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Originally posted by RandwulfThinking of getting a long neck banjo, but curious to know what other long neck pickers think: How do I capo to a lower key when string five starts at the eighth fret? Or is there a way to retune the fifth string so it fits?
You capo at the third string, which is the same as a regular banjo, it puts you in open G tuning.
I’m with Rusty, Topher, and Dave on this. I only got a long neck about three years ago, and I always wind down the fifth string. I Learn Bluegrass, and claw-hammer first. And Rusty, I’m a little jealous of your Kingston, trio, long neck. But happy with my long neck I have. I’ve yet to run into a shop where I can try one.
The long neck was developed to be played with a capo on it, though it has a really interesting sound played open. If I were going to play mine without a capo all the time, I might use a heavier fifth string, so it wouldn't be too floppy when tuned to an E note.
Randwulf, you can retune the fifth string either up or down to fit the key you're playing in.
When I'm playing in a G or C tuning, with my capo at the third fret, I tune the fifth string to G. If I capo at the first string and play those tunings, they sound either F or B flat and I would tune the fifth string down two frets (a whole step) to F, which would sound right in those two keys.
Edited by - John Gribble on 01/17/2025 20:26:01