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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/265086
banjohyeah - Posted - 06/16/2013: 12:54:47
Hi! Alright, so I've inherited an old family banjo and my parents don't want me to be the first one in ten years to tune it. The banjo itself is in excellent condition, but I need to find some place to get it tuned! Does anyone know a place that will tune my banjo for a reasonable price?
rudy - Posted - 06/16/2013: 13:17:21
If you have a reasonably good sense of pitch just follow any one of the dozens of YouTube videos that shown you how to tune by simply matching the pitch being demonstrated. If you break a string it's no biggie, if they are old they should be replaced anyway. Strings are cheap.
Fathand - Posted - 06/16/2013: 14:36:16
Any music store should do it included in the price of installing new strings.
Jim D - Posted - 06/16/2013: 15:35:38
Go to this link, then scroll down to "Tune the Banjo to itself"... follow the instructions and you should be able to accomplish the first tuning yourself. The result may not be in G tuning, but the G chord shapes will work and it will be in tune.
banjotrain.com/Resources/tuning.php
Jim
Noah Cline - Posted - 06/16/2013: 19:30:19
If you inherited it, it's yours. That's great that it's a family heirloom and it's in your possession.
John Gribble - Posted - 06/17/2013: 01:48:15
An old banjo really ought to have new strings. There is probably a music store nearby which can change the strings and tune it up for a reasonable price.
Fathand - Posted - 06/17/2013: 06:18:07
When you go take your first lesson, the teacher will tune it and should show you how to do it the 2nd time.
Hawgfiddle65 - Posted - 06/17/2013: 06:25:26
Hi
If its really old you may be best with nyglut strings, they definitely won't do any damage and upset the folks!
Jim (Hawgfiddle65)
Ira Gitlin - Posted - 06/17/2013: 06:42:57
Steel strings were not widely used before the 20th century. If the banjo is very old, it may not be designed to withstand the tension of steel strings. In addition, steel strings can damage the tuning pegs of some old banjos. Can you post photos of your instrument?
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