Martin-

It's really a question of personal judgment with any one song. I play most Appalacian ballads on the 5-string banjo with a 3-finger style of double-thumbing if that makes any sense to you. I also tend to play out of C with the 2nd string tuned up half a note. If I'm trying for more of a guitar sound I use the same tuning and play out of the F position. And the same tuning can be used to play songs from the Gm position.

If you gave me a list of yur 10 favorite songs, I might be able to offer more specific advice, assuming I were familar with them.

Charley Noble