lizbeth - Posted - 03/07/2014:  02:37:04

Hi. I am a brand new clawhammer style banjo student. I am learning on a rented Gold Tone CC 50 right now. I travel a lot for work and would like to be able to practice while out of town. So I was browsing the internet for travel banjos, and the CC 50 TR sounds good and is almost the same as what I am using now.  

My question is this: how would playing chords be different on a shorter banjo? In open G tuning, would a C chord still be fingered on the first two frets like it is on my regular size banjo? 

I am new to this and really don't understand music theory yet, either. I don't want to buy a shorter banjo if the chords will be all different and then confuse/complicate my learning.

Thanks!

BanjoJeff - Posted - 03/07/2014:  04:46:42

If it's a shorter scale banjo you may still be able to tune to open G but it may not sound as good. Depending on the scale most shorter scale banjos sound better tuned to A or higher. You could play the same chord shapes in A tuning but you would not be playing the same chords as in G tuning. If you were playing with a song in G you would have to change your chords to match the song. I would not recommend getting a shorter scale banjo in your case because it could hamper your learning process.

There are some full scale travel banjos available that feel and play just like a regular banjo but they are more expensive. The Tranjo Express for example. They play and sound great and you don't have to make any big adjustments to your playing to accommodate it.. I have a Gold Tone Tranjo myself. It's awesome. 

tranjo.com/txpictures.php

Welcome to the Hangout!!

Edited by - BanjoJeff on 03/07/2014 04:55:46

cockneybanjo - Posted - 03/07/2014:  07:03:13

How do you travel? By car or by air? If by car, just use the same instrument you already have. If by air, there are whole threads about this and I'm not going to comment on internal air travel in tbe US.

However since you mention you are a cl awhammer player, "double C capo 2" tuning - aDADE - fits right onto a 19-fret, A-scale banjo with no capo

morgensd - Posted - 03/07/2014:  19:10:06

Hi lizbeth. Welcome to the Hangout. Just curious as to why you are considering the short scale banjo? I travel a lot as well. I looked into buying a shorter scale banjo and the difference in the overall length is only 4". I travel by air and it didn't seem like it would make much difference in terms of finding space. I'm still debating on whether to invest in a Tranjo.

If you do go with the short scale version of the GT you can either tune it to open G or A. You can use the same chord shapes, but you'll be playing a whole tone higher. A C-chord shape will actually give you a D chord.

Dave

lizbeth - Posted - 03/07/2014:  23:59:28

I appreciate the replies. To answer some questions, I travel by air and by car. Taking my regular banjo by car isn't a problem, and I do plan to do that. It's the air travel that had me thinking a shorter banjo might be worth investing in and easier to carry. But Dave, you bring up a good point on the overall length not being that much different. It might not be enough of a difference to make it any easier to travel with on an airplane. I wish I knew for sure.

I had assumed that if the shorter neck banjo was tuned to open G that all the chords would be the same on both that and a normal length banjo, meaning same left hand finger position on the same frets gives the same notes. If that's not the case then I think I would not want to go the route of buying a smaller travel banjo until I have more experience at playing and understand more about chords.

morgensd - Posted - 03/08/2014:  01:22:35

travelerguitar.com/electric/it...-electric



What I'd really like is something this but with 5 strings and a banjo head. Full scale length in a much shorter overall length.

Dave

lizbeth - Posted - 03/08/2014:  06:22:57

Dave, yes, exactly! I like the looks of the Sloan Jo2Go but can't afford it right now. I could save up for it but that won't help me right now when I have so much travel on the horizon.

I have WipLStix (wiplstix.com/ws/order_wiplstix.html) that use to practice fiddle when I travel. It's not the greatest but it's small, easy to carry, and lets me practice while in a hotel room.

I was really hoping to find something in a travel banjo that met my expectations (which I gather are unrealistic): I want it to sound the same but be shorter in overall length, be lightweight, yet have same 11 " head size, same bridge height, and string action so I don't feel a difference in playing.

I figure in time, after I've gained more experience at playing, that those things won't matter as much and I'll be able to adapt. But right now that's what I wish I could find and at a price I can afford.

I know, wish in one hand, spit in the other… :)

cockneybanjo - Posted - 03/08/2014:  07:58:06

You can tune an A scale banjo to gDGBD with heavier strings, the tone isn't quite so good but you will hardly notice.

I find for international air travel, the 19-fret size fits straight in the overheads but the 22-fret size doesn't.

BanjoJeff - Posted - 03/08/2014:  09:40:57

I have one of these that I can take as a carry on when I fly. It's basically the same total length (1/2" longer actually) as the Ultra-Light.

My Tranjo is pretty much the same size and you can detach the neck while keeping tension on the strings at the bridge and fit it into any standard size suitcase if you did not want to take it as a carry on.

The great thing about the Tranjo is that the tone and playability is so awesome for what it is. It's not cheap but to me it's worth the extra money and slightly cheaper than the Jo2Go. It has a surprising amount of volume as well. I keep a Mike's banjo mute in my case for practicing in hotel rooms and such and it works great for silent practice too.. 

