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Blank banjo tab paper (5-string)

Five-line tablature staves for five-string banjo, ten to a Letter page, for writing rolls, licks and whole tunes by fret number.

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Variations

Wider string spacing Bigger staves for beginners and lessons. More staves Less space between staves. Without TAB label Plain five-line staves.

What prints with the starting settings

Specifications of Banjo tab paper – US Letter, as set when the page opens; the notes under the preview follow your changes
PaperUS Letter — 215.9 × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11 in)
LayoutBanjo tab (5)
Tab staves on this page10
Line gap2.97 mm (staff 11.88 mm tall)
Margins1/2″
Line weight0.2 mm (bold 0.35 mm)
Print settingScale 100% / Actual size
Print at 100%. In the print dialog choose Scale 100% or Actual size (not “Fit to page”) and margins None. Grids measuring a few percent small? Calibrate your printer once and every download is corrected.
Printable banjo tab paper – US Letter — preview of the PDF
Banjo tab paper – US Letter, rendered by the same engine that makes the PDF.

Rolls on paper

Three-finger banjo playing is built from rolls: repeating patterns across the strings, eight notes to a bar. Tab shows exactly which string and fret each note uses, which is why nearly all bluegrass teaching material is written this way. These sheets give you plain five-line staves ready for your own arrangements.

Writing banjo tab

  • Numbers on lines: each number is a fret on that string; 0 is open.
  • The fifth string starts at the fifth fret, so if you fret it, write the actual fret number from the nut (for example 7, not 2).
  • Right-hand fingering can go below the staff: T for thumb, I for index, M for middle.
  • Slides, hammer-ons and pull-offs are usually written with sl, h and p above the notes.

Organising a tune

Write the A part and B part on separate staves with a label, and mark repeats with double bar lines. Leave the spaces between staves for chord names so a guitarist can play along from the same sheet. For chords, use ukulele and guitar chord chart paper.

Printing

Print at 100% / Actual size on Letter or A4. A stack of sheets in a ring binder makes a simple tune book.

More sheet music & tab sheets

Frequently asked questions

How many staves fit on a page?

Ten on Letter and eleven on A4 with the default spacing. Reducing the space between staves fits more.

Which line is the fifth string?

In most banjo tab, the top line is the 1st string (D in open G tuning) and the bottom line is the short 5th string (high G). Some older books reverse this, so label the lines if you share your tab.

Isn't this the same as staff paper?

Both have five lines, but tab lines are spaced further apart (about 2.97 mm here) so fret numbers fit on them, and each staff has the TAB label at the left.

Can I use it for other instruments?

Yes, for any five-string instrument written in tab, such as five-string bass, with the lines labelled to match.

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