rkdjones - Posted - 02/10/2026:  12:52:15

I want to tune my tenor banjo to D B B D, almost the same as Chicago tuning. I play the 5-string too and want to use the same chord shapes. I guess there are lots of ways to get strings from combinations of banjo and guitar strings. And there are calculators online. What I don't know is what sort of tension is appropriate. I've read the banjos are usually under a lot less string tension than guitars (not just total, but each string). If you can tell me which gauges you use and whether wound or not I can use the calculator to figure out what tension you are using. Thanks.
Robert

Culloden - Posted - 02/10/2026:  14:00:50

Try .030, .024, .014, and.010 for starters. If you find the gauges don't work for you, you can adjust your gauges to accommodate your preference.

The D and G strings are wound, the B and E strings are plain. That's what I used when I tuned the tenor guitar that way.

Edited by - Culloden on 02/10/2026 14:03:05

rkdjones - Posted - 02/10/2026:  15:41:55

That's useful.
I'm assuming you are in Chicago tuning: DGBE. If I use your gauges I get these tensions for the first and second string on a 23" scale: 14.5 and 16 lbs. see tension.stringjoy.com

That was the kind of tension that I thought might be right for a tenor banjo.

By the way, what I found online about guitars is that strings are tensioned between 20 and 30 lbs, while 5-string banjo run between 10 and 12 lbs. for light gauge.

Culloden - Posted - 02/10/2026:  21:27:51

quote:

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Originally posted by rkdjones

That's useful.

I'm assuming you are in Chicago tuning: DGBE. If I use your gauges I get these tensions for the first and second string on a 23" scale: 14.5 and 16 lbs. see tension.stringjoy.com



That was the kind of tension that I thought might be right for a tenor banjo.



By the way, what I found online about guitars is that strings are tensioned between 20 and 30 lbs, while 5-string banjo run between 10 and 12 lbs. for light gauge.

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That's right. My tenor guitar had a scale length of 22 1/2". I like my strings a little bit light. I tuned to DGbe with those gauges, and I used different gauges when I tuned CGda.

rkdjones - Posted - 02/15/2026:  11:44:56

I'm setting up for a bluegrass jam with my tenor banjo tuned dGBd. I'll play clawhammer. I'm starting with a bluegrass group because it seems like simpler music than OT and there is a bass to follow. I expect a lot of it to be in the key of G. This will be an experiment. I play clawhammer 5-string. The development of clawhammer ukulele has inspired me to try it on a 4-string as an instrument for comping. It might even work as a melodic instrument for songs with really limited range (I basically have an octave to work with). Robert

haildixon - Posted - 02/15/2026:  11:57:10

FWIW the gauges I used for years have been .011 / .015 / .024w / .030w - I just buy singles from D'Addario. I use a 19-fret Vega, no idea what the tension is but it feels right to me.

rkdjones - Posted - 02/16/2026:  00:19:53

Thanks, useful information.

kimmattis123 - Posted - 02/22/2026:  09:42:43

I also have a 19 fret old Vega- I have it tuned almost to normal CGda tuning- mostly for Irish Tenor- I've tried heavier strings on it for Chicago tuning [DGbe] [.12/.16/.24/.35 from a La Bella set.] Way to heavy to sound good. Regular Vega brand tenor strings work best for Cgda/g tunings. I'm using the La Bella set to re-tune to IRISH tuning- GDae or GDad [to match my bouzouki]. However this tuning never sounded very good on the banjo- the G strings is muffled and almost useless and I've tried about five different sets from different makers- from G=.32 to G=.40--all the same.

johnstephen - Posted - 03/15/2026:  11:29:17

quote:

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Originally posted by rkdjones

I want to tune my tenor banjo to D B B D, almost the same as Chicago tuning. I play the 5-string too and want to use the same chord shapes. I guess there are lots of ways to get strings from combinations of banjo and guitar strings. And there are calculators online. What I don't know is what sort of tension is appropriate. I've read the banjos are usually under a lot less string tension than guitars (not just total, but each string). If you can tell me which gauges you use and whether wound or not I can use the calculator to figure out what tension you are using. Thanks.

Robert

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I'm just curious, about your DBBD tuning -- so the two B's are an octave apart?  Or doubling the same note.  And hopefully you got the info you were looking for on string tension.