UPDATED 05/21/07

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Subject: Long neck banjo questions


FOTW,

I submitted a question recently about makes of banjos. I have a few more questions about playing 5 string banjos in different keys and Long neck vs standard.

I have been playing guitar for 2 years and am planning to take up 5 string banjo. To date, I have been playing and singing mostly folk/mountain music and am not sure what size neck to get. I sing in a low Baritone and am not sure if the standard banjo neck would be my best choice. I plan to learn to play in the chord keys of C and G to start with in Open G tuning. Would capoing up along with a 5th string capo enable me to play in any key that I might need to sing in using those chord positions? In this case, are there any advantages to a long neck banjo? Why did Pete Seeger see the need for inventing it? If I chose a long neck, how would I adjust the 5th string in order to match the lowered Key of E? Do you just simply tune down?

Hope I'm not being a bug.

Cheers,

Mark

Greetings Mark,

thanks for your continued interest...

It appears that the long neck banjo would be an excellent choice for you...as a Baritone singer, you'll find much more latitude with a long neck. It's not that you can't play in the key of E on a standard 5-string, only that the tonal range is limited. In other words, the key of E on a 5-string, in open G tuning, becomes more of a closed position effort, with higher pitched chording (no lower tonal range on the bass side). You won't be taking advantage of the open drone sound that makes the 5-string ring.

With a long neck, capoed at the third fret, you can play your standard C and G tuning and emulate that of a standard 5-string. Now, with the versatility of the long neck, you can remove the capo, tune the 5th string to G#, and end up in an open E tuning...with lots of low-end bass notes to carry your voice or another lead instrument.

With a 5th string capo, you'll find lots of added on versatility...since you can add any other note to the open E tuning such as the B note (5th tone of the scale)...I recommend the extra long Shubb 5th string capo...

Would capoing up along with a 5th string capo enable me to play in any key that I might need to sing in using those chord positions?

Yes. However, keep in mind, when playing a standard 5-string banjo, the capo allows you to change to most any key...unfortunately, when playing back-up to your voice, you'll find the pitch may still be too high to work well...that's why having the long neck option allows so much more support as a back-up instrument.

I believe Pete Seeger had the same problem. I'm sure he was looking for a lower range to support his lower vocal range.

If I chose a long neck, how would I adjust the 5th string in order to match the lowered Key of E? Do you just simply tune down?

You only need to raise it one-half step for G# which is the third of the E major triad. This can be accomplished by manually tuning; however, it's best to invest in a 5th string capo such as the Shubb...

Hope the above helps...Mickey

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Subject: Old Seeger Longneck


After my first banjo was stolen, I bought an old Seeger longneck someone had found in their attic. Does this instrument have a special sound? How should I be using this instrument? I am a beginning player and always play with the capo on the third fret but I would like to make better use of it. Cynthia

Greetings Cynthia,

We have quite a few answers in our FAQ database on the Longneck banjos...

They do sound great by tuning to regular tuning with the capo at the third fret...and then remove the capo, and tune down the 5th string to the E note...and you'll get a nice low-end sound on songs you may already have learned in the key of G.

Mickey

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The longneck 5-string was most commonly played with the capo on the third fret and the banjo tuned to standard tuning...when the capo is removed, the banjo will then be in E tuning. Pete Seeger, one of the first exponents of longneck banjos, would play many tunes in the open position E tuning to accommodate his vocal range...and use the 3rd position capo for standard bluegrass-type tunes.

Hope this helps...Mickey

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Subject: Long Neck Banjo Questions

Wow, thanks for all the time to explain the banjo possibilities.
The Wildwood: that is the Heirloom wildwood. Well, after messin around a few
months with which banjos sound like what, and what the heck do I really like,
as opposed to what I think I like, I remembered two things, one I already
mentioned: Ben Aldridge's banjo breaks, ESPECIALLY the melodic/slower ones
where I can hear all the notes/inventions (parallel to slow twitch muscle:
luxurious and free flow), and the other inferred but not exact: Seeger's long
neck banjo SOUND. Oops, there is another item, not banjo sound related: I
have a bass/baratone voice, and the longneck just resonateS inside like "this
is where I want to sing."

Wildwood does make long necks. Deering makes longnecks. I loved the black
diamond sound in the grass version, so I am assuming I would really love the
black diamond longneck, if in fact they make it. WHAT_does the Wildwood
Heirloom longneck sound like. Actually, since there are not many buyers for
the longnecks my guess is you haven't had a chance to play or hear the
specific instruments I am speaking of, so I understand we will probably have
to go with your feel and understanding of YOUR banjo experience.  

How do these instruments sound if compared to the original Vega or a longneck
Martin? Drat, there are sooooooo many questions.

Regards, Emerson

Hello Emerson,

Pete Seeger made the long neck famous unintentionally...he started using the longneck for the simple fact that he could sing more comfortably in a lower key..."E" to be specific...many players with long neck banjos end up capoing at the third fret to achieve the open "G" bluegrass tuning...

For an openback, the Wildwood is truly one of the nicest I've ever played. The tubaphone tone ring sounds powerful and resonant. The Deering Black Diamond longneck offers more of a bluegrass, crystal clear tone...great for melodic tunes...the Wildwood may serve better as a solo instrument to accompany your voice since it has a full round tone. I have played both of the above banjos extensively, not with long necks, but certainly with the same banjo drum assembly and the standard 5-string neck. The Wildwood would come closest to the original sound of the Vega or Martin longnecks.

Let me know if you have any further questions or if I can assist you with anything else...
Mickey Cochran

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