finger-picker - Posted - 04/03/2021:  16:22:10

If I'm in standard G tuning and I play a song like Whiskey before Breakfast in the key of D, but I think it sounds better with the capo at the 2nd fret, making the tuning effectively that of A... that adds 2 half steps to all the notes, so does that make the Key in E now (D+2)?

Edited by - finger-picker on 04/03/2021 16:22:48

jdeluke137 - Posted - 04/03/2021:  16:38:48

Yes

Bill Rogers - Posted - 04/03/2021:  23:24:42

I agree with John.

Texasbanjo - Posted - 04/04/2021:  04:53:57

Think of the capo as a new nut on your banjo. That moves the notes up however many frets you've capoed. So, if you're in open G, playing D chords; D, G, A, and capo up 2, you're now playing E chords; E, A B.

So, yes, as said above by John and Bill.

finger-picker - Posted - 04/04/2021:  07:06:42

I am happy that I worked it out using what I knew of theory, and I appreciate the confirmation!

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 04/04/2021:  08:07:57

quote:

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Originally posted by finger-picker

If I'm in standard G tuning and I play a song like Whiskey before Breakfast in the key of D, but I think it sounds better with the capo at the 2nd fret, making the tuning effectively that of A... that adds 2 half steps to all the notes, so does that make the Key in E now (D+2)?

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Yes--but fiddlers will hate you!



;^)

Texasbanjo - Posted - 04/04/2021:  08:14:48

quote:

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Originally posted by finger-picker

I am happy that I worked it out using what I knew of theory, and I appreciate the confirmation!

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Don't you just love those ah ha moments when you figure something out on your own and you're 100% right!!!

finger-picker - Posted - 04/04/2021:  08:34:53

quote:

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Originally posted by Ira Gitlin

quote:

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Originally posted by finger-picker

If I'm in standard G tuning and I play a song like Whiskey before Breakfast in the key of D, but I think it sounds better with the capo at the 2nd fret, making the tuning effectively that of A... that adds 2 half steps to all the notes, so does that make the Key in E now (D+2)?

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Yes--but fiddlers will hate you!



;^)

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Oh that's useful to know. I assume this also translates to violinists in the classical music world? What are they open tuned to and is it hard for them to get to E? 

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 04/04/2021:  08:47:55

Violins/fiddles (and mandolins, too) are not tuned to an open chord. They're tuned in fifths: low to high, GDAE.



I was being a little facetious. A good fiddler could play "Whiskey..." in E. But old-time fiddle tunes have traditional keys that they're always played in, and that fiddlers find the most convenient for a given tune. In the case of "Whiskey...", the traditional key is D.



A newcomer to the world of traditional music won't know the traditional keys, of course. A beginning banjo player at a jam might play "Old Joe Clark" (for example) in G, only to find that the fiddlers and mandolin players have learned it in A. A slightly more experienced player will say, "Let's play 'Old Joe Clark' in A." But  fully experienced pickers will simply say "Let's play 'Old Joe Clark'," with the understanding--shared by their equally experienced fellow pickers--that the tune is always done in A, so there's no need to specify the key.

janolov - Posted - 04/04/2021:  09:03:56

quote:

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Originally posted by Ira Gitlin

Violins/fiddles (and mandolins, too) are not tuned to an open chord. They're tuned in fifths: low to high, GDAE.



I was being a little facetious. A good fiddler could play "Whiskey..." in E. But old-time fiddle tunes have traditional keys that they're always played in, and that fiddlers find the most convenient for a given tune. In the case of "Whiskey...", the traditional key is D.



A newcomer to the world of traditional music won't know the traditional keys, of course. A beginning banjo player at a jam might play "Old Joe Clark" (for example) in G, only to find that the fiddlers and mandolin players have learned it in A. A slightly more experienced player will say, "Let's play 'Old Joe Clark' in A." But  fully experienced pickers will simply say "Let's play 'Old Joe Clark'," with the understanding--shared by their equally experienced fellow pickers--that the tune is always done in A, so there's no need to specify the key.

 

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Some good points! However, there are several tab books that present Old Joe Clark in G. So it is often better to specify the key, than to just assume that everybody plays in the key you prefer or are used to.

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 04/04/2021:  09:13:41

I take it you're referring to banjo tab books. Yes, we banjo players all (?) play it in G, and use a capo to play it in A. I'll specify the key if I know that some of the people I'm playing with aren't fully familiar with the traditions. But if I know I'm among experienced players, there's no need to call the keys. You have to judge each situation separately.

banjoak - Posted - 04/04/2021:  12:22:56

quote:

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Originally posted by finger-picker

quote:

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Oh that's useful to know. I assume this also translates to violinists in the classical music world? What are they open tuned to and is it hard for them to get to E? 

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GDAE is considered standard tuning, but some fiddlers will use other tunings...  such as ADAE, AEAE, ADAD, GDAD. 

The key (and tuning) that many fiddle tunes are typically played in is not so much about not being able to play in another key, but the tune more than just getting sequence of notes. Playing quality from the layout; affecting bowing, string crossing, rocking, slurs, incorporating open strings, drones, unisons. Different keys/tunings have different qualities, different sound and feel.

Some tunes that not unusual to have different setting in different key... again it's about the overall quality, feel. 

Similarly, banjo players use different tunings... such as aDADE for D tunes.

Edited by - banjoak on 04/04/2021 12:28:37

Ks_5-picker - Posted - 04/04/2021:  14:10:24

I first learned WBB at capo 2,C chord pattern.
I often play the key of G at capo 2 just to avoid retuning for one song. Of course you use an F chord pattern for this.

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 04/04/2021:  16:25:01

here's a chart

Banjo CHORDS IN KEYS 1.2

 

finger-picker - Posted - 04/05/2021:  04:44:39

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Originally posted by mmuussiiccaall

here's a chart

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Thanks for the PDF Rick, but as I'm learning, your PDF's are almost never intuitive. Can you explain how to use it or point me to a previous thread?