Key of Gm question - Discussion Forums

Premier Sponsors

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our privacy policy which includes details of cookie usage. Hide this notice

Discussion Forum

Hide these ads: join the Players Union!

All Forums
Playing the Banjo
Music Theory
ARCHIVED TOPIC: Key of Gm question

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/392402

fotoguzzi - Posted - 08/22/2023: 09:11:51

new to Banjo.. probably a dumb question but.. . If I understand right a G minor tuning is the same as G major accept the B string is tuned down to B flat?

In one song in Gm the only note on the B string is second fret and that is a C.. right?
So if that’s the only Minor note can the tune be played in CMajor and for the one C note play it on the first fret. ? Then I don’t have to retune for that song.. ?
(The F chord is listed at the point of the C note.)
I tried to ad a photo but it’s not rendering, maybe because this is my first post?
Like I say, brand new to Banjo and I only have a distant memory of how to read music.

dfstd - Posted - 08/22/2023: 10:22:51

Hi Brad, that isn't a dumb question at all. Yes, G minor uses B-flat instead of B-natural, so the 3rd note of the scale is lowered a half step. There are different kinds of minor scales, so other notes may be lowered depending on the type.

Here's a YouTube video in which a guy gives tips on playing a tune that uses a modal tuning, a.k.a. mountain modal, which uses a B-flat in the key of G. He demonstrates how you can play the tune in standard open G just fine. Alternatively, he shows how using "sawmill" tuning can make it a bit easier to play and also adds an eerie quality to the sound.

youtube.com/watch?v=3Ixedsnd44Y

DASJO - Posted - 08/22/2023: 12:42:55

Hi Brad: G minor tuning is fun to play around in and there are some cool scales and tunes that you can play with the banjo tuned to open G minor. For your song, if you choose to remain in G Major, you can certainly play the C note on the 2nd string, 1st fret. However, you need to be careful NOT to play the open B string. It will clash with the G minor scale and chord. Similarly, there are a few tunes (Crossing the Cumberlands comes to mind) that are in the G minor key but usually played in the G Major tuning. Other alternatives include playing in the E minor position with a capo on the third fret of G Major tuning (Em up to Gm).
Best wishes!