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watercarving - Posted - 07/02/2020: 11:30:42
Do you play more in Double C or do you tune up to Double D to be in the key most fiddlers would want? I've been practicing a lot in Double C but not sure if I should just tune up.
John
carlb - Posted - 07/02/2020: 12:55:26
I tune up (light gauge strings). For C, I use open C (gCGce). To each his own.
NWBanjo - Posted - 07/02/2020: 12:59:46
I mix it up. For solo playing, I prefer lower tunings, so I’ll often play D tunes in double C or even lower when making music. On the other hand, I don’t use a capo, so I find it’s good to practice tuned up to D so that my hands and attack are used to the tighter feel.
Isaac
Bill Rogers - Posted - 07/02/2020: 13:57:51
For major sessions (long gone) I use two identical banjos, one tuned up two frets. Otherwise, I just capo up.
mrphysics55 - Posted - 07/02/2020: 14:33:11
I tune up to double-D
I never use a capo .... gave away the one I had years ago.
BTW, local jams here don’t play a lot of C tunes.
We play ...
Mostly D tunes
Then A tunes
Some G tunes, though rarely
Almost never C tunes
However, I like to play D tunes in Double C when I’m at home alone ... Like NWBanjo I like the sound of the lower tuning.
Lemon Banjos - Posted - 07/02/2020: 18:30:34
I have heard of double d, but i didn't know they came in a double c size. I think I would prefer the double d's 
seriously, I have no clue about clawhammer style. I just saw an opportunity to make a joke and figured I would. sorry if y'all don't find it funny 
doryman - Posted - 07/02/2020: 19:14:28
I play in jams that are a mix of bluegrass, folk, country and fiddle tunes. Numerous songs are called in C, so I'll occasionally tune my banjo to double C and capo up to double D. I did not throw away my capo and if anyone else is throwing theirs away, you can send them to me.
banjoak - Posted - 07/02/2020: 20:24:22
quote:
Originally posted by watercarving
Do you play more in Double C or do you tune up to Double D to be in the key most fiddlers would want? I've been practicing a lot in Double C but not sure if I should just tune up.
John
For just playing for myself, I usually don't much differentiate, actual pitch might even be somewhere in between; it's the same relative tuning, plays the same; other than maybe effect of string tension, and/or overall bright vs warm tone.
As fiddler, I might think of many tunes as "D tunes" or "C tunes"... regardless of actual pitch I tuned to; it's in how the finger and bow.
On banjo, I might use a different relative tuning for actual fiddle C tunes. Type of tune plays a factor.
AndrewD - Posted - 07/03/2020: 00:53:19
When playing at home alone I rarely bother to capo. So I play D tunes and the few C tunes I play in C. When playing out with others I obviously have to play in the accepted key so capo. Not an issue with C/D tunes as we play few C tunes and I can remember which are which (and I don't play them all out of double C/D tuning anyway). But I know a probably equal number of A and G tunes and can never remember which key they are in. Session leader calls for an A tune. I say "Jeff Sturgeon". He says "That's a G tune". Regular occurrence. And that's possibly a bad example as I haven't a clue whether Jeff Sturgeon, one of my favourites, is G or A.
maryzcox - Posted - 07/03/2020: 07:36:13
If you are in a jam led by fiddlers--you will have to be in D. However if you are playing solo or any situation where the banjo would be the central lead instrument--most banjos sound much prettier in double C.
D is a better key for many fiddles--but C sounds much better on banjos. If you are fortunate enough to play with a really awesome fiddler who has a recording quality fiddle and can play with good intonation in any key--then you will sound great in C too. :)
Best banjo wishes,
Mary Z. Cox
maryzcox.com
ps. Elvis always liked mountain dulcimer in D--so when I play with mountain dulcimers--I play in D then too :)
Edited by - maryzcox on 07/03/2020 07:38:33
Mtngoat - Posted - 07/03/2020: 08:13:52
Just like Banjoak above I place more emphasis on fingering positions than actual pitch when playing at home. When performing in public I always tune to the key called because my banjo doesn't take a capo very well. If the group changes keys for every tune I stay where I'm at and try to work out something using chord shapes. That has actually forced me to become a better player, to become familiar with the fret board, and to develop some improvisational skills. I find most jam groups tolerate retuning if done quickly and quietly. And it's a banjo so it doesn't have to be perfect.
Random Scandinavian - Posted - 07/03/2020: 10:35:21
I mostly play in Double C but now that I have just installed railroad spikes on my first banjo I may try Double D more. Never played with anyone. Only met one fiddle player in my life and she was crazy.
Before I didn’t capo up much because the capos I have tried have been close to useless.
But I have found it to be a good mental excercise to watch a tutorial video in Double D and follow it in Double C and transpose it mentally. I believe this has helped to improve my play by ear ability.
rfink1913 - Posted - 07/03/2020: 11:47:10
I have smallish hands, so I find that there are stretches easier to make when capoed up two frets.
chip arnold - Posted - 07/08/2020: 12:10:04
I don't like the stiffer strings/feel from tuning up. Also, capoing up two is easier on my left shoulder. I always capo.
John Gribble - Posted - 07/08/2020: 18:13:21
So the general consensus is...Do what works best for you!
Paul R - Posted - 07/10/2020: 11:28:54
I prefer the tone of 2C when playing alone. Otherwise it's using the capo (I have spikes on the open back and a slider on the resonator). A number of jam/performing songs are in Dm but keys we;ve used are all over the place. The answer to most questions: "It depends."
AndyW - Posted - 07/11/2020: 00:22:05
My banjo is permanently capoed at fret 2 to make things easier for my small hands. The only exception is at a session/jam where I take the capo off to play in G as the strings get too floppy.
So for normal practice all my G tunes get played in A.
My next banjo will be a so called 'A scale'.
hweinberg - Posted - 07/11/2020: 09:42:41
I capo to D since I like the shorter scale. Also, there are actually quite a few fiddle tunes in C although most fiddlers don't play many of them. Harry Bolick has a good repertoire of C tunes, and Lowe Stokes played a lot of C tunes back in the day.
pperkins - Posted - 07/13/2020: 21:47:06
The fiddler I play with plays in D a lot.
WVDreamin - Posted - 07/14/2020: 10:07:34
quote:
Originally posted by pperkins
The fiddler I play with plays in D a lot.
That'd be me! 
?????? I know for a fact you could figure it out in whatever key out of open G!
I can play C tunes and am willing to retune if you'd like to play D tunes in C. Heck, I'm currently tuned a whole step down right now, which would do just that.
pperkins - Posted - 07/14/2020: 14:38:19
No, the other fiddler. Wait, its you.
I say we play all of the D, A, G, and minor tunes in C. I really like playing tunes in "less-than-proper" keys. Its good practice.
But really, whatever's good for the mass. I don't mind playing in D or C. I just like to play. To be honest, I can count the tunes I play (clawhammer) in double C on, at most, 2 hands.
I do 3 finger pick a good number of tunes in C, but play out of G or Drop C. Keep picking.
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