ToenailGap - Posted - 02/07/2007:  01:15:43

What do you think is the best scale length for playing A and D tunes without a capo (in other words, tuned up without breaking strings or stressing the neck)? Is there a length (or a range) that's considered to be optimal?

I'm plotting my next banjo acquisition, and I'd like to have something suitable for accompanying a fiddler on Round Peak-type tunes. Not that I can actually play RP yet, but I can dream. I want to be able to tune up instead of using a capo, b/c I like the sounds of the open strings better than when they are capoed.

Plus, I want another banjo.Javascript:insertsmilie('')

One other consideration is that it would be nice to be able to tune this banjo down to G w/o having the strings get too floppy, but I do have other banjos which fill that need (26.25 and 25.5 scale lengths). The "A" scale banjos I've seen online go from 22 3/8 to 24 3/4. I haven't been able to play any of them in real life for comparison purposes, unfortunately. Maybe I don't even need a true A scale.

Thanks!

maxmax - Posted - 02/07/2007:  02:47:45

Most makers don't build necks much shorter then 25.5 (except A scale necks). Johannes Bonefaas used to build his at 25 inches, but now they are longer too. But a 25.5 neck should be no problem to tune up to A or D. Good luck and tell us what you get!

Best,
Max

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 02/07/2007:  04:13:34

I generally keep my banjo tuned a full tone low. Consequently by the time I'm capoed to D or A (4th fret) I have a scale somewhere around 20-21 inches.

I don't capo down for the key of G but leave the capo on the forth fret and use F tuning which works out to open strings of (gDGDE). I've recently tried out the next logical step from G tuning at the 4th fret - C major tuning at the forth fret (gCGCE)

While the gDGDE tuning works with light guage strings, the 3rd string tends tyo sound somewhat rubbery and I intend to replace the 014 with an 015 to see if it workd better. I suspect that getting serious about a gCGCE tuning would call for larger 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings.

The Whiskey Before Breakfast variations and a few tunes in "F" tuning are now available on the web at:
http://home.thegrid.net/~fjbrad/id20.html

ToenailGap - Posted - 02/07/2007:  01:15:43

What do you think is the best scale length for playing A and D tunes without a capo (in other words, tuned up without breaking strings or stressing the neck)? Is there a length (or a range) that's considered to be optimal?

I'm plotting my next banjo acquisition, and I'd like to have something suitable for accompanying a fiddler on Round Peak-type tunes. Not that I can actually play RP yet, but I can dream. I want to be able to tune up instead of using a capo, b/c I like the sounds of the open strings better than when they are capoed.

Plus, I want another banjo.Javascript:insertsmilie('')

One other consideration is that it would be nice to be able to tune this banjo down to G w/o having the strings get too floppy, but I do have other banjos which fill that need (26.25 and 25.5 scale lengths). The "A" scale banjos I've seen online go from 22 3/8 to 24 3/4. I haven't been able to play any of them in real life for comparison purposes, unfortunately. Maybe I don't even need a true A scale.

Thanks!

mwc9725e - Posted - 02/03/2007:  12:19:55

I'm trying to ( blatantly ) copy some of the things Wade Mainer did on Folkways. Can you explain in more detail his picking style? It seemed like he used a lot of 'pinches', and it looked like he was carrying the melody with his thumb -- but not entirely, maybe with the index finger some of the time. I don't know if copying's a good thing to do, but I sure think Mainer's a good one to copy, if copy one must.

Edited by - Banjoman on 02/04/2007 23:14:19

janolov - Posted - 02/03/2007:  14:50:43

I don't know enough about Wade Mainer, but in my mind I have put him in the two-finger index lead style. Perhaps he used thumb lead also. He also used a lot of licks (often associated with Bluegrass). There were some discussion about him here in BHO last spring or summer. I think he is still alive and is close to 100 years old now. I am also thankful for more information about him.

This Folkways album you mentioned, is it still available somewhere?

Janolov

brokenstrings - Posted - 02/03/2007:  16:00:52

Smithsonian Folkways stated that they would keep all titles available in some form or the other. Sometimes they have to individually copy a record or tape and it takes you a while to get it.

Jessy

Frailaway, ladies, frailaway!

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 02/03/2007:  19:38:55

My database shows a "Wade Mainer & The Sons Of The Mountaineers" album on County. I have no idea if it is currently in print. I have to admit, I've probably not listened to the album in several years and can't really comment on it.

