psychedelicfungicide - Posted - 04/14/2026:  00:45:28

Im new to this i hope im in the right place to ask this, but ive been learning the logging song by bill staines and the chords i play just dont sound right and i cant figure out the strumming for the life of me, need some assistance if anyone knows how to play the song, the chord progression is Am, G, Am, F, G, Am, and im using the chords i know but they just dont sound right

dbrooks - Posted - 04/14/2026:  04:28:29

Your chords look right, according to this web site - THE LOGGING SONG CHORDS (ver 2) by Bill Staines @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com

But note that they say to use a capo to match the key.  They say capo 3 to move Am to Bm, but that should be capo 2 for Bm, unless he is actually playing in Cm.  So your problem may be related to that.  You may ultimately find that your voice is mastched best with no capo or the capo on yet another fret.

David

Bill Rogers - Posted - 04/14/2026:  04:28:29

Do you have a 5-string banjo?

Rusty - Posted - 04/14/2026:  05:09:07

I encourage you to take 3-4 lessons minimum, in person or online. It will accelerate your playing

CrazyCatLazy - Posted - 04/14/2026:  06:16:30

Only had a few minutes but I'm pretty sure it's capo'd on the third with the 5th still tuned to G if you want to use those regular chord shapes. As Mr Brooks suggested the song is in Cm.

As for the strumming to sound right at that tempo you just need to get really, really good.

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 04/14/2026:  08:25:34

Start by tuning gCFCD
play Cm 00201 with hammer ons
also Bb 05555 Ab 03333 Fm 0530x

psychedelicfungicide - Posted - 04/14/2026:  08:28:13

Thank you

pinenut - Posted - 04/14/2026:  10:01:18

Assuming, it's a five string regular banjo and the "logging" song is not innate to your being.

Put the "logging" song on the back burner and learn a few, well-documented-for-banjo-specifically, tunes that are fully internalized, preferably, from childhood.  (ex: Oh Suzanna, She'll be Coming Round the Mountain, Cripple Creek, etc... choose a few and fully learn them, beyond strumming, in their typical key and tuning)

Edited by - pinenut on 04/14/2026 10:06:24

psychedelicfungicide - Posted - 04/14/2026:  10:03:20

quote:

---

Originally posted by Bill Rogers

Do you have a 5-string banjo?

---

I do

Owen - Posted - 04/14/2026:  10:23:01

I'm no help on the "can't figure out the strumming" part of it, and my knowledge might be so limited as to preclude me from asking an intelligent question/comment, but when you say "...the chords I play just don't sound right" .... are you [or do you have to be] singing and playing in the same key?   Can [should?] you transpose (?) the music to better fit your voice?    

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 04/14/2026:  14:20:26

Assuming you're playing clawhammer style and your banjo is tuned gDGBD, the strum that the site that David referenced is 1, 2&, 3, 4&, which is the basic "bum diddy" rhythm.

The Am, F, and G chords should present no real problem in the above tuning, although note that the 5th "g" string will be dischordant with the Am and F chords.

I took a listen to the Bill Staines recording on YouTube.  I'm sure that you've noted that the banjo on it is being played in a finger-picked style, not clawhammer.

The song moves along at a good clip.  Based on that, CrazyCatLazy and pinenut  have made good observations and give good advice.

Good luck with your banjo, and welcome to the Hangout

psychedelicfungicide - Posted - 04/14/2026:  14:21:32

quote:

---

Originally posted by Owen

I'm no help on the "can't figure out the strumming" part of it, and my knowledge might be so limited as to preclude me from asking an intelligent question/comment, but when you say "...the chords I play just don't sound right" .... are you [or do you have to be] singing and playing in the same key?   Can [should?] you transpose (?) the music to better fit your voice?    

---

Indeed i think i need to transpose cause someone brought up the song is capo'd so im in wrong key