What is Sawmill Banjo Tuning?

Sawmill tuning is also referred to as G-Modal, Gsus4th or Mountain Minor Tuning. It is a very popular tuning that can be used when playing classic bluegrass songs such as Pretty Polly or Shady Grove.

For this discussion I will use a standard five string banjo as an example. The five string banjo is designed having a fifth string that has a tuning peg starting on the fifth fret of the neck, along with four normal length banjo strings.

For Sawmill tuning the banjo is tuned to an open Gsus4th chord. The strings of a banjo are tuned to have the notes of G (root), C (Forth), and D (fifth).

The strings are tuned as follows highest to lowest:

1st string - D
2nd string - C
3rd string - G
4th string - D
5th string - G

When tuning the banjo, I generally start on the 4th string. This is the lowest (thickest) full length string on the instrument. This string is tuned to open D note. If you do not have an electric tuner, there are many internet sites that will provide a tone to aid in tuning.

After the 4th string is tuned to open D, Place your finger on the fifth fret, 4th string. This is G, which will equal the 3rd string when played open. Adjust the 3rd string appropriately to match the tones.

After the 3rd string is tuned to open G, place your finger on the fifth fret, 3rd string. This is C, which is equal to the 2nd string when played open. Adjust the 2nd string appropriately to match the tones.

Next is to tune the first string. After the 2nd string is tuned to C, place your finger on the second fret, 2nd string. This is D, which is equal to the first string when played open. Adjust the 1st string appropriately to match these tones.

Now it is time to tune the 5th string, which is the high G string with the tuning peg located on the fifth fret of the neck board. Place your finger on the fifth fret 1st string. This is the G note that is equal to the fifth string when played open. Be careful when adjusting the fifth string, it is very easy to break!

Lastly fine tune all of the strings when you are done. You have changed the surface tension of the banjo head as you tuned every string; therefore, they will need adjusting.