Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

F Chord - Pleasing Sound

#1

Yesterday I had been working on a tune in the Key of D with my fifth string peg at the 7th fret. Today when I picked up my banjo to work on the B part to Old Joe Clark I started noodling over the F Chord not realising the fifth string was still hooked. I could tell something didn’t sound quite right but none the less it sounded quite pleasing to the ear. It took me a short while to figure out the problem.

Then I got to thinking could there be an instance / tune in the Key of F where one might capo the 5th string in this way @BanjoBen ?

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#2

I’ve heard it done a few times before:


I don’t know if it’s super common, but it’s definitely a very cool idea. The A note works over the F chord because it’s the 3rd interval to F.
5 Likes
#3

Thanks @Michael_Mark

#4

Great question, and though I rarely if ever play out of open F, I would indeed capo my 5th string at the 7th fret to make it an A note. Your other options would be to tune it down a whole step to an F note, or capo at 10th fret for C note, or leave it G for a 9th drone…lots of cool options, actually.

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#5

Thanks @BanjoBen