schaumannk - Posted - 10/10/2009:  15:06:37

I acquired this book months ago and finally picked it up and started looking through it seriously. Since there is no recording I am having trouble figuring out the pieces. Since it is classical and transcribed from lute music I would find it likely that the tunes would be in C but nothing in the book speaks to tunings. Has anyone worked with this book? Can you tell me if all the tunes are in G or C or what? Thanks, Kate Schaumann

Bigbadbucksnort - Posted - 10/10/2009:  17:00:13

I love that book.

I've played through most of the songs and they seemed to do well with G tuning, so I'm assuming that's what it is. Some of those songs sound really weird, but that's also because they're different styles of music. If I remember, he's transcribing to original keys, but some of the more difficult songs actually are incredibly easy when transcribed to the key of G. Doesn't he say in the intro that he tries to avoid using the fifth string, and in some cases open strings? If it's really tricky for you, look for the open strings that you can play in place of the fretted notes, and you'll find that many of those songs are easier.

Tobias

Cogito Ergo Banjo

schaumannk - Posted - 10/10/2009:  21:24:13

Thanks for the reply. I looked for some original recordings on the net and most of the pieces are quite pretty. I will look for the open strings as you suggested. I love bluegrass but have gotten myslef in a classical mood. Kate

matt m - Posted - 10/11/2009:  08:18:57

Yes, I have that book too. Yes, the tunes take a while to get used to, and yes Datesman could definitely have transcribed them into easier keys to play. But I quite enjoy the challenge of learning those tunes anyway.

The main problem I have with Datesman and tunings however is that he seems to forget that the banjo is a VERY resonant instrument, and that unfretted strings will ring out unless you mute them. Sometimes they ring out a bit even when you do mute them.

It's really noticeable with his other book 'Music of the British Isles for Banjo'. The accompanying CD with that book isn't all that helpful - because he's playing in different keys in standard tuning and not bothering to mute any of the strings he isn't playing. So you get the tunes with a really unusual non-root note resonating away in the background. You really can't hear the tune properly at all - makes a bit of mockery of whatever key a tune's supposed to be in.

Edited by - matt m on 10/11/2009 11:03:55

schaumannk - Posted - 10/11/2009:  10:14:53

From the reading that I have been doing on the rennaisance lute, it appears that there was no standard tuning. A seven course lute was normally tuned to F so I guess G for the banjo playing lute music makes more sense than C.
I wonder if it would help the music and make it more lute like, and also keep the open strings from ringing too much if you capoed up to A and played the tunes that way. I may have to experiement a little. Kate