I'm new to BHO and new to this group. I've been on a 25 year break from beginner clawhammer.
I just picked up an old Kingston long neck.The action is good - maybe a little low, actually.
I'm going to start over and maybe try some two finger along with clawhammer. But first...
1) Tuning. I see a bunch of tuner apps, but most show C3 or C4 or other notes notated the same. How do I tell where to start.
2) I have no capo yet. A long time ago, I used the Shubb. Any recommendations?
3) Recommendations for a 5th string capo. I don't want to go the railroad spike route.
I think that'll get me started.
Thank you all for being here. 25 years ago info was a little hard to come by.
Thanks,
Matt
16 Comments |
 | John Gribble says:
2/9/2017 6:43:50 AM
Hello, Matt, and welcome. No doubt others will chime in, but here are my set of suggestions. First, get a regular capo (Shubb is still considered a good one) and put it on the 3rd fret. Now you're in the "regular banjo" universe, in terms of tuning. Next get an electronic tuner. I like the Snark. Not very expensive and they work well. To get started, maybe a guitar-playing friend can help you match the second, third, and fourth strings to an in-tune guitar. You'll be most the way into G tuning, one of the most common. As for the fifth string capo or spikes, I wouldn't worry about it just yet. Around here, spikes are more popular, the Shubb is still available and, installed properly, works well. I mostly retune the fifth string or use a "Suspender" style 5th-string capo on the rare occasion I need it.
Others will probably make their suggestions. Take the ones which seem most appropriate. And have a great time!
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dlaughery1013 says:
2/9/2017 6:51:47 AM
Hi Matt, try this for tuning your banjo after the capo is on the third fret. get-tuned.com/online_banjo_tuner.php
Sorry if it is not a live link. I like my "Sidewinder" capo for my long neck. Dave L.
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dlaughery1013 says:
2/9/2017 6:53:47 AM
Matt, I see that it came through as a live link, so just click on it.Dave L.
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 | ash13brook says:
2/9/2017 10:03:26 AM
I completely forgot about using a guitar, of which I have a couple, along with a tuner.
I need to get a capo this weekend, so I guess a tuner is on the list, too.
What's a suspending 5th string capo? Like the banjo highway one?
Thank,
Matt
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 | darwinyarwin says:
2/9/2017 10:41:15 AM
Take a look at these links for tuning:
tunings.pbworks.com/w/page/225...k%20banjo
alt.banjo.narkive.com/oZaoOgxX...-e-tuning
This is not a very expert video but you can get the idea of tuning the LN with a capo at the 3rd fret. youtube.com/watch?v=Otjj7ZkuSio
Capo:
I still use my 60's Hamilton capo, (you'll hear shrieks of Noooo! from other LN players!) on my long necks, reverb.com/item/295587-hamilto...MYA&pla=1
but I've switched to the D'Addario Planet Waves capo on my Ode: musiciansfriend.com/accessorie...tads-adid^156403583515-device^c-plaid^143220055002-sku^J05681000000000@ADL4MF-adType^PLA#productDetail
5th string capo: there is no one right 5th string capo, and it's a source of a long-running discussion on BHO. For LNs the current 'winner' is the railroad spike, followed by the long rail Shubb. I've used both as well as the little Regan that fits on the string. It is a complicated matter of playing style and your personal preference as to which you choose.
Welcome to the LN group!
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| ash13brook says:
2/9/2017 11:24:18 AM
I completely forgot about using a guitar, of which I have a couple, along with a tuner.
I need to get a capo this weekend, so I guess a tuner is on the list, too.
What's a suspending 5th string capo? Like the banjo highway one?
Thank,
Matt
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| ash13brook says:
2/9/2017 12:08:15 PM
Dave,
Any idea how to order the Sidewinder? I went on their site(on my phone), but there doesn't seem to be an order button or contact info.
Matt
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| John Gribble says:
2/9/2017 1:52:54 PM
There's a suspender capo shown here*
umbra-music.com/CTGY.php?CTC=a...os&PAGE=4
It is a strap with a flat hook on one end whih goes on the edge of the fingerboard and a "finger" on the other which presses down the fifth string. Not everyone's choice, but it works for me.
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| darwinyarwin says:
2/9/2017 2:34:29 PM
SIDeWINDER NOT IN BUSINESS:
Here's the statement from Robert Presley, from last Summer:
"Banjo Highway accused us of jumping their patent and threatened to sue us, so we had to shut down. We could have won in court, but we didn't have the Million dollars it takes to defend ourselves. The big guys always win. It's a pretty good capo, but $60 is way out of line."
youtube.com/watch?v=lC7eNpYXAsI
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dlaughery1013 says:
2/9/2017 6:16:07 PM
Sorry about Sidewinder not being in business. I did not know, and I will not suggest it to people looking for a neat way to capo their fifth strings. Research making a capo from a ball point pen cap. Dave L.
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| ash13brook says:
2/9/2017 7:23:01 PM
Dave,
Any idea how to order the Sidewinder? I went on their site(on my phone), but there doesn't seem to be an order button or contact info.
Matt
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| ash13brook says:
2/9/2017 7:27:59 PM
Don't know why that post reappeared.
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| ash13brook says:
2/11/2017 6:49:32 AM
I love the pen cap capo. That'll be my first one.
I'm on the way to the nearest 'good' guitar shop this morning to pick up a capo, tuner, strings and a bridge for my old made-from-a-kit mountain banjo.
and that brings up another question.
On the longneck, I'd like to mark the bridge position as I did on the mountain banjo, but I don't even remember how to determine the correct position.
I thought it was based on the 12th fret harmonic, but I realized the longneck ain't buying into that. And now I'm not sure that the mountain banjo is either.
So..?
Hope to plunking away by this afternoon and crying about sore fingertips tonight.
Thanks still,
Matt
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| ash13brook says:
2/11/2017 6:51:38 AM
Is there a search function? I would try to look up some of this stuff.
Matt
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| ash13brook says:
2/11/2017 4:16:08 PM
Is there a search function? I would try to look up some of this stuff.
Matt
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 | TonyS says:
2/22/2017 2:56:57 PM
Welcome and happy picking!
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