Thank you for making it easy to understand the difference between the two banjos. I am trying to help my uncle identify a pre war banjo and this information has helped me emmensely. Thank you.
Plectrum tuning is the C tuning for the banjo: C G B D. This tuning is extremely practical for chord melody soloing where the bottom three strings will harmonize with the first string (the D) as the lead voice is the chord. Also, the same chord forms can be repeated for key changes as you move up the neck. In contrast, the tenor is tuned in 5ths: C G D A. This tuning is great for single string work, but a more challenging instrument if you really want to play chord melody. For that, you want the plectrum with its closer voiced tuning.
Thank you for this. As a transitioning guitar player, another difference is that while guitar chords will work, no one uses them. Consider first position G7 or C... banjo players play those as Bar 5 chords with pinky reaches that wouldn't work on a guitar. That part of hte transition has been challenging for me! Keep up the good work.
I decided to try Irish Tenor Banjo strings on my Banjolele. It didn't work because the scale length is 15.5 inches. When tuned GDAE the string tension was too low. So I tried ukulele GCEA with a low G. The tension was too high. So i loosened the strings 5 semitones to DGBE like a Baritone ukulele (which I have). Then I found out that this is known as "Chicago Tuning". It works fine and I can play it just like my Baritone ukulele. Great, I now have a 4 string banjo which plays like a ukulele. It sounds better than it did as a Banjolele.
@@HunterSkyeMusic ok thank you - and what is the difference from a plectrum and a tenor banjo _ the tuning and the era that they were mainly played in ?
Joe Nania Joe Nania from what I heard from another video is the scale length is around 27inches (which is from the nut on the headstock to the bridge on the body, it is still a 4 string, and the tuning would be C G D A
I found that same paramount tenor banjo in an old barn and am looking to get it fixed up after many years of inactivity. Any suggestions on a good place in California to get a banjo refurbished?
Dean Browning Hey, are or would like to start a plectrum banjo group. Not sure what want to do. Was talking to my dad in San Diego and he was not seeing any younger playes.
They should also make the other fifth tuned banjos tuned G, D, A and E, a fourth lower than the tenor banjo; and a cello banjo, also turned in fifths; C, G, D and A.
I have an old plectrum banjo, but am more familiar with the guitar. Do I need special strings to achieve the guitar style tuning, or will the traditional strings hold a higher pitch, especially on the high D string being changed to an E. Thanks
AlldeLucas ^^^ is WRONG, dead wrong. Traditional (and proper) plectrum tuning is C-G-B-D (lower to higher). Classic (5 string) banjo - which is still played was (is) gCGBD. It had gut strings and is (was) played with bare fingertips, not claws or picks. This is the direct precursor of the plectrum banjo. It lost the first string (g) as in chord playing (with a flatpick) in jazz/hot dance bands, the g 5th string, was redundant. Any other tuning than CGBD WILL change the intonation of the instrument, as the same note will be on a different string length compared to the plectrum tuning. That in turn will also affect the sympathetic vibrations, chanding the "flavor" sound/chord. Yup, I CAN hear a guitar tuned plectrum immediately, when being played.
Thank you for making it easy to understand the difference between the two banjos. I am trying to help my uncle identify a pre war banjo and this information has helped me emmensely. Thank you.
Plectrum tuning is the C tuning for the banjo: C G B D. This tuning is extremely practical for chord melody soloing where the bottom three strings will harmonize with the first string (the D) as the lead voice is the chord. Also, the same chord forms can be repeated for key changes as you move up the neck. In contrast, the tenor is tuned in 5ths: C G D A. This tuning is great for single string work, but a more challenging instrument if you really want to play chord melody. For that, you want the plectrum with its closer voiced tuning.
CGBD is what Pete Seeger called "standard tuning" in his instruction book. (well, gCGBD, but close enough).
Thank you for this. As a transitioning guitar player, another difference is that while guitar chords will work, no one uses them. Consider first position G7 or C... banjo players play those as Bar 5 chords with pinky reaches that wouldn't work on a guitar. That part of hte transition has been challenging for me! Keep up the good work.
On guitar do you use bar chords or triads? I do a lot so the transition would be less hard for me I think?
