Does anyone know where the names for banjo tunings come from?
For example “Little Birdie, Sawmill, and many others?
You also find them with fiddlers, guitarists, I wonder where this way of indicating the tuning comes from?
Please enlighten me
Tunings are often named after songs, but the name/song can be different in different regions depending on what songs are popular.
However, I have not found out why gDGCD or aEADE is called sawmill tuning. I don't know of any tune named Sawmill.
Thank you for your reply, as always very informative.
I was speculating with a friend about whether the point was to say something about tempered tunings, or slight variations between certain intervals, keyword fretless?
My interest in traditional tunings was triggered by this Nordic music, which to my ears sounds beautiful but also out of tune.
the hardanger fiddle with fanitullen
and an accordion that sounds out of tune to my ears?
If you listen to some old time banjo recordings, they don't always sound right either.
maybe I have to go to the ear doctor too?
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quote:
Originally posted by janolovTunings are often named after songs, but the name/song can be different in different regions depending on what songs are popular.
- open D tuning f#DF#AD have been called both Reuben tuning and Graveyard tuning
- eCGAE is called Little Birdie tuning after Little Birdie
- gDGDE or Old G is sometimes called Sandy River Belle tuning, but also gCGDE has been called Sandy River Belle tuning
- I have heard ordinary G tuning gDGBD be called Cripple Creek tuning
- gDGAD is sometimes called Willie Moore tuning
- There are several tunings thare are called Cumberland Gap tuning: f#BEAD, gDGDE/fCFCD and others
However, I have not found out why gDGCD or aEADE is called sawmill tuning. I don't know of any tune named Sawmill.
Don't forget "Last Chance" tuning--fDFCD.
gEADE is another tuning sometimes called "Cumberland Gap" - from playing the tune in that tuning.
AEAE on the fiddle is also called Sawmill. Play a lot of the same tunes would in aEADE. Might have originated from fiddlers playing tunes in that tuning that relied on a lot of saw stroke.
f#BEAD, f#DEAD; simply called "bead" and "dead" cause it spells that.
g#BEBE is Dead Mans tuning... from tune "Shaving a Dead Man"
This may not answer your question but here's a comprehensive archive of different banjo tunings.
This led me through a rabbit hole.
zeppmusic.com/banjo/aktuning.htm
Thank you all,
I now think that the names were used among insiders to quickly communicate a certain mood, and then found their way into the world.
Also just my guess after researching for a while now.
A funny thing about the Hardanger Fiddles.
Be careful with AEAC# (Nackastamning)- this is the devil's own tuning!
is that relatively the devil's tuning, Reuben, f#DF#AD?
