Irish Banjo

Subject: Tech: Irish Banjo
From: Fifer
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 02:10 PM

Can anyone advise? Irish style Tenor banjo. All I've read suggests EADG tuning. Do you have to have a short scale banjo for this tuning , or do you use lighter gauge strings. If so then what thickness of strings do you suggest. Any tips or suggestions gratefully received. I am currently having to use ADGC tuning and capo up for some tunes.

Subject: RE: Tech: Irish Banjo
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 02:18 PM

The tuning (lowest to highest) is GDAE - perhaps that is what you meant but it's a little unusual to see it written your way.

A number of people do prefer the shorter scale but it is not essential, it just reduces stretches a little.

The tuning is lower than the standard or jazz CGDA tuning so heavier, not lighter strings may be desirable. I use a short scale with a fairly heavy set up - 40,28,18w,13.

Jon

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: banjomad (inactive)
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 02:32 PM

Standard or short scale tenors are equally good for irish style, the shorter the scale the heavier guage strings as a rule. standard irish tuning is 1stE, 2ndA,3rdD and fourth G, some players do use jazz tuning but like you they have to capot a lot more. I play a short scale Vega with medium guage strings E12, A18, D28, G38 and it sounds great.
Cheers, Dave

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: Fifer
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 02:58 PM

Thanks, I'll keep plugging away

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 04:28 PM

You can also use the tenor guitar tuning of (Heaviest to lightest) D G B E, and play it as you would the 4 top strings on a guitar. Also the chords are easier.

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: rock chick
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 04:46 PM

aren't all Banjo Irish!

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 05:42 PM

There is no other way but the correct which also is the easiest.

Tune like a Fiddle and be patient.

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 05:47 PM

Short neck ones take up less elbow room in a pub session. And the banjo players never seem to play that far up the neck to worry about needing them extra few frets.

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: Cluin
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 08:28 PM

Sure, there're very famous banjos made in West County Clare.

Y'know, the Doolin banjos?....

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: MikeOQuinn
Date: 15 Jan 03 - 11:32 PM

*groan* I saw it coming, and couldn't do anything to stop it...

-J

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: Cluin
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 12:51 AM

Destiny is like that, O'Q. ;{)>

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: Declan
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 05:52 AM

One of the best Irish Tenor banjo players around, Kevin Griffin, is actually from Doolin, and I've long since thought that he should patent that particular name.

As far as I know there's nothing particularly "correct" about using fiddle tuning GDAE for Banjos, but most people use it because it is fiddle tuning and therefore makes it easier to switch from one instrument to the other. As far as I know Gerry O Connor from Tipperary uses a different tuning, at least for some tunes. (I think its an open C tuning but I'm not sure). I've heard was actually a more standard tuning than fiddle tuning in earlier years, but you hear lots of things.

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 06:43 AM

Mick Maloney's history of the banjo in the O'Conner/McNevin book/tape - 50 Solo's for Irish Tenor Banjo (or something like that) notes that various tunings, mostly in 5ths, were used and points to Barney McKenna tuning GDAE in the 60s as the start in terms of an "Irish standard tuning" emerging.

The tape has the players using differnt tunings, David McNevin plaing GDAE and all Gerry O'Connor's tunes are in CGDA.

Jon

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: BanjoRay
Date: 16 Jan 03 - 08:10 AM

The GDAE tuning is of course an octave DOWN from the fiddle, while the CGDA is the same as a viola, a fifth down from the fiddle, so you need heavier strings for GDAE than CGDA.
Ray

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: GUEST,bernie(banjos at eight)
Date: 18 Jan 03 - 06:36 AM

I've quite intrigued to discover that even accomplished banjo players are vigorously debating the pros and cons of different tuning styles.
Being a complete novice I find myself impaled on the horns of a dilemma over this so the previous e-mails have encouraged me to continue on the banjo.
What do you mean by heavier strings? Do they have a gauge?

bernie

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: GUEST,John Barden
Date: 18 Jan 03 - 08:38 AM

Whilst Banjo Ray makes the very important point that the GDAE banjo tuning is an octave lower than the fiddle (also the mandolin), the original tenor banjo tuning CGDA is actually an octave higher than the viola.

It`s all a bit complicated really, but the main reason for using the GDAE tuning on the banjo an octave lower than the fiddle is that one can play along on all the Irish tunes at a session with fiddles, flutes, whistles, etc. without any hassle or having to use the capo.

However, I feel that using the original tenor banjo tuning, CGDA, the banjo tends to sound much better, has a better ring and a more lively tone.

Keep on pluckin

JB

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 18 Jan 03 - 09:33 AM

I always use Redwing Light guage G*036 D*024 A*015 E*011 these are available in sets (ball end or loop end) by mail order in the U.K from the Music Room 35 Bradford Road Cleckheaton West Yorkshire BD19 3JN Their Web address is www.the-music-room.co.uk they are also very friendly helpful people (despite this plug I have no connections with the Music Room)

Gerry

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jan 03 - 09:40 AM

Each to their own John (Barden). I prefer the sound of GDAE and love it when the under-used G string comes into play. McKenna's recording of "Farewell To Ireland" is one I particularly love for the low notes.

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: ced2
Date: 18 Jan 03 - 09:46 AM

A bit of a chicken and egg question.. perhaps Banjomad can answer it. Are the 4 string banjos used for playing Irish Music etc or even trad jazz a truncated version of the 5 string banjo or is the 5 string a grown up 4 string? What came first, what gave birth to what? Now there's a question Dave, but don't let it get to you, you still want to play some music at tomorrow's session!

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jan 03 - 09:52 AM

The five string is the older instrument. It seems likely that all banjos from thier African origins had a drone string but the total string count is debatable - probably a 4 string instrument but with one of those strings being a shorter one.

Later, late 19th century I think, with plectrum playing and with steel strings, some players did drop the 5th string. This would give what is effectively the plectrum banjo.

The shorter scale tenor banjo (also named tango banjo) did not come into being until somewhere around 1915 - that sort of WW1 era.

Jon

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: GUEST,Woiz-ass
Date: 18 Jan 03 - 11:21 AM

Pop'lar coz dey flips dem over loike and uses dem as c'lectshun play-its in de chorch.

Subject: RE: Irish Banjo
From: banjomad (inactive)
Date: 18 Jan 03 - 01:17 PM

Yeah ced2 the 5 string is THE original American banjo. Nice to hear
Banjo Barney from Donnycarney [McKenna ] playing five string on the
Banjoman CD.
Dave