JoeDownes - Posted - 04/02/2015:  16:44:40

I think the minor third against major chord sound is typical for bluegrass, but It wouldn't be my first choice for the 5th string.

KI4PRK - Posted - 05/02/2015:  08:53:46

Are you perhaps talking about the intonation of the chord? I frequently play in E without a capo, and if my banjo is in perfect tuning in the key of G, I almost always have to fine tune the B string for the open E and B chords (my home positions in the key of E) to sound in tune. I think this has something to do with the flaws of equal temperament, but I'm not an expert on the subject. On many guitars, the B string is also temperamental.

73, Brennen

steve davis - Posted - 05/16/2015:  08:53:32

When you tune to open G, tune the B string flat 6 cents.

pickincat - Posted - 05/18/2015:  01:43:28

Longnecks are great for E major. But a standard G tuning works great also if you know the basic chords of E major on the first 4 strings. You can tune the 5th string up a half step to G# and you have your major 3rd if you want ti utilize it. You could also tune up the 3rd string to G# but to me that seems moot because the E in standard tuning is easy and so are the 4th and 5th chords. My banjos love being playing played in the key of E so maybe you have some sort of voodoo banjo. Or maybe you just aren't giving your banjo a chance.

steve davis - Posted - 05/18/2015:  08:37:57

Why do banjos hate E chords?...A good carpenter doesn't blame the tool.

Tom Berghan - Posted - 05/20/2015:  06:54:38

The underlying question is why do banjoists AND guitarists dislike closed position chords? (and key signatures like E Flat) The answer is that many of them just never studied closed chords up the neck - except 4 string banjo players who have no trouble playing in any key signature.

And therein lies the solution - just learn to play without having to rely on picking the fifth string. Don Reno did and Bela too (and many other "advanced" players). 

steve davis - Posted - 05/20/2015:  06:59:37

I've always "studied" closed chords.Has nothing to do with type of banjo neck.

Get comfortable with full chords.It's fun and simple.

Useful,too.

Edited by - steve davis on 05/20/2015 07:00:20

Helix - Posted - 06/17/2015:  05:52:27

Antony60, welcome to the banjo hangout, fine solution.

I reject the G#, not enough of it, but reading comprehension plays a part here, just banjo gods, operator error gets into the knuckles, the banjos are innocent of goofy opinions.

Perhaps Mr. Boulding means the sound of the chords is the same, the fingering, however is different. I love the way banjo repeats the chords with different fingering because you get more out of the banjo, guitars don't repeat as quickly up the scale. Use your music. Use a spike @ 14 and capo above the 5th peg. John Stewart "REverend Mr. Black" uses open low E with the 5th on the high E.

If you like, tune your banjo down 1.5 steps and use your G licks in open E, that's what us longnecketeers do, but we carry a longneck, a regular neck, an A scale and a C scale neck with us all the time, just in case, all in the same neck, spikes are our friends, (7,8,9,10,12,14), I like to use different notes than the root on the 5th.

At jams and concerts where I work behind the scenes, I've seen and heard enough capoed up two E chords.

Hate is from people, however, all we have to do is put hate on a good banjo stand and watch it get knocked over. The human race will outgrow it, banjos will evolve with us like domesticated dogs, they just want to help. And remember the wood is still alive. Talk nice around your instruments.
My opinions, thanks for the time to respond.

steve davis - Posted - 06/17/2015:  09:50:17

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tom Berghan

 

The underlying question is why do banjoists AND guitarists dislike closed position chords? (and key signatures like E Flat) The answer is that many of them just never studied closed chords up the neck - except 4 string banjo players who have no trouble playing in any key signature.

 

And therein lies the solution - just learn to play without having to rely on picking the fifth string. Don Reno did and Bela too (and many other "advanced" players). 

 

 

 

 

 

---

Had a nice kitchen jam last night with a blues player and did one he wrote in Eb.

I love playing in Eb on a G neck.Eb has a G note in it and the Bb 7th with the open G(6th) used to step up to the G# is very enjoyable.

Needless to say,we did a bunch of E tunes.I didn't capo all night long.I hate to lose those any of those low tones.

Another thing about becoming used to navigating anywhere on the open G neck is that when others are capoed you will have those low notes and chords all to yourself and be able to offer a different tonal tecture to the harmonies.

I like thumbfretting the 5th rather than avoiding it.

Edited by - steve davis on 06/17/2015 09:52:29

Helix - Posted - 06/18/2015:  12:50:56

The Julia Belle Swain

steve davis - Posted - 06/19/2015:  05:35:14

I pretend all keys are G,sometimes.

Klondike Waldo - Posted - 06/20/2015:  12:14:09

quote:

---

Originally posted by RoBanJo

 

Because the E just ain't natural.

---

That's because it's F♭

steve davis - Posted - 07/20/2015:  05:16:11

I love the simplicity of the 1st fret on the 3rd string E7.Almost as easy as the open G.

steveplaysbanjo - Posted - 08/02/2015:  16:36:29

If it's helpful for anyone, I made a video about playing in E with and without a capo. I'm still figuring out this "teaching" thing, so ignore the parts that don't make sense. Hah! 

For what it's worth, I think banjos love E-chords - like a scoop of ice cream on a Sunday afternoon. Now them D-minor chords, that's another thing...

Banjo Rose - Posted - 08/25/2015:  21:54:47

Banjo Rose - Posted - 08/25/2015:  21:57:06

I am not a banjo expert but I found peace with E chord playing G shape at 14 th fret with thumb on 5th string real peeerty.

garytone - Posted - 09/22/2015:  17:09:02

Hey guys, first time posting here ( OK second post, geesh ). I just bought my first banjo - arriving next week - starting to sweat a little, all this talk about key changes and intonation. This is EXCITING! I don't know anything about how to play anything in E, or any other key!!