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Long Neck Banjo

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... for those of us who prefer the tuning and singing differences the LN provides. All questions & help welcome!

273 Members, Created 1/30/2011 -

Administrators: TonyS (owner) , Gary Blanchard , pastorharry , vega long neck

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From davidschultz on 9/10/2024 10:30:29 AM

Not too long ago I received a long neck from my brother. I have fallen in love with it. I've been playing around with it a good bit. Any ideas for how to best practice and learn to play it? I have actually dropped the tuning down to D (from E) because I thought it would be easier to fit with other players. and just discovered that double C tuning becomes double G tuning. I have tried both finger picking and clawhammer. But don't think I'm really getting the best sound that I could.

3 Comments
	calypsojimmy says: 9/10/2024 9:35:14 PM I am glad to read that you're enjoying the longneck. I have been a longneck fan for a long time now. I play clawhammer and fingerpicking too. As I read your post... I'm guessing that (1) you are not using a capo, and (2) you want to improve you right hand picking and clawhammer. If that is true, might I suggest that, for starters: (a) tune it up back to E, and (b) put a capo on the 3rd fret, and play there ("there" means that you'd be playing in a standard open G tuning ( g D G B D) .... like it was not a longneck. The string tensions, string tones and left arm position will feel more standard, and give you a better chance to groove all the right-hand picking/clawhammer techniques you want. When you get your right hand down sounding good, then you can move the capo around, or get rid of it altogether. Pete Seeger wanted a longneck banjo primarily because he was into getting audiences to sing, and he wanted that long neck there so he could match his banjo playing to a comfortable key for the audience to sing in. Good Luck!!!! PS if you start to move capos around on the neck, you also will need to somehow re-tune the 5th string... a pain in the neck, but kit's something that people do. PPS If everything I say here just doesn't sit right with you... of course: Do what you will. The big deal is that you are enjoying the instrument. Play on!
	davidschultz says: 9/11/2024 9:13:46 AM Hmmm... you were right on both counts! 1. I don't use the capo and 2. I want to improve the sound of the right hand! But the BIG thing I love about the longneck is the deep low notes. So I can't get myself to put on the capo!!!! ugh! Wondering if you have thoughts or ideas about practicing to make the tone sound better with the right hand? I have moved my right hand over the fretboard when I frail and that seems to improve the sound. Not sure if there are other practice techniques or exercises. By the way... thank you for your response and your thoughts - really appreciated. I don't see much out there - on youtube etc... for learning the longneck.
	TonyNyc says: 1/13/2025 3:30:43 PM Thanks! Still learning too.
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