Virtual banjo: play a 5-string banjo online
Get the bright twang of a banjo in your browser. Choose a standard 5-string, bluegrass, open-back, tenor or plectrum banjo and pluck the strings with your keyboard.
It is a quick way to hear how the banjo family differs and to try folk, country and bluegrass melodies. Each type has its own tuning, so switching instruments changes both the pitch and the character of the sound.
How to play the banjo with your computer keyboard
- Q W E R T pluck the banjo strings (the 4-string banjos use Q to R).
- Click a string on screen to play it with the mouse.
- Switch between 5-string, tenor, plectrum, bluegrass and open-back banjos.
What you can do on the virtual banjo
- 5 banjo types: standard 5-string, tenor, plectrum, bluegrass and open-back
- Keyboard and mouse playing
- Record your playing
5 banjo types to choose from
- 5-String Banjo: The standard five-string banjo with its short drone string, played with Q, W, E, R and T.
- Tenor Banjo: Four strings tuned C, G, D and A, as in Irish folk music and Dixieland jazz.
- Plectrum Banjo: A four-string banjo tuned D, B, G and C, made for strumming chords with a pick.
- Bluegrass Banjo: Five strings in open G tuning for bright, driving bluegrass rolls.
- Open-Back Banjo: A mellow, plunky five-string tone for old-time clawhammer playing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I play banjo on a keyboard?
Press Q W E R T to pluck the five strings.
Is the virtual banjo free?
Yes. The banjo is free to play in your browser with no download and no sign-up. You can record and save favourites without an account; a free sign-in adds music rooms and Google Drive backup.
What is the difference between a 5-string and a tenor banjo?
The 5-string banjo has a short fifth drone string and is used in bluegrass; the tenor banjo has four strings tuned in fifths and is used in Irish music and jazz.