Chord Req: Banjo tuning for 'Drunken Sailor' in Em

Subject: Chord Req: Banjo tuning for 'Drunken Sailor' in Em
From: GUEST,Thespionage
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 02:23 AM

I am a newcomer to 5-string banjo, but since I play guitar and have had a few lessons I have a good foundation for understanding the instrument. I had been playing, and have recorded, "What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor" with a friend using guitar in Em. I now want to add banjo, but I don't know which tuning and capo position would be best to be able to play the chords Em, D, and G (as strange as that sounds). As I now have a long-neck banjo, I don't know how I should go about finding the right place to play the song.

What are your suggestions?

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Banjo tuning for 'Drunken Sailor' in Em
From: pavane
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 05:47 AM

First step is to understand which notes form these chords
These chords use only the notes from the scale of D. (D E F# G A B C#)

Em is E G B E
D is D F# A D
G is G B D G
(C# is not used in any of these chords)

Theoretically, the notes should be in that order , left to right being bass to treble, but it's not essential.

Second step is to identify these notes on your instrument. I believe the standard banjo tuning(s) will enable these to be played, no need to consider retuning.

When you have learned to do this, you will be able to find ANY chord in ANY key.

(As an alternative, you can use the notes from the scale of C, capo up 2 and play chords Dm, C and F instead.)

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Banjo tuning for 'Drunken Sailor' in Em
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 06:40 AM

If you have a "long neck" banjo I assume that you are tuned lower than "standard" open G tuning.
Start by capoing up and tuning to standard open G tuning [gDGBD]
Your "G" chord is then all strings open
Your "Em" is first and 4th strings fretted at fret 2
and for this song I would suggest that the best sounding "D" chord would be to leave strings 1 and 4 open and fret string 2 on fret 3 (it doubles up the D note of string 1) and fret string 3 at fret 2 (gives you the A from the chord). The "D" chord is of course incomplete, because it is missing the F#, but the tone of the chord fits in.

By the way, If I was accompanying said song I would only use the D and the Em chords.
Quack!!
Geoff the Duck.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Banjo tuning for 'Drunken Sailor' in Em
From: CStrong
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 12:05 PM

I don't have a long-neck, but I'd capo 4 (7 on a long), and use Cm/Bb/Eb, in C-tuning. It sounds good that way. (But I wouldn't use the third chord, either.)

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Banjo tuning for 'Drunken Sailor' in Em
From: GUEST,Thespionage
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 12:35 PM

I had been playing in Open G, but omitting the fifth string, playing like a guitarist on a banjo. Playing more like a banjo player, the G makes sense for the Em and the G, but not necessarily the D.

Also: structuring a banjo part based on what many call the basic strum, it would be necessary to use the G.

I did think through it in G minor tuning and capoing down (meaning it would be an open Em), but playing the major chords becomes very awkward.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Banjo tuning for 'Drunken Sailor' in Em
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 01:16 PM

The thing which makes a 5-string banjo distinctive is the use of the 5th string as a drone. When it comes to chords, although the high G-string is not part of a D or A chord, it does not matter as it still somehow fits into the sound. Don't worry about trying to avoid the 5th string, it is what makes the instrument what it is!
Quack!!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Banjo tuning for 'Drunken Sailor' i
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 04:12 PM

I would flat the third string and put it in an open minor tuning, which on a long neck should be em ...assuming that you tune it to E. I would also retune the 5th string down to where it could be used.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Banjo tuning for 'Drunken Sailor' in Em
From: cool hand Tom
Date: 17 Jan 05 - 10:47 PM

Hi
   What kind of Longneck banjo do you own?

      Regards Tom.

Subject: RE: Chord Req: Banjo tuning for 'Drunken Sailor' in Em
From: thespionage
Date: 18 Jan 05 - 12:22 AM

Thanks for your suggestions. If you have any others, let me know.

Cool Hand Tom: My banjo is a Gold Tone Maple Mountain. Next month I will be selling back my standard-size, resonator Deering Goodtime II.

PS Geoff: I have always loved ducks and I really like the way you sign off.