How to Tune Your Banjo DOWN For A Rich Sound!
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- Опубликовано: 21 июл 2024
- Tune Your Banjo Down | Try This On The Banjo: Episode 1
Welcome to the first installment of Try This On The Banjo. Today we are going to tune our banjo DOWN to F#. This give the banjo a rich, deep sound. You will need a digital tuner and some patience to boot. haha It is totally worth it though. Consider subscribing for more content! Thanks for watching and have a wonderful day!
Time stamps:
0:00 Coffee and the banjo
0:20 Try this on the banjo
1:08 Share your thoughts!
2:57 Getting ready
4:00 How to tune your banjo down
6:44 F# tuning
7:52 Open G vs F# - Comparison
9:16 Tune the banjo back to standard Open G 
Хобби
Pete Seeger played a Long Neck 5 String Banjo which is tuned a Minor 3rd below a Standard Banjo. The lower tuning allowed him to sing in a lower key.
Interesting! I didn't know that. I'll have to check it out!
Hi "Acoustic Idaho", you can not mistake the "Outlaw Charlie Poole Attitude " of a true Authentic banjo player. Lol. (If your friends won't tune down to F#, well then they ain't your friends). I so enjoyed you video and subscribed to see more of them.
The head of most bluegrass banjos are usually tuned to G# pitch, to minimize "howling wolf notes" which the 1st and 4th strings are notorious for.
I have gotten a richer deeper tone by using a "fiberskyn" head on my banjo.
Btw, your 4th string came "alive" in the F# tuning.
"Banjer pickin', strong black coffee, and sweet tea, makes me want to get up and do my happy dance".
Best regards, 👌 🪕🔥💨
Thanks so much! That's some very interesting info there. I had no idea some were tuned to G# pitch. Makes sense though!
Really gotta try this later today sounds so good
I liked the f# tuning and am going to do mine and see how it sounds. thanks for the idea.
Awesome, Harry! Let me know how it goes.
I always have my banjo tuned down two half-steps, I really love the rich, deep sound it creates when I play.
Me too! Have you heard of Bela Fleck's octave banjo? It's tuned all the way down to the key of C and it sounds amazing!
@@acousticidaho
I have not, I usually pay more attention to clawhammer, two-finger, and Seeger style banjo players
Thanks for watching!
Update:
Despite the logical idea of staying in a more "even" open F tuning, it just doesn't work unless you plan to adjust head tension. It sounds good for clawhammer, so I'd say it would sound better on an open back with the head adjusted. I had too much resonation with the B (now A) string. However, I've taken a fondness to this F# tuning and it's actually opened up creative avenues that I haven't tapped into for a long time.
Yep, I was wondering about the head tension regarding the F tuning. Sounds great! Thanks for the update, Kentucky Rex!
Great video !! Hope you see this question. How would it work to get into sawmill from this tuning? Leave the 2nd string at B while tuning all the others down?
It sounds plausible! I've never tried it before though. Did you give it a shot? How did it go?
Good little video. I used to tune down mine to F and using a capo on the 2nd fret ( 7th on 5th string) to play in G n it did well, but the gauge I used was 10, or 11. Kinda got the idea from John Hartford ( God rest his soul) who as far as I m concerned used to tune all the way down to E, using 11- 12 gauge strings.
Another good idea might be using nylon strings instead of the steel strings to get a warmer sound. I ve never heard no one doin it, but I guess it could be an okay thought for those who find a 5string mastertone way too sharp n looking for something deeper, or mellow in tone. In this case I d reccon to use plastic fingerpics on all 3 fingers.
That is a very interesting idea, Sean! Nylon strings on the banjo? I'll have to try it out!
Coffee and banjos!
Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan have used Half Step Down Tuning as do Gospel Guitarists and Bassists, Banjo players should do it too (and virtually all Folk Players which means the Autoharp can keep the 21 or more Chord layout) so they can play in flat keys.
I have my Deering Calico in G open , in 440.Ok?, when you go down to F#, at what number go down of 440?.sorry my bad english, I was study in the school, an have 78 years old😂.Big hug from Argentina , and God Bless You.
Thanks! I stay at 440 even when I go down to F#. God bless you as well!
I want one of them cool tuners. Can't find one. Where to get, please. Nice job on the video.
Thanks! You can find Snark tuners on Amazon and in local guitar/music store. They should run about $15.
@@acousticidaho Oh, so the clip is separate from the actual tuner. That is what clips onto the brackets. Thanks.
@@countrookularich4493 Oh I forgot to mention that! Yes, the clip is separate. Banjo Ben has them on his website as well.
I was thinking about playing worried man blues and tuning down now I come across this video and I am thinking is my ph spying on my brain anyway thanks for showing this
Right on! lol Happy to help!
If you are tuned down can you still play with folks that are tuned to standard?
Yes, you will just need to capo your banjo on the 1st fret if you are playing with others.
Joined.
Thanks, Dan!
yes my banjo has a more and better resonance and tone after f# tuning and it's easier for me to sing or hum to my playing but my head tenison is sky high but i have two more five stringers gold tone ob 300 gold plated and a morgan and recording king but i keep my deering eagle 2 in f#
That's awesome! Have you ever play an octave banjo before? It's tuned all the way down to C!
@@acousticidaho no i have never played on an octave banjo but i can recomend you install the deering smiling bridge on your banjo my deering eagle 2 came with the smiling bridge and i playtested it on all my banjos yes it wil give you a better tone out of your banjo so i have order 3 bridges from deerin company
@@tedtedsen269 I will check that out! Thanks!
What about.... one more half step? I think I'm gonna try F when I get off work.
That sounds like a plan! I would think it might buzz on the frets a little. How did it work out for you?
@@acousticidaho yeah, it was a little too low. Half step seems like the better deal. It's not necessarily the frets, but my B (now A) resonated with the majority of the chords I played. I think my banjo drum head may favor A for resonation.
if you tune down to f#, it won't be easy to play with anybody else.