Best grass to have in a shaded area

St Augustine is the most shade tolerate of the 4 warm season grasses, is that widely used in your area? But 3-5 hours still might not be enough light. I’d suggest speaking to your county cooperative extension agent/specialist. If you’re not familiar, University of Tennessee, TN Cooperative Extension Service, search for your county, there should be contact information for personnel in your county. Each county will usually have a Extension (outreach) specialist for lawn and gardens.

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I live in middle Tennessee.

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Too far north for St Augustine

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grass seed

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Like others have said St. Augustine variety "raleigh" is the most shade tolerant. But 3-5 hours probably inst enough light. I always recommend a ground cover in the shadiest areas such as liriope, asian jasmine or a sedge such as Pennsylvanian sedge, but you won't be able to walk on these plants like a lawn. Ornamental gravel is another option. Decomposed granite is cheap and looks good.

would geo zoysia work?

The cold, hard truth here is you are going to have issues with any grass type with that little sunlight a day. You can make it work by sodding and then replacing it every few years. Once you sod though, it's going to start thinning out if it doesn't get enough sunlight.

I would personally look into a shade-tolerant zoysia like Geo Zoysia. There are several different varieties that are better in shade than others.