Help: tenor banjo?

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 09:19 AM

Ruby - If you are in UK check out John Alvey Turner in Ware Herts . The guy who runs the shop (Doug Parry) plays , sells , and repairs banjos and will sell you the right guage strings wether you want to
tune Standard or Folk.

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From:
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 10:41 PM

I realize that I'm a few years past date, but I just found this site. I NEED to put in a plug for my own favorite tenor player, Jim Reidy. He played uke with the Chicken Chokers (southern old time) in the 80's, but he is a great tenor player. Check out Twang! on honkingduck.com. He also extends it to the tenor guitar and tenor national steel. I've seen him do early rock-steady/reggae, delmore and louvin brothers tunes, and NIck Cave and Spider John Koerner, too.

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Fiddlin' Big Al
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 03:56 AM

Find Roy Smeck recordings, Hoosier Hot-Shots. Plays like a mandola or mandolin chord-wise if your hands stretch well. Fixture in Dixieland jazz. Just did sound for a dixieland fest in Spokane and heard lotsa tenors. Very much alive. Fortunately you don't have to try and sound like an Earl Scruggs - do your own thing. A thin flatpick and a bit of mando- style tremelo nervous hand twitch is cool. Bon chance!

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: GUEST,ruby
Date: 06 Jun 00 - 01:31 AM

thanx cap't bob that cleared things up a little ive been workin out a little irish stuff which i translated from tin whistle and guitar so thanx for that info i only just found this site and i really cant thank you all enough all this info is kinda mindboggling to me im pretty much computer illiterate so i didnt know about any of this its amazing!! i think i might turn into a computer nerd and never leave the internet again....or not love ruby

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 09:22 PM

If you plan to play music from the ragtime era use the standard C,G,D,A as mentioned above. I use this tuning but tend to mix things up a bit. When playing Irish music I put the capo on the second fret and this makes your easy keys D, A, AND G. With the Irish music you then play mostly on the lower three strings ~ this also makes it easier to hit the high notes without going way down the neck.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: GUEST,ruby
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 07:42 PM

i didnt check this for days and then saw all these responses its great! someone asked what type of banjo i have its a 1918 bacon orchestra it sounds nice the only thing i have trouble with is tuning it coz im used to guitar which is not as sensetive. does anyone know what tuning is used for old country music on the tenor coz ive just been tuning it to CDGA ? thanx ruby

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Matticus
Date: 05 Jun 00 - 12:45 PM

One other young great on the tenor, Sharon Shannon's sister Mary Shannon is a sublime player, haven't heard her recorded, only in sessions in Galway.

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: GUEST,Craigie the Banjo Boy
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 04:29 PM

Just one to add to the list: Eamonn Coyne from Rosscommon--who plays with the band Russell's House-- fae Edinburgh. A fantastic tenor banjo player.

(Craigie the Banjo Boy's wife here: do any other banjo players take their banjos to bed and make their wives sleep on the sofa....or is this only MY problem????)

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 04 Jun 00 - 04:53 AM

Fionn, I very well remeber Noel Murphy and Shaggis, you were right , his name was Davy Johnston, I don't know where he is now, or Murphy for that matter except that he now lives in Scotland. Regards, Dave

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 11:04 PM

Oh and Ruby, one thing that you are probably aware of but as you only just got the banjo, I will say just in case. The tunings tend to be different for the jazz and the "Irish" styles.

The "standards" are Jazz: C,G,D,A and Irish: G,D,A,E. Most sets of strings you buy are designed for C,G,D,A tuning and tend to be a little slack when tuned down to G,D,A,E and you may need to have to buy single strings to get a suitable set - Sully's site does offer some suggestions regarding guages.

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 07:21 PM

I've got no argument with Barney's fans - I'm one too. But I vaguely remember a guy who played various instruments with various people, including (I think) lead guitar with Elton John, and I once heard him playing a tenor banjo fantastically well. On that occasion he was with Noel Murphy and he was playing under the name of "Shaggis". Does anyone know whether he had a more respectable name? Dave Something, I think, but I'm making my brain hurt.

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Frankham
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 07:03 PM

Jazz banjo....try FIGA.... Fretted Instrumentalist Guild of America. You can find them on-line.

Jazz oriented type tenor banjo:

Buddy Wachter, Steve Bonaventura, Johnny Baier, Randy Morris, Tim Allan (Toronto)....these people can really play that style of tenor banjo.

Check recordings of Reser, Mike Pingatore (with Paul Whiteman) Elmer Snowden (formerly the leader ot the Duke Ellington orchestra), Roy Smeck (who played everything).

There are many fine tenor banjo players in this style and the above should get you started.

