[Dixielandjazz] Additional Important Info Regarding Banjos

[Walker, Maurice]

A minor quibble, Mike. 

"Capos are generally used only on 5 string banjos." 

If you went to a stringed instrument store and asked for a capo, you
would almost certainly be offered a guitar capo -- you'd have to ask for
a capo specifically for banjo.  It's primarily a folk-music thing, where
the performer chooses a key to suit his/her voice and uses the capo to
play familiar chords in an unfamiliar key.       

"Most 4 string banjoists (tenor or plectrum) do not use capos, as it is
possible to play in all keys and to switch "on the fly" to a different
key. The latter is not possible when a capo is used. "

True -- I usually have one in my case for the odd moment, such as the
guy that sprang Maple Leaf Rag on me in the key of A.

I'm intrigued by the book titled "The Half-Barbaric Twang" (Karen Linn,
Univ. of Illinois Press) -- Is that a recent publication?

Maurie Walker
Formerly of Queen City Jazz Band, among other things



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