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Free online banjo tab editor
Write 5-string banjo tab in your browser: open G tuning with the short fifth string, standard notation above the tab, hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides, playback with a banjo sound, and export as PDF, text tab, Guitar Pro or MusicXML. No download, no account to start.
Tuning and notation
| Tuning | Strings, low to high |
|---|---|
| Open G | G D G B D, the fifth string tuned to the high G |
| Custom | any note per string, for double C, D tuning or others |
Treble clef, written an octave above the sounding pitch, as in printed banjo music. The tab has 5 lines, named from the tuning. Changing the tuning or adding a capo keeps the sounding notes and frets the tab again.
Typing banjo tab
- Press ↑ and ↓ to choose the string, then type the fret: 0 to 9, or two digits quickly for frets 10 and above. The note appears on the staff above as you type.
- Set the note length with + and −, a dot with ., a triplet with /, a rest with R, a tie with L.
- Add techniques with one key: H hammer-on or pull-off, S slide, B bend, X dead note, I let ring, P palm mute, V vibrato, Y harmonic. Alt+↑/↓ moves a note to another string.
- Press Space to hear it. Slow it down, loop a passage, or turn on the metronome and count-in.
Or enter from the staff: A to G for pitches, 2 to 8 to stack intervals; a string and fret are chosen for every note. How the two staves work together, and the full list of shortcuts.
The fifth string
The fifth string is tuned to the high G and shown as the bottom line of the tab, as in banjo books. The editor treats it as a full-length string, so it will accept any fret on it; on a real banjo the string starts at the fifth fret, so keep the fifth-string frets at 0 or 5 and above, or capo it.
Rolls and techniques
Forward and backward rolls are just eighth or sixteenth notes typed fret by fret; use M to copy a beat to the end of the bar and repeat a pattern quickly. Hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides have their own keys and are played back and exported.
In and out
Banjo tracks in Guitar Pro files open with their tuning. Export as PDF to print, text tab with five named lines, or Guitar Pro.
Questions
Which tuning does the banjo use?
Open G, g D G B D, with the fifth string as the high G. Other tunings, such as double C or D tuning, can be set string by string in the instrument settings.
How is the fifth string shown?
As the bottom line of the tab, as in banjo books. The editor accepts any fret on it; on a real banjo the string starts at the fifth fret.
Does it play back with a banjo sound?
Yes. Playback uses a synthesized banjo, with a metronome, count-in and loop for practising rolls at a slower tempo without changing the pitch.
Can I print tab only?
Yes. Turn off the notation staff in the instrument settings and the PDF prints only the tab.
Is it free?
Yes. Writing, playback, import and export are free, and you can start without an account.