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 Playing Advice: Clawhammer and Old-Time Styles
 ARCHIVED TOPIC: Best Chord Chart


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/286154

TLE - Posted - 06/08/2014:  08:25:33


Hello,



My first banjo is on it's way, so I need a chord chart. Can someone tell me the absolute best one to get?



Thank you very much.



Terry



 


Mad Jack Gallows - Posted - 06/08/2014:  09:13:56


I used an app called Fretter Lite for my phone, and still use it if I am unsure of some weird chord in another key, etc. The app has everykind of stringed instrument you can think of. So you open it, choose 5 string banjo for "your instrument" then the tuning you want to play in, standard open G, Sawmill, Double C, etc. Once you choose the instrument and tuning, it'll show all the chord names, G, A, B, C, D, etc and Major or Minor. Click the chord name, then major or minor, and it shows you every way to play that chords in different formations all over the fretboard. I learned chords really fast with it by just sitting down and writing the basic chords on my own chord charts, and whenever I might learn a new tune with a different chord or position, just opened the app and looked it up in about 2 seconds. Very handy app. Fretter Lite also does scales for every instrument in every key, in any tuning.

Another great app for tuning is Pitch Lab, a tuner app that'll tune anything, and uses all different kinds of tuners, as in your average chromatic tuner with the needle, to strobe tuners, ones that show the sound or frequency waves, even one that lets you play a song and it'll light up what chords are being played in the song. Easy way to learn songs, for sure. Both apps are free. I have Android but I'm sure Iphones have the same, if not better, apps.


Edited by - Mad Jack Gallows on 06/08/2014 09:17:37

Crusty - Posted - 06/08/2014:  09:29:55


The Mel Bay chord chart is pretty good, though you have to watch the little numbers that denote the frets because the nut isn't always the top of each chord.  The numbers are small so I've come in with a pen and written the starting fret number larger.



I also use Theo's Banjo Chord Generator online a lot too.


Culloden - Posted - 06/08/2014:  09:30:26


Banjo case chord book by Larry Sandberg. It may be available at a local music store. If not, it is available at Musicians Friend, Janet Davis and Elderly.



Edited by - Culloden on 06/08/2014 09:35:08

BanjoRW - Posted - 06/08/2014:  10:39:40


This website will show chords for any tunings: chordgen.rattree.co.uk/. See the "Scale / Multiple Chords" selection box.


oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 06/08/2014:  10:45:59


Look up Mike Iverson on google. His website used to have charts for several tunings. Mike probably has every chord you will ever use in playing folk music, and more to boot. I suggest only learning the chords you need, AS you need them.



If you are going into clawhammer you probably will never need much beyond the I IV V and vi chords. Rags will take more, but most folk music is easily accomplished with those listed above. 



For clawhammer, I suggest you concentrate on learning melodies. Clawhammer is a lead style and is based on melody and drones much more than chord harmony. If you are doing 2 or 3 finger style there is more of a reliance on chords but rarely much beyond those I mentioned above. Dock Boggs 3 finger style uses special tunings and avoids chords, so there really are no hard and fast rules in this.



I've been playing clawhammer for 45 years now and rarely use a chord shape. When I do use them I never go beyond the 4 I mentioned above and really rarely use more than 2 or 3.



Edited by - oldwoodchuckb on 06/08/2014 10:54:30

TLE - Posted - 06/08/2014:  11:05:14


Is G the normal  tuning?



Thank you,



Terry



 


chip arnold - Posted - 06/08/2014:  11:13:19


TLE ... what banjo style do you want to learn? Bluegrass? Old time? Clawhammer? What?



 


banjoak - Posted - 06/08/2014:  12:52:29


quote:

Originally posted by TLE

Is G the normal  tuning?




Thank you,




Terry




 







Not really. Open G is "one" tuning you can use.



Certainly some banjo players only use one tuning and learn to play everything out of that.



Other players use a few different tunings to fit the music; they might use gDGBD for many or most tunes/songs in key of G. (as well as up 2 for A) so it might be considered  "normal' for those, - but other tunings are considered "normal" for C, D, A modal - and might even consider some other tunings as "normal" for some G tunes.


TLE - Posted - 06/08/2014:  13:10:01


quote:

Originally posted by chip arnold

TLE ... what banjo style do you want to learn? Bluegrass? Old time? Clawhammer? What?




 







Chip,



I bought a Rickard 11" Dobson Open Back and I want to  learn basic Gospel tunes. I want a chord book that shows all chord separately, but have saved the websites recommended. Any recommendations?



 


TLE - Posted - 06/08/2014:  13:54:24


Thank you all for your help.



Regards,



Terry



 


westsideryan - Posted - 06/08/2014:  14:38:14


Here's a link to the banjo chord charts on Mike Iverson's site: bluesageband.com/Tab%20pdf%20f...hords.pdf  You could just print out the 6 pages for quick reference. 


TLE - Posted - 06/08/2014:  15:01:22


quote:

Originally posted by westsideryan

Here's a link to the banjo chord charts on Mike Iverson's site: bluesageband.com/Tab%20pdf%20f...hords.pdf  You could just print out the 6 pages for quick reference. 







Perfect, thank youl



Terry


chip arnold - Posted - 06/08/2014:  15:05:16


If you're playing gospel in church, or for singers, you'll need to change keys often to accommodate voices. I think you'll be best served by learning to play in multiple keys out of one tuning and gDGBD is probably best for that.  Other folks will differ! When I asked what banjo style you wanted to play, I meant what picking style, not what sort of music you wanted to play with that picking style. Bluegrass style pickers usually work out of one tuning, while clawhammer and other old time style pickers use several. 


davidwigal - Posted - 06/08/2014:  20:59:54


Hi Terry, I am glad that you are getting a very nice instrument that will probably last you a life-time; as for some basic advice- as soon as you receive it, tune it up using an electronic tuner- you can purchase an inexpensive Snark tuner through Amazon for about $12.00 bucks. After tuning it to standard open "G" tuning gDGBD spend the next two to three months learning the basic Bum-Ditty clawhammer stroke. Once you develop a good, solid base of this musical-mechanic it will be easier for you to learn the tunes that you desire.



Happy picking, Dave :-)


carlb - Posted - 06/09/2014:  06:32:16


Here's mine. (PS I tried to post the charts without any text and it didn't show up).

 





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