Most of the thumb lead and index lead players I've watched tended to sort of slop the styles over some - like switching to index lead for notes on the first stringt. I usually got around the problems of that by just running the melody high on the 2nd string - but I'm pretty lazy.

The Whiskey Before Breakfast variations and a few tunes in "F" tuning are now available on the web at:
http://home.thegrid.net/~fjbrad/id20.html

Bolannta - Posted - 02/04/2007:  05:26:48

The Folkways show on Wade Mainer is available for online viewing at http://www.unctv.org/folkways/episodes.html .

banjoman.com - Posted - 02/06/2007:  08:10:42

Wade Mainer plays with a Thumb lead, two finger stye. He wears picks on his index and thumb which gives a crisp sharp sound. His timing (especially when he was younger) is very exact. In the mid-1930s when banjo was falling out of popularity, Wade kept it before the public. In the days before bluegrass style, Wade was something of a pace setter. It's not fancy, just clean and flat out good. The show was produced when Wade was 98, he turns 100 his April.

Folkways is a North Carolina PBS television show I have been hosting for 30 years. (You can watch me turn from a young whipper snapper to a geezer before your eyes). I am glad to see they are streaming the shows online.
http://www.unctv.org/folkways/episodes.html .

David

www.banjoman.com
www.myspace/davidholtmusic

tonehead - Posted - 02/06/2007:  09:15:58

Man! That "Folkways" about Wade Mainer is a treat. Great stuff.


Be significant.

ToenailGap - Posted - 02/07/2007:  01:15:43

What do you think is the best scale length for playing A and D tunes without a capo (in other words, tuned up without breaking strings or stressing the neck)? Is there a length (or a range) that's considered to be optimal?

I'm plotting my next banjo acquisition, and I'd like to have something suitable for accompanying a fiddler on Round Peak-type tunes. Not that I can actually play RP yet, but I can dream. I want to be able to tune up instead of using a capo, b/c I like the sounds of the open strings better than when they are capoed.

Plus, I want another banjo.Javascript:insertsmilie('')

One other consideration is that it would be nice to be able to tune this banjo down to G w/o having the strings get too floppy, but I do have other banjos which fill that need (26.25 and 25.5 scale lengths). The "A" scale banjos I've seen online go from 22 3/8 to 24 3/4. I haven't been able to play any of them in real life for comparison purposes, unfortunately. Maybe I don't even need a true A scale.

Thanks!

mwc9725e - Posted - 02/03/2007:  12:19:55

I'm trying to ( blatantly ) copy some of the things Wade Mainer did on Folkways. Can you explain in more detail his picking style? It seemed like he used a lot of 'pinches', and it looked like he was carrying the melody with his thumb -- but not entirely, maybe with the index finger some of the time. I don't know if copying's a good thing to do, but I sure think Mainer's a good one to copy, if copy one must.

Edited by - Banjoman on 02/04/2007 23:14:19

nyartist - Posted - 02/07/2007:  15:47:15

It took five years for me to recognize that because of an old football injury (broken thumb that never healed right) I could just not get my speed up on 3 finger style. So I've decided that no more time to waste getting into clawhammer. Found a nice DVD and have a lesson coming up but I wanted to know from you experienced types what you like about this style? Seems to me that speed isn't the essence as it can be for Scruggs style. What else should I know?
I already know how to read tab so I'm figuring that it will be kind of like starting over but not quite.

Vincent Banjogh

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 02/07/2007:  18:16:03

I have a broken thumb too - left hand. I don't have any trouble with banjo but even ukulele chords set the thing to aching pretty quick. THe thing about clawhammer is that it is mostly a melody style so getting into fancy four finger chords is rare and rarely bothers me.

If your broken thumb is on the right hand I guess the basic question is - are you having pain or trouble using it at moderate tempos? If not you should be able to frail at least as well as you do Scruggs, and you should probably be able to do full drop thumb style too.

When my left thumb is being really bothersome I sometimes tape it. My break is between the 2nd and 3rd joint and a couple wraps of medical tape can serve as a brace. I don't know if that would be of any use for a right thumb break, and am certain it would be useless for a first or 2nd joint break.

The Whiskey Before Breakfast variations and a few tunes in "F" tuning are now available on the web at:
http://home.thegrid.net/~fjbrad/id20.html