- Gold dots show where to press, with the note name inside; o above the nut means play that string open. The short 5th string (g) is a high drone shown on the far left — it rings open on every chord.
- Open G tuning means the open strings already form a G chord, so many shapes need only one or two fingers. The g drone is part of every G, C and Em; on other chords it adds the classic banjo ring.
- Roll plays a bluegrass-style forward roll across the strings. Vol sets volume. Keyboard — Tab + Enter/Space.
The software is a virtual banjo that allow you to discover some common banjo chords played in open G tuning on a five-string banjo. By either playing along yourself (with your computer keyboard) or just clicking directly on the chord buttons, you can engage with this instrument. The idea behind it is that you will be able to see where fingers need to go and also hear what the chord should sound like in a real setting.
The line of chord name buttons lets you choose the progression you wish to learn. A different chord shape are loaded for each button with an audio preview and diagram to help you concentrate on one shape at a time. Your choice is clearly indicated by highlighting current chord. This allows you to cycle through all major, minor and seventh chords that is available in this preset library.
How to Use the Virtual Banjo
The neck diagram above shows you where to position your fingers on the strings. An open circle denotes an open string (not pressed down), whilst a gold dot are for a fretted note. The number in each of the dots represents the note that will be played. It helps you connect what you see in the tabs or sheet music with where you place your finger.
If you click on the Roll button, it sounds like this, which is a kind of forward roll pattern similar to those used in traditional styles of Bluegrass music. Clicking the Strum button will play all the strings together as one chord. The fifth string act as a drone for both options so that you have some idea of how the banjo ‘rings’ and feels.
Master Output Level, This sets the overall output of the instrument. If you want to practice with headphones, you might like to turn this down a bit. If you’re playing through speakers, you can use the slider to adjust the overall volume. It works for both strum and roll playbacks. Adjust it until it sounds comfortabley in the mix.
The How to Play button toggles a useful reference panel that outlines the notation on the diagram, along with explaining how the open fifth string work in various chords. The panel’s great for newcomers to banjo tablature or for a refresher on the usual conventions. When you’re done, toggle the button back to close it up and make some more room for instrument view.
To increase the size of the widget, use the Fullscreen button which will open the widget in full-screen on your device. It’s perfect if you have a smaller window or are using a mobile device so that you can read all the details about chords and text with complete clarity. At any point, simply click the Fullscreen button again to exit it.
The keyboard support also lets you play around with no need for the mouse, using the Tab key to change focus and Enter (or Space) to choose. Jumping quickly from one shape to another makes the flow smoother than a mouse movement.
Experiment with keeping a chord held down while hitting several rolls in succession to see how consistent and accurate your timing is. You should of tried this too. Try rolling and strumming the chord as you play. Some of these will be fuller-sounding if strummed then they are if rolled. Observe what is happening with the drone string as this alters its function based off the harmony. Perhaps you notice a greater fullness transitioning from one chord to another in certain key centers involving seventh chords.