[Dixielandjazz] Question about Banjos for Trad Jazz

[Barb Jordan]

Wow!  Thanks so much Scott for all this great information!
 
We will definitely use this when deciding on which banjo to get.
 
 
Barbara Jordan
 

> From: santh at comcast.net
> To: jordan_barb at hotmail.com
> CC: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Question about Banjos for Trad Jazz
> Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:39:26 -0800
> 
> I just tried to categorize the different styles of Trad Jazz that each type 
> of banjo is best suited for, and then gave up, because I kept thinking of 
> exceptions to my categories. The upshot is, the best type of banjo to learn 
> depends on what sounds best to you.
> 
> Tenor banjo (either 17 or 19 fret) is higher in pitch, and will therefore 
> cut through the sound of the rest of the band more. I usually associate it 
> with "older" styles and the "British Trad" sound. Tenor banjo is also 
> somewhat more amenable to single-string solo playing, and if you ever played 
> cello or viola, notes on the fingerboard are laid out exactly the same since 
> the tuning is identical.
> 
> Plectrum banjo with 22 frets is somewhat mellower in sound because the pitch 
> is lower. The standard tuning is different from any other instrument (except 
> for "C-tuning" on a 5-string banjo), but it CAN be tuned to the same pitch 
> as the top (highest pitch) 4 strings of a guitar (or baritone uke). This 
> makes it easy for a guitar player to double on banjo, but guitar tuning 
> definitely sounds different from standard tuning because the chord voicings 
> are different. Most people, except other banjo players, probably would not 
> notice this. Note that it is possible to tune a tenor banjo with it's 
> shorter neck and fewer frets down in pitch to either standard plectrum 
> tuning or guitar tuning, but NOT the reverse. Trying to tune a banjo with a 
> longer plectrum neck up to tenor tuning is practically impossible without 
> breaking strings.
> 
> I started playing banjo on a tenor, but after a couple of years switched to 
> plectrum. That was 52 years ago but I can still get around reasonably well 
> on a tenor although I don't have one now and haven't ever needed to play one 
> on a job. It seems that once your brain gets used to one set of chords 
> (there are only 12 basic chord "formations" on any 4-string instrument (but 
> each has many alterations)) it is easy to learn another set for a different 
> tuning.
> 
> One thing that might influence your decision is that starting on a tenor is 
> PAINFUL unless you have an extremely good instrument with great action. The 
> strings, being pitched quite a bit higher, are much "tighter" and pressing 
> them down to get a good clean sound is more difficult and may discourage 
> especially young players until they get the callouses built up on their 
> fingers. Also, chords on a tenor seem to me to require more stretching than 
> plectrum chords.
> 
> Hope this helps!
> 
> Scott Anthony
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Barb Jordan" <jordan_barb at hotmail.com>
> To: <santh at comcast.net>
> Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Sunday, December 25, 2011 11:30 AM
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Question about Banjos for Trad Jazz
> 
> 
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi listmates,
> >
> > I know someone can answer this question:
> >
> > What is the best type of banjo to get to learn how to play trad jazz 
> > music? 17 or 19 fret Tenor or Plectrum?
> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Barbara Jordan
> > Burlington, Ontario Canada
> > _______________________________________________
> > To unsubscribe or change your e-mail preferences for the Dixieland Jazz 
> > Mailing list, or to find the online archives, please visit:
> >
> > http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
> >
> >
> >
> > Dixielandjazz mailing list
> > Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> > 
>