alternate tunings
| Posted by Harold Smith 1 post |
Do most people play in the key of C out of G or do they re-tune to Double C or std. C? I play a frailing banjo and can play by ear in G but to play in the local jam I will need to play in C and D as well. Thank you, |
| Posted by Luke Abbott 29 posts |
Hi Harold, As you might guess, this is a fairly personal preference. But, I can tell you what I like to do… When I’m playing three-finger banjo I almost never re-tune, and never to double-C. Since I learned clawhammer several years after Scruggs-style, I am used to playing in C or D out of standard G tuning. But I can and do frail in alternate tunings, especially for more “old-time” songs (and especially fiddle tunes). On the right song, it makes things a lot easier—but on the wrong song, it’ll just mess you up. In many ways, it’s simpler to just play out of standard when you can, as the picking pattern changes less from key to key. But I say, experiment and see what you like. There are no rules. Except, of course: own an electronic tuner and use it. :-) Hope I answered your question at least partially… Luke |
| Posted by Jessica Evans 7 posts |
Do what I did: get a Reagan 5th-string capo from Janet Davis music and capo five! Heck, I even capo seven to accompany my son when he plays in D on the fiddle. Its not that I’ve given up on learning to play out of C tuning. I just haven’t done it enough for it to stick yet. And we won’t let a little thing like ignorance stop us from playing, right? Seriously, that little chunk of brass may look bizarre hanging off your 5th string, but it works, and that’s what counts. And you don’t need to drill any holes in your banjo to install it. Just screw it on and away you go. Best wishes, Jessica |
| Posted by Luke Abbott 29 posts |
Oh, duh. Capo five. Of course! I do that all the time. I used to capo seven frets up for D too. Wow… I’ve never seen this Reagan 5th-string capo, Jessica! That’s fantastic! I’ve been wishing there was a way of capoing the fifth string without drilling anything for a while… folks in our classes will sometimes rent banjos, which they obviously can’t drill holes into. Thanks! |
| Posted by Colt Chaney 5 posts |
I am primarily a guitarist, but use a three finger picking style. My banjo experience is limited, but I rarely use alternate tunings, only on certain songs. Do use a cheat stick (capo) on some stuff that would be difficult for me to transpose, or if I just want that sound. I think it is best just to use standerd tuning as much as possible. This music, with few exceptions is just three major chord progressions with an occaisonal minor. There are only seven major chords, it is a good idea to learn to use all of them. These seven, with a-m, and e-m (little m = minor, big M = major) will enable you to play hundreds of songs. |
| Posted by Carl Abbott 10 posts |
Personally, as a person of lesser talent, I’ve found that the capo (“cheat stick”) is a God send. It allows me to flat pick melody breaks or strum and sing in any key using only two picking patterns and a handful of chords. With such simple basics in hand I am free to give all I have to music making. Again, this view comes from one of lesser talent where the simpler is by far the better! |