What strings does a 5-string, plectrum or tenor banjo use?

Quick Answer

Each type needs its own set. A 5-string banjo is commonly tuned to open G (G D G B D). Plectrum and tenor banjos are both 4-string, but they differ in scale length, tuning and gauges, so we make separate Plectrum and Tenor Banjo sets.

Common tunings:

5-string: G D G B D. The short fifth string is tuned to G, and the four full-length strings are tuned D G B D.
Plectrum: C G B D
Tenor: C G D A, with G D A E also widely used for Irish tenor banjo

Other 5-string tunings are used too, so make sure your gauges suit the tuning you plan to play in.

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