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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/407877
Culloden - Posted - 03/23/2026: 14:27:59
Sonny Osborne recorded a tune called the John Henry Blues on an old album. It was kind of a spur of the moment idea to fill the allotted number of songs for the side. He tuned the banjo in a peculiar tuning and played in Eb.
Does anyone know offhand how he tuned the banjo to play it? I used to fiddle around with it but it's been so long I've forgotten it. I would like to play it again and work up a good arrangement.
Alex Z - Posted - 03/23/2026: 15:55:07
The tune is not in Eb minor. It is in Eb major and uses the relative minor chord Cm.
I heard a similar style tune on the Folk Banjo Styles album many years ago.
I 'd speculate that the tuning is (5th to 1st):
g C G Bb Eb
Like D tuning, then all raised 1/2 step to get to Eb, then the 4th string tuned down to C.
But I could be wrong, as I don't play this tune.
ChunoTheDog - Posted - 03/23/2026: 17:18:24
From Sonny himself:
1st to 5th strings.
1st- eflat
2nd-bflat
3rd-f
4th-c
5th-g
Crazy tuning huh? Works for John Henry Blues though. Used it since 1954.
I hope it helps.
Edited by - ChunoTheDog on 03/23/2026 17:19:11
BanjoBowers - Posted - 03/23/2026: 18:00:56
Eric Weisberg used a similar tuning on the No Title Yet Blues.
Real similar to Sonny's John Henry on the "A" part, but with a bridge, ( Bm to Gm).
Great chimes on the ending, too.
Culloden - Posted - 03/23/2026: 22:19:27
Thanks, fellows. I'll get the Vega out tomorrow morning and retune it so I can have a go at the tune again. It's been a long time since I tried it. I did play around with it at one time, but I finally gave up on it because no one else knew it and didn't seem inclined to learn it.
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