Edited by - BanjoJeff on 03/08/2014 09:56:22

gzerninplatz - Posted - 03/09/2014:  00:14:31

Backyard banjos!  2 lbs, inexpensive,  solid, works great

gottasmilealot - Posted - 03/09/2014:  07:41:00

Consider the Gold Tone CC-OTA, an A scale banjo, which is smaller than standard sized, yet gives good tone.  There's a used one on Ebay now that someone should  pick up. ebay.com/itm/Gold-Tone-CC-OTA-...7dfd019f8 .  I bought one used a while back to resell, but have kept it because the tone is really good. Mine had planetary tuners put on it, but the stock tuners work well.

wifeof1 - Posted - 03/09/2014:  15:03:54

I bought a decent used banjo on Craigslist for $100, then took it to my Banjo Wizard and had him make it an open back. 20 bucks later I had a great traveling banjo. The sound isn't as rich as my Deering and it is quieter, so I don't worry about thin walled hotel rooms.

BanjoJeff - Posted - 03/09/2014:  16:51:07

There are lots of great travel banjos available but when you're new to banjos as the op mentioned she is, you don't want a banjo that causes you to alter your playing and fingering when you are in the process of working on muscle memory. 

When you are training yourself in right and left hand coordination as well as arm, wrist, and finger positioning as you learn the instrument, and a travel banjo is a must to keep your practice regiment up, you want something that doesn't cause you to change those things in order to accommodate a smaller scale instrument. A more seasoned student might not need to be as concerned about those things as one just starting out however.

Montanarick - Posted - 03/09/2014:  18:12:51

I love my Tranjo Express....always amazed at its tone and how small it packs....I also like that it is full scale.

MrNatch3L - Posted - 03/11/2014:  13:07:45

The Nechville Atlas model has an easy to remove and reinstall neck, designed with traveling players in mind. It's a travel banjo and a "real" banjo in one.

stickfigurine - Posted - 03/12/2014:  02:13:36

I have a Tranjo 8.1 which I take *everywhere*. It has a full scale length but it's small enough that people usually assume it is a mandolin until it comes out of the case. The tranjo is about as heavy as a Goodtime but because there's no peghead the instrument feels much smaller and - most importantly - much, much less fragile. It feels like I could chop wood with it. I carried the tranjo 900km backpacking across Spain with nary a scratch, and I was not gentle.

The only downsides:

• Expensive.


• A bit neck-heavy. Helped by getting a leather strap (less slippage), but hanging a small weight off the lower strap makes it feel more balanced.


• Not loud enough to be heard at jams (8" head, no resonator, it's not magic). 

You really can't beat the portability and I'm really glad I bought it, especially when I go outdoors. It doesn't play as nicely as my "real" banjo (an old FB58) but it's a tiny fraction of the weight so 2/3 of the time I pick up the tranjo when I'm practicing by myself in the house. The tone is remarkably good for what it is, but you wouldn't take it to a recording studio.

I always carry the tranjo on flights, putting it in the overhead compartment intact (I've never disassembled the neck). Nobody has questioned it. I have a pelican 1700 case on order which will let me mount it on my motorcycle or take it rafting. I refuse to be without a banjo! That said, if you live a more sedate life, you can probably save a lot of money buying a cheap openback and a padded gig bag instead.

lizbeth - Posted - 03/13/2014:  16:47:45

I wanted to thank everyone for their replies. I found your responses incredibly helpful. I looked into all of the suggestions that were given including Backyard Banjos, the Goldtone CC-OTA, the Nechville Atlas, and the Sloan Jo2Go. A couple of folks contacted me directly through email with additional suggestions as well. It was interesting learn about all of the various options (and prices!).

My good news is that I am the new owner of a very slightly used Tranjo 8! Another member here reached out to me as he was about to sell his Tranjo and I was able to purchase it from him. It arrived today, just in time for an upcoming trip, and I really think this was a good investment.

My thanks to all of you, and especially to member Ron C for contacting me and offering to sell the Tranjo, and then for answering all of my questions along the way, and shipping it so quickly!

BanjoJeff - Posted - 03/14/2014:  05:42:08

Great choice. Congratulations. I know you'll really enjoy it.

sdfarris - Posted - 03/14/2014:  08:46:58

Welcome to the Tranjo family! Let me know if you need anything or have questions.

Sam Farris

Montanarick - Posted - 03/14/2014:  09:37:10

Great choice....tuning it is like walking backwards for a little while...once you get used it it's a snap...I use a Planet Waves mini tuner on my Express and it fits nicely....I don't know if there is a place for it on the 8. Have fun!!!!! Rick

PS Sam....any progress on the new head connector system for the Express that we discussed?

Montanarick - Posted - 03/15/2014:  09:37:43

quote:Sam.....any response??

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Originally posted by Montanarick

Great choice....tuning it is like walking backwards for a little while...once you get used it it's a snap...I use a Planet Waves mini tuner on my Express and it fits nicely....I don't know if there is a place for it on the 8. Have fun!!!!! Rick

 

 

 

PS Sam....any progress on the new head connector system for the Express that we discussed?

 

---

sdfarris - Posted - 03/15/2014:  19:36:40

Montanarick - I've got it figured out. Please contact me off list.

Sam