Warning: I'm a huge banjo/music noob. Thank you for your patience.
I think I heard somewhere that if I capo the 2nd fret from open G and tune down the 5th string to an A, that this new tuning is more used for "Harmony" songs over "Melody songs".
Is this true? I don't understand why this should make a difference, all I did was raise all the notes by a full note. Can anybody point me the way to some nice harmony tabs? I've been playing melody songs and I want to try something new.
I'm working on getting a video uploaded so I can get some tips from y'all... I just recorded myself playing but in order to post the video I have to upload it to youtube apparently.. ugh
As far as I know, capoing is used to change the key of the song and not to harmonize with others in a different key. I could be wrong and maybe someone will tell us how that works.
Also, you wouldn't tune down from G to A, you'd tune up from G to A.
If you're going to be using a capo, you either need to get spikes or get a 5th string capo so it's easy and you don't have to return the 5th string.
If you want to try something new, try doing backup to songs you know. You'll have to know the chord sequence of the song and you can either vamp or roll along with the song to start with. That would be a kind of harmony, if that's what you're talking about, but it would have to be in the same key as the song.
Any of that make sense to you? I remember being so lost when it came to using a capo and most of my students were also lost when they first started trying to use a capo.
With tongue-approaching-cheek, the primary use for a capo that I've seen is by guitar players that [apparently] have trouble fretting an "F" chord. 
Edited by - Owen on 07/07/2024 14:47:10
Don STOVER = a person known as a Banjo Player.
Don CORLEONE= A person known as a CAPO, but played resophonic Mandolin, not a banjo.
Welcome to the HangOut.
As someone who plays both guitar and banjo, I use the capo on my banjo to play in the key of the tune. Once you're in the correct key, it is your choice to play melody or harmony, but I think for a beginner it is better to start with trying to pick out the melody.
On guitar, however, I will sometimes use a capo to add 'color' (not really harmony) if there is a second guitar player present. For example, if the jam is playing a tune in the key of A, one guitar player can play the chords without a capo, and a second guitar player could capo at the second fret and use "G" shapes. This will yield the different versions of the same chords.
quote:
Originally posted by Texasbanjo
Also, you wouldn't tune down from G to A, you'd tune up from G to A.
Why not? It's totally possible and there's no laws against it. It would provide a mellower tone that some people could easily prefer.
Bart Veerman
I'm not understanding your answer.
If you're retuning the 5th string to A, you would have to go up in tone from G to G# to A. If you tuned down, you'd be tuning to F# or F. I see no way you could tune the 5th string down almost an octave to an A below G. Explain how, please so I can understand.
quote:
Originally posted by msv133
I think I heard somewhere that if I capo the 2nd fret from open G and tune down the 5th string to an A, that this new tuning is more used for "Harmony" songs over "Melody songs".
Is this true?
Someone was talking nonsense or you misheard/misunderstood what they said or it was all a dream.
quote:
Originally posted by TexasbanjoBart Veerman
I see no way you could tune the 5th string down almost an octave to an A below G
That's exactly what I mean and it sure does take a lot of cranking down the tuner 10 frets worth. Sure enough, the string will feel a lot less tight but it'll still be usuable and produce a tone. Unconventional definitely but banjos are not converntional/logical instruments, are they... 
The purpose of the capo is to put the banjo in a different key without having to tune up.
For example, if you are tuned gCGCD (Key of C) and you need to play in D, the key many fiddle tunes are in, just place a capo at the 2nd fret and things come out in D. Or you can physically tune up to aDADE, your choice.
In OT music with tunings; gDGBD, gDGCD,and gCGCD and when appropriate a capo no higher than the second fret you will be covered for 90% of the repertoire.
quote:
Originally posted by R.D. LuncefordThe purpose of the capo is to put the banjo in a different key without having to tune up.
For example, if you are tuned gCGCD (Key of C) and you need to play in D, the key many fiddle tunes are in, just place a capo at the 2nd fret and things come out in D. Or you can physically tune up to aDADE, your choice.
In OT music with tunings; gDGBD, gDGCD,and gCGCD and when appropriate a capo no higher than the second fret you will be covered for 90% of the repertoire.
A capo puts you in a different tuning, not a different key. You can play in any key from any tuning. All the capo does is makes it easier to play in certain keys from the same tuning then it would be without using one.
quote:
Originally posted by 250gibsonquote:
Originally posted by R.D. LuncefordThe purpose of the capo is to put the banjo in a different key without having to tune up.
For example, if you are tuned gCGCD (Key of C) and you need to play in D, the key many fiddle tunes are in, just place a capo at the 2nd fret and things come out in D. Or you can physically tune up to aDADE, your choice.
In OT music with tunings; gDGBD, gDGCD,and gCGCD and when appropriate a capo no higher than the second fret you will be covered for 90% of the repertoire.
A capo puts you in a different tuning, not a different key. You can play in any key from any tuning. All the capo does is makes it easier to play in certain keys from the same tuning then it would be without using one.
Lunceford is correct. The tuners are called "tuners" (in part) because they can be used to change the tuning. If you are in standard G-tuning a capo at the 2nd fret does not change the tuning, just the key (from G to A). However, if you capo at the 2nd fret in standard tuning, keep the fifth string in G and tune the 2nd string up a half-step from C# to D, then you are in gEADE, a G tuning referred to as "A 'Cumberland Gap' Tuning." See https://zeppmusic.com/banjo/aktuning.htm#gEADE. The reference to "You can play in any key from any tuning" is (mostly) true for bg players who generally play out of standard G tuning. It is less true for clawhammer where the player tends to re-tune to get to a particular key or mode.
Edited by - LyleK on 07/14/2024 11:13:56
quote:
Originally posted by Bart Veermanquote:
Originally posted by TexasbanjoBart Veerman
I see no way you could tune the 5th string down almost an octave to an A below GThat's exactly what I mean and it sure does take a lot of cranking down the tuner 10 frets worth. Sure enough, the string will feel a lot less tight but it'll still be usuable and produce a tone. Unconventional definitely but banjos are not converntional/logical instruments, are they...
The strings would be so slack it would be unplayable. People often tune down to E or F and they may or may not get buzz.
I have a fretless tackhead tuned down to D, but it has nylon strings made for that tuning.
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