Banjo Stuff
Old Time Banjo
Old time banjo is a very traditional way of playing the banjo and incorporates many different regional styles.
Tuning
Old time banjo players use several different tunings and usually retune to play in various keys. The most popular tunings are in G, G-modal (also called “mountain modal” or ‘Sawmill”) and double-C. With a capo, these tunings allow you to play most, if not all, old time tunes in the keys of G, G-modal, A, A-modal and D.
G standard : g D G B D
A standard : Capo 2 and retune 5th string high g to a
G-modal : g D G C D
A-modal : Capo 2 and retune 5th string high g to a
Double-C : g C G C D
Double-D : Capo 2 and retune 5th string high g to a
Playing the Banjo
The Basic Clawhammer Strum
Use index or ring finger for the melody and strum
Use thumb on high g string and drop thumb notes
Bum Dit-ty :
- Emphasize the melody note (‘bum’)
- de-emphasize the rhythm strum (“dit”)
- Let the high g string sound out (“-ty”)
Getting the Melody
- Drop Thumb
- Hammer-ons
- Pull-offs
- Slides