Frank

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: GUEST,Valerie
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 05:52 PM

banjo bonnie is

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: GUEST,Big Phil
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 05:45 PM

Barney is the best

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Mooh
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 12:12 PM

ruby, Also try Brian Teheny's work with Loretto Reid. He's very good. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 11:00 AM

There is no doubt about it, Barney McKenna taught everyone else in the world, Barney is the BOSS. Cheers, Dave

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 12:42 AM

Ah well Ruby, I'm not going to get into a who is the best debate and the name I first mentioned is one of a newer and I think a little different type of player to McKenna but one thing I will say is that if I was ever asked which musician I most wanted to meet (any instrument) it is Barney McKenna. He has been a sort of hero of mine for years.

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: GUEST,Jim.C.
Date: 03 Jun 00 - 12:16 AM

Ruby,

I have been playing tenor banjo for almost 45 years and I have to agree with Benny. Barney McKenna is the best I have ever heard. His renditions of "Kitty Come Down From Limerick" - "My Love Is an American" and the Masons Apron sets him apart from all the other great players, like Gerry O'Connor, David Mc Niven, Hanrahan and of course Sully.

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From:
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 07:39 PM

Ruby, Never mind all the names in tenor banjo players. I have been playing Tenor Banjo now for over 35 years, and the cleanest most perfect player I have heard is Barney mc Kenna (Dubliners)so take it from me

Benny.

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 03:50 PM

As I gave the link to Sully, Tom Cussens site is http://homepage.tinet.ie/~tomcussen/. I have played a Clareen and liked it a lot.

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Matticus
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 03:09 PM

More great Irish players, Kevin Griffin who lives in Clare, plays alot in Doolin, his recordings include a great solo album, Down in Doolin, with loads of great west Clare musicians. Shaskeen Ceili Band banjo player Tom Cussins plays in a great old style, not unlike Mick Molony's playing. Tom is also a fine maker of tenor banjos by the name of "Clareen". (Mick M. plays one.) John Carty from around Roscommon has a few great solo albums, "The Cat that Ate the Candle" He's also a great fiddler.

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 02:59 PM

Sully's site is http://www.halshawmusic.co.uk/. The Kildare banjo I own is one of excellent range of banjos.

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 02:52 PM

Ruby, you can also try albums by two stunning irish players; Cathal Hayden and Keiran Hanrahan. You can find out almost everything and anything about tenor banjo's from Tony Sullivan [ also a great player ] at Halshaw Music in Macclesfield in England, they are on the net but the address just isn't to hand. Regards, Dave

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: GUEST,Anon
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 01:30 PM

Back in the 70s, the Correctone String Band, out of Ithaca NY, used tenor instead of 5-string banjo. Great sound! They made at least one record; certainly out of print by now but perhaps retrievable from some archive source.

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Mooh
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 01:04 PM

Beau'... Try the live video from Atlanta (?) AMS plays it quite a bit. So you get the visual and the audio picture. Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: jeffp
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 12:41 PM

Another person to listen to for Irish style is Mick Moloney.

jeffp

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 12:40 PM

Hang around a while ruby, you may get some more suggestions yet and, what is your tenor banjo? I have 2 and old 19 fret Dulcetta and a modern 17 fret Kildare.

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: GUEST, ruby
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 12:34 PM

thankyou so much guys that helps us out a lot

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: GUEST,Mike Billo
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 10:19 AM

For Jazz style, try Harry Reser (one of the best ever), for old time country, the Allen Brothers (Austin Allen on tenor banjo).

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 10:04 AM

ruby, a lot will depend on what style of music you are intrested in. The tenor is commonly used as a jazz instrument as well as in folk music.

If you want to listen to some really dazzling "Irish" stlye playing, try Gerry O'Connor.

Also, I have always liked the playing of Barney Mckenna with the Dubliners.

I'm afraid I have no sugesstions for the jazz styles.

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: BeauDangles
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 09:53 AM

I don't remember Silly Wizard ever using tenor banjo, but I do recall that Andy Steward is listed on my one album as playing one. I would suggest a man from california called Seamus Egan (not the guy from Solas, although he plays as well--just not so much in that band.) West Coast Seamus has a recording called In Your Ear, which is great.

Subject: RE: Help: tenor banjo?
From: Mooh
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 08:54 AM

Try Silly Wizard. Fits in very well with their other instrumentation.

Subject: tenor banjo?
From: GUEST,ruby
Date: 02 Jun 00 - 12:27 AM

we just got a tenor banjo and i was wonderin if anyone knew some good examples of bands/artists that use it so we can get more of an idea about it thanx -Ruby