Tenor Banjos
The tenor banjo has four strings and a shorter scale, played with a flatpick rather than fingers. Tuned in fifths, it drove the rhythm of Dixieland and trad jazz bands, and in its Irish tuning it became a lead voice in Celtic music.
The compact neck and punchy, cutting tone make the tenor a favorite for ensemble playing and for fiddle or mandolin players looking to cross over. Browse our tenor banjos below.
The Gold Tone AC-4 IT is a 4-string openback Irish tenor banjo built for the GDAE tuning that Irish session players use. Its lightweight composite rim and slim, fast neck make it easy to play and easy to carry, while the ZeroGlide nut keeps it in tune from the first fret to the last. At just 3.5 pounds it is a natural for travel and for new tenor players. Professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL and shipped with a gig bag.
The Gold Tone AC-4 IT/L is a 4-string openback Irish tenor banjo built for the GDAE tuning that Irish session players use. Its lightweight composite rim and slim, fast neck make it easy to play and easy to carry, while the ZeroGlide nut keeps it in tune from the first fret to the last. At just 3.5 pounds it is a natural for travel and for new tenor players. Professionally set up at Gold Tone’s factory in Titusville, FL and shipped with a gig bag.
The Gold Tone AC-4/L is an openback Irish tenor banjo built around a lightweight composite rim that delivers a warm, mellow, plunky tone well-suited to Irish traditional music, folk, and beyond. With a rosewood fingerboard, ZeroGlide nut, and a comfortable nato neck, it offers genuine playability at an accessible price point. Every AC-4/L arrives professionally set up by Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida, and includes a gig bag so you’re ready to play right out of the box.
The Gold Tone AC-4T is a 4-string openback tenor banjo set up for standard CGDA tuning. Like the rest of the Acoustic Composite line it is light, durable, and easy to play, with a slim neck and a ZeroGlide nut for stable tuning. The composite rim gives it a bright, punchy voice with plenty of projection for its size, and at 3.5 pounds it travels anywhere. Professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL and shipped with a gig bag.
The Gold Tone CC-Irish Tenor/L is a 17-fret, GDAE-tuned tenor banjo that delivers authentic Irish tone with professional-grade components at an approachable price — a genuine first choice for beginners and a smart second instrument for gigging players. Built on an 11″ multi-ply maple rim with a rolled brass flat-bar tone ring and a maple resonator, it produces that crisp, incisive voice that Celtic music demands, while the ZeroGlide nut and fast maple neck keep playing effortless from the first session. Every CC-Irish Tenor/L ships factory-fresh and arrives professionally set up by Gold Tone in Titusville, Florida, and includes a gig bag ready for your first session.
The Gold Tone CC-Tenor is a 19-fret tenor banjo built for players who want quality construction, great tone, and versatility — whether you're playing Dixieland jazz, Celtic tunes, or just strumming for fun. It features a removable resonator, rolled brass flat bar tone ring, and a natural high-gloss maple neck, all at a price that's genuinely accessible. Every CC-Tenor we ship has been professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL so it plays its best right out of the box.
The Gold Tone CC-Tenor/L is the left-handed version of Gold Tone's beloved Cripple Creek tenor banjo — a 19-fret, removable-resonator instrument perfectly suited to Dixieland jazz, Celtic music, or casual strumming. Built with a rolled brass flat-bar tone ring, maple rim, and rosewood fingerboard, it delivers a clear, punchy tone at a price that welcomes newcomers and satisfies seasoned players alike. Every CC-Tenor/L is professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL.
The Gold Tone IT-17 is a 17-fret Irish tenor banjo built for session players who want warm, full-bodied tone with real projection. Its 12" multi-ply maple rim and rolled brass flat bar tone ring deliver a sound that sits beautifully in traditional Irish music and beyond. Every IT-17 is professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL before it leaves their door.
The Gold Tone IT-17/L is the left-handed version of Gold Tone's well-regarded Irish tenor banjo, built for session players who want strong projection, warm tone, and a modern folkternative aesthetic. Its 12" multi-ply maple rim and rolled brass flat bar tone ring produce a full, bass-rich voice that sits beautifully in traditional Irish and Celtic music. Every IT-17/L is professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL, so it arrives ready to play.
The Gold Tone IT-19 Irish Tenor Banjo is built for session players who want a warm, full-bodied sound with strong projection — all at an accessible price. Featuring a 12" multi-ply maple rim, rolled brass tone ring, and a 19-3/4" scale tuned GDAE, it's ready to hold its own in any Irish session. Every IT-19 is professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL and ships with a gig bag included.
This is the left-handed version of the Gold Tone IT-19 Irish Tenor Banjo — a 19-fret, 12" open-back designed for session players who want warm projection with added bass presence. The 12" multi-ply maple rim and rolled brass flat bar tone ring give it a full, responsive voice that sits beautifully in a traditional Irish session. Every instrument ships professionally set up at Gold Tone's factory in Titusville, FL and includes a gig bag.
The Gold Tone IT-250 is a 17-fret Irish tenor banjo tuned GDAE, with a White Ladye tone ring, half-inch maple rim and GT planetary tuners. The short scale and heavier strings give the plunky voice Irish trad players want. Ships with a case.