Hi @The_MoleFo tunes in the Key of D. You can tune the 5th String to A and Play out of the D Position or Capo up 2 Frets and Play out of the C Position
Discuss the Banjo lesson: Banjo Capo Strategy
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Here is a nice example the banjo playing in D pos with 5th String re-tuned as Archie suggested.
. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0BXCSq9HWM
If you ever get a chance to hear the Mike Lilley & Harley Allen version of this it gets even better!
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Do you have a lesson for I’ll fly away?
There used to be one, but it had to be removed for copyright reasons. I think @BanjoBen can get you the tab, though.
Okay Thanks.
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I was struggling through a tab of Ben Eldridge’s break on Old Train from Seldom Scene. They played it in E and Ben played C-position with capo on the fourth fret. Then I realized we were going to play it in F like on Manzanita. It took me a while but I came up with a reasonable half-break out of D-postition with capo on the third fret.
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Glad it worked out for you Mike
Hey Jesse. I have a copy of Ben’s IFA tab. I just sent it to your Sheepdog GMail account.
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Hey thank you! I haven’t checked this page for a while, thus the late response. really appreciate it!
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Could I grab that too please!
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Done!
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Ben, you used the song I’ll fly away and your instructions on the capo. How do I get the music for that song? I’d love to learn how to play it and it didn’t sound too difficult.
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There used to be a lesson on the song, but it had to be removed for copyright reasons. I might have a copy of the tab; I’ll post it here if @BanjoBen is fine with that.
Also, check out the new make-a-break lesson, which can get you on your way to coming up with your own solos impromtu.
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Shoot me an email through the contact page and I’ll take care of you: https://banjobenclark.com/contact
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I have a question. I want to learn Reuben and its in D tuning. Earl Scruggs book says F#DF#AD.
Would it be Easier to tune the G string down half a step and also the a string or try to figure how to capo it
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Playing in F#DF#AD tuning is much the same as playing in open G once you grasp the rules. I have never tried using the tuning for Ruben as you suggest. My advice FWIW is stick with the way Earl did it F#DF#AD. It will sound more authentic
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Yep, you need to drop both G strings down to F# and your B string to A. You can also spike the high G string at 7 for an A note instead of tuning it down if you prefer the sound. Check out this lesson segment on D tuning:
https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/how-to-tune-your-banjo-banjo/video/banjo-d-tuning
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That’s what I’m wanting anyway.
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I watched that, that’s why I was asking. Lol
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Yep some tunes just sound so much better when played in an original context. That said there is nothing wrong with experimentation. I love to tune down to E to play tunes like Lorena & Gum Tree Canoe which was a favourite of John Hartford they just sound so rich and old timey. But you can play these tunes out of standard G tuning.
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