[Dixielandjazz] Pete Seeger Banjo Style

[Scott Anthony]

Bill,

One slight correction to what you wrote below is that plectrum tuning is 
called "C" tuning on the 5-string. "Standard" 5-string tuning is with the 
4th string tuned up to "D" so that the open strings play a G chord. An open 
string chord on the plectrum banjo sounds terrible - it is a G-B-D chord on 
the top 3 string with a C on the bottom. Yuck.

Scott Anthony

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Gunter" <jazzboard at hotmail.com>
To: <santh at pacbell.net>
Cc: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 3:25 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Pete Seeger Banjo Style


> Hi all (mainly those interested in the Pete Seeger 5 string banjo thread),
>
> Mad Dawg Lowell Busching asked:
>
>>Does anyone know if they (Pete Seeger's long neck banjos) were made 
>>commercially after that or were they always the banjo equivalent of the 
>>hot rods? Chopped with parts added.
>
> Actually, Vega banjos made a special long neck 5 string banjo called the 
> "Pete Seeger Model."
>
> Instead of the usual 5 frets between the nut and the 5th peg there are 7. 
> The banjo is normally played with a capo at the second fret thus making 
> the tuning and playing exactly the same as any standard five string.
>
> The standard tuning for a five string is the same as a plectrum banjo with 
> the fifth string being a "G" pitched above the first string. This allow 
> the player to easily play in the keys of C and G with equal ease and the 
> maximum of "open" (unstopped) strings for that nice banjo "ring."
>
> By moving the capo down one fret and retuning the fifth string down a half 
> step allows the player to easily play in B and F#.
>
> Similarly, removing the capo altogether and tuning the fifth string down 
> another half step the player can play in Bb and F (nice keys for jazz 
> players).
>
> That's the big advantage of the long neck.
>
> By the way . . . one of the great things about the Vega banjos is the 
> "tone ring" directly under the banjo head. It really adds a bright ringing 
> tone to the instrument.  Wish't I had one.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Bill "Haul it out and twang it" Gunter
> jazzboard at hotmail.com
>
>
>
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