Thank you. I’m in love with banjos and love the variety. I greatly enjoy old time music.
I decided to try Irish Tenor Banjo strings on my Banjolele. It didn't work because the scale length is 15.5 inches. When tuned GDAE the string tension was too low. So I tried ukulele GCEA with a low G. The tension was too high. So i loosened the strings 5 semitones to DGBE like a Baritone ukulele (which I have). Then I found out that this is known as "Chicago Tuning". It works fine and I can play it just like my Baritone ukulele. Great, I now have a 4 string banjo which plays like a ukulele. It sounds better than it did as a Banjolele.
So...what was the plectrum tuning? That might have been worth mentioning!
He said most people tune it just like a guitar . That would be DGBE low to high
yes exactly - what is the tuning of a plectrum banjo ?
C G B D. So if you’re tuning from a piano it would be C3 G3 B3 D4. 🤘🏽❤️
@@HunterSkyeMusic ok thank you - and what is the difference from a plectrum and a tenor banjo _ the tuning and the era that they were mainly played in ?
Joe Nania Joe Nania from what I heard from another video is the scale length is around 27inches (which is from the nut on the headstock to the bridge on the body, it is still a 4 string, and the tuning would be C G D A
I found that same paramount tenor banjo in an old barn and am looking to get it fixed up after many years of inactivity. Any suggestions on a good place in California to get a banjo refurbished?
Dean Browning Hey, are or would like to start a plectrum banjo group. Not sure what want to do. Was talking to my dad in San Diego and he was not seeing any younger playes.
Try AllFrets, BMG, Resonator magazines...plenty of people know how to play Plectrum Banjo....you just have to look outside a little !
Can you please play Grandma's Featherbed on the Plectrum Banjo ? Pretty please.
True Plectrum is tuned like a Viola, that’s why I picked it up so easily.
Paramount style A and a leader I think . Two nice wee banjos.
This was helpful, thx
What gauge strings are you using for DGBE on a plectrum?
What is the plectrum tuned to? Does the tenor start on a c?
The diference is the scale length. They made them before the twenties with scale lengths as short as eighteen inches.
They should also make the other fifth tuned banjos tuned G, D, A and E, a fourth lower than the tenor banjo; and a cello banjo, also turned in fifths; C, G, D and A.
I have an old plectrum banjo, but am more familiar with the guitar. Do I need special strings to achieve the guitar style tuning, or will the traditional strings hold a higher pitch, especially on the high D string being changed to an E. Thanks
You do not... Just get toss out a high g on a 5 string set
What is traditional plectrum tuning?
from lower to higher is D - G - B - C.
AlldeLucas ^^^ is WRONG, dead wrong.
Traditional (and proper) plectrum tuning is C-G-B-D (lower to higher).
Classic (5 string) banjo - which is still played was (is) gCGBD. It had gut strings and is (was) played with bare fingertips, not claws or picks. This is the direct precursor of the plectrum banjo. It lost the first string (g) as in chord playing (with a flatpick) in jazz/hot dance bands, the g 5th string, was redundant.
Any other tuning than CGBD WILL change the intonation of the instrument, as the same note will be on a different string length compared to the plectrum tuning. That in turn will also affect the sympathetic vibrations, chanding the "flavor" sound/chord.
Yup, I CAN hear a guitar tuned plectrum immediately, when being played.
5 string is sometimes gCGBD, but more often gDGBD
Victor Song www.deeringbanjos.com/blogs/banjo-maintenance-tips/9210375-how-to-tune-a-banjo
chas5131 not in 1910.
Are there 5-string plectrum banjos?
y0sh1100 no. That would be the 5-string banjo.
Can the tenor banjo be tuned to plectrum.
You can tune tenors to DGBE
You're measuring scale lengths wrong.
You're supposed to measure from the bridge to the middle of the 12th fret, and multiply by 2.
Thanks!
Uh.. From the NUT to the 12th fret times two. With some luck, you'll get the same result.
Both methods are correct; if your bridge is in the correct position, both measurements should be the same.
This guy:www.elderly.com/products/bad-river-winifrede-no9
Couldn't hear it too much background nose!
again you leave out Irish tenor banjos.
Thank you. I’m in love with banjos and love the variety. I greatly enjoy old time music.