"Chicago" style tuning comes from the world of 4 string banjo playing. What it means is that you tune the four strings like the top four strings of the guitar instead of the standard plectrum or tenor banjo tuning. There are basically three tunings used in the four string banjo world. CGDB (Plectrum) CGDA (Tenor) the so-called Chicago style or guitar-tuned DGBE. There are variations of these. The Irish banjo or the dropped-tenor tuning is GDAE. Some New Orleans banjo players tune to FCGD (dropped tuning like the tenor).

THere's nothing wrong with playing the four string banjo. It's used in combinations such as plectrum and tenor or as a support for dixie style band. It would be preferable though to get an instrument designed for that purpose rather than convert a five-string banjo unless the sound of the five-string would be optimal for tenor, plectrum or "Chicago" tuned banjo.


There is such a thing as re-entrant tuning in which the tenor bass string can be tuned up an octave or both third and fourth strings can be raised an octave.

Frank Hamilton