[Dixielandjazz] Question about Banjos for Trad Jazz

[dwlit at cpcug.org]

One important point that should be made explicitly, is the apparent
difficulties tenor players seem to have with flat keys like Ab and Eb,
perhaps even Bb. I don't know if this is a function of the stretching
problem, but for trad jazz, those keys are essential, and the tenor
players at banjo bashes avoid 'em like the plague.

I don't know tenor banjos, but I use guitar tuning on my "short-scale
plectrum", and have no problem with flat keys, transposing, etc. Note,
however, that it doesn't have the bright percussiveness of tenors which I
deem to be an important characteristic (don't ask me about this until
you've listened to tenor somewhat close up.)

--Sheik

>
> 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
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>>
>
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