Banjo Stuff
Old Time Banjo
Old time banjo is a very traditional way of playing the banjo and incorporates many different regional styles.
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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.
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G standard : g D G B D
A standard : Capo 2 and retune 5th string high g to a
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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
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​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
