Davidprat - Posted - 09/22/2016:  10:06:11

does the Aquila low tuning strings works better tuned in low E than Low D? On a 26" scale banjo seems that tuned to low D the strings tension is not enough.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 09/22/2016:  12:26:23

I use the "minstrel" set for both tunings (D and E) and have no trouble with either.

No experience on short-scale banjos though...28" scale.

csacwp - Posted - 09/22/2016:  12:35:02

Most of the original, professional quality early banjos that are still in existence have a long scale, 28'' or more. A bunch of them are over 30''! If you're going for historical accuracy, by the Civil War people were tuning to E... not sure why so many reenactors tune to D. If you want to play the really early stuff "as it was", then tune to C or D. One other note- people preferred very loose strings back then for both stroke style and classic fingerstyle. If you're used to modern heavier gauge nylon strings or steel strings, this can take some getting used to.  The Aquila minstrel set and classic banjo sets are far heavier than what was historically used.  

Edited by - csacwp on 09/22/2016 12:36:18

trapdoor2 - Posted - 09/22/2016:  12:47:02

quote:

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Originally posted by csacwp

 

Most of the original, professional quality early banjos that are still in existence have a long scale, 28'' or more. A bunch of them are over 30''! If you're going for historical accuracy, by the Civil War people were tuning to E... not sure why so many reenactors tune to D. If you want to play the really early stuff "as it was", then tune to C or D. One other note- people preferred very loose strings back then for both stroke style and classic fingerstyle. If you're used to modern heavier gauge nylon strings or steel strings, this can take some getting used to.  The Aquila minstrel set and classic banjo sets are far heavier than what was historically used.  

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John,

At the first Antietam Early Banjo Gathering, we really had only the reprint books from Joe Ayers as source material. The most tuneful of these are the Briggs book and (my opinion) the Converse "Greenback Book". As it is the earliest of the tutors, the Briggs book turned out to be the hands down "default" for Stroke style players...including the "D" tuning (dGDF#A) that the book is written in. I don't think AEBG actually set the default...but it certainly promoted it among players.

Anyone who was playing from another tutor was basically transposing into the default tuning (D) by the end of the gathering...unless they were a solo act. I don't remember playing anything in E until years later.

Edited by - trapdoor2 on 09/22/2016 12:49:40

maneckep - Posted - 09/22/2016:  13:28:25

David,

I have a 25 inch scale fretless salad bowl banjo with these strings tuned to D. I like them a lot. Never tuned them up to E since I like the way they sound and play in D.

Paul