Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 19:38:38 EDT
Subject: Banjo tuning question

Hi Mickey,
I'm getting ready to buy a banjo from you in the next couple of days, and I just have a question that has my curiosity piqued.

Greetings Steve,

I'm glad to assist:

One of the songs that I have written has a rhythm that I think is ideally suited to banjo, and I play it in the key of C, which suits my vocal range (whereas G is nearly the opposite for me -- that is, in C, I sing the verse a little low and the bridge a little high, and this is reversed in G).

I see that 5-string banjos are usually tuned to an open G, which seems to make the key of G optimal, with the 'drone' string (drone, for lack of a better word) being a G.

Yes, the 5-string banjo is tuned to open-G tuning: g D G B D...this tuning makes the drone string the tonic note (same as the key)...
The 5-string can be tuned to C tuning simply and quickly: g C G B D...all you're doing is dropping down the D Bass string to C. This gives you a really nice low end note that supports vocals especially well. From here, you would only need to learn your C, F and G chords to fit it in the key of C...these chords would be exactly the same as the G tuning only with a change in the D string noting. For instance, now when you play the open-position C chord, you only need to lift your second finger off of the D string...to have the open C bass supporting the C chord...the F chord can also be played with the D string (now the open C string) in the open position...the G chord can be played with the D string (tuned as C) completely omitted...or by simply placing the 2nd finger on the second fret of the D string while the rest of the strings are played completely open.

So would one consider changing the banjo tuning to C for a special song? And even changing the string gauges, in order to change to C?

No need to change the string gauges to go to the above tuning...and, remember, the drone G still works only now it's the fifth note of the C scale...instead of the tonic note for the key of G. The G drone still fits over all of the key of C chords: C, F and G...only the tonality changes slightly...which gives it an even more interesting flavor than the tonic G...the C chord still remains a major triad, the F chord turns into a ninth chord (without the seventh tone) and the G chord remains a major triad...as you play in this Drop D string to C tuning...

Or perhaps I am over-thinking this! I hope you can shed some light on this for me. I'm a guitar player, and that is almost second-nature to me, but the banjo is new to me.

I look forward to your answer; I have a feeling that this will be an easy question for you.

Well, I'm not too sure about it being a simple question; it most certainly is a valid question.

Let me know how else I might assist...Mickey

Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 19:54:00 EDT
Subject: Banjo tuning question redux
To: info@folkofthewood.com

Hi Mickey,
I am sorry, after clicking "send" on my previous e-mail, I went back to your site and read about the Shubb capo for the first time.

And I have probably been to your site 50 times if I've been there once!

All the same, does my previous question regarding changing tuning and/or string gauge to the key of C have any merit anyway? For instance, one would be playing in the same range of the octave, as they would in the G tuning.

I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you, sorry for my Shubb capo oversight,
Steve

Yes Steve, you could also use the Shubb capo at the fifth fret of the drone string while compensating the rest of the strings with a standard capo at the fifth fret. This works if you're playing in a band situation...for it gives you a nice sparkling high pitched tonality. Now, if you're accompanying your voice, while soloing on the banjo, my suggestion would be to use the drop D to C tuning as described in my previous e-mail.

If you're preparing to purchase a banjo, I would still suggest that you get the 5th string capo to ensure that you have the latitude to change keys at your discretion. Keep in mind, the fifth string capo comes in handy for many other keys without the remainder strings even requiring a capo. For instance, you can play in the key of Am simply by using your 5th string capo at the second fret while playing the standard open G position chords for the Am sequence. Hope this makes sense...I use this technique all the time. One song I play, originally performed by the Ventures is called "Apache"...and it's in the key of Am...I only need to use the 5th string capo at the second fret while playing the Am relative chords in the open G tuning. This really increases the versatility of your banjo playing efforts.

Mickey

Subject: Basic question about tuning
Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2004 21:28:13 +0930

Hi there. this is probably the silliest question you've yet had. I've just
bought a five string banjo (Washburn) and I don't know how to tune it. I
know how to turn the pegs etc but not what notes to tune it to. I I have a
beginners book but it is quite confusing on this point. I would be eternally
grateful if someone could tell me what notes to tune it to, and, as I am
tuning with a piano, where those notes might be in relation to middle C.

As I said, the silliest question yet.

Marg, South Australia.

Greetings Marg,

Your best bet would be to take it in to a local music shop...not only to have it properly tuned, but to make sure that it's set up properly for ease of play...they may also be able to instruct you on using an electronic tuner...which would be essential in your tuning efforts...

It's tuned to:
High G on the top, Low D on the bass, G on the middle string, B on the second from the bottom and D on the very bottom...the middle C would be located at the first fret of the B string...
--
Please let me know if I can assist you further . . .

Subject: 5-string banjo G tuning - Key of C
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 2004 22:11:05 -0400

When a selection calls for G Tuning - Key of C, what does this mean. If the banjo is tuned to G, how do you play in the Key of C. I am a beginner any help is truly appreciated!

Thanks

The key of C is designated by the chordal structure...you may be tuned in G and still play in any other key simply by following the key tonal structure...for C, you would simply follow the tonal chord structure which is normally C, F and G....you would usually start and end the song on a C chord...and the G chord because the dominant while the F subdominant...the scale played within this key structure would normally be the C major scale...you might want to check out our free online lessons for C scales at:

http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm

We're still working on introducing the Chord Diagrams for banjo...

Mickey