I use open G, double C, f#DEAD aka "dead", and others. So, normal tunings.

I guess this is more theory, but I'll post here in the hope of a reply, and since the post is about tunings. I do "play" two finger thumb lead, have a banjo tuned gdgbd and another tuned fdgcd.

I'm thinking of tuning the first banjo down a whole step to fcfac, nothing to do with singing, just more out of curiosity. Please bear in mind, these re-tunings are a new thing to me. Would my fretting finger placement be on the same fret, if I tuned down the whole step? Are there any other issues I may encounter in doing this?I

GS

I use the common tuning such as G tuning, open D, (f#DF#AD or aDF#AD), sawmill (gDGCD) of F (fDGCD). For C tunes I usually avoid double C - I prefer gCGCC, for D tunes I prefer open D or gCGCC capo 2, or just standard tuning with the fifth raised to A.

Thumb lead often have two drones; first and fifth string, and most tunes sound best with the tonic octave and fifth of the scale as drones. But there are exceptions.

Thanks. It makes sense about the 2 drone strings as notes in the tonic triad. Is the "dead" tuning used mostly for the key of D?

I use dead for Lost Gander. Not sure that's how Virgil Simpson tuned his banjo for it, but I like the lower, more mellow sound. Then again, I play openback, and he used a resonator.

I think that dead is what Nora used in this version, but again, I'm not sure.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=lPedTkLzwWM

It's a more haunting version of open D, f#DF#AD.

I found these.

https://www.banjohangout.org/archive/260344

https://zeppmusic.com/banjo/aktuning.htm

GS Quote ...

"I'm thinking of tuning the first banjo down a whole step to fcfac, nothing to do with singing, just more out of curiosity. Please bear in mind, these re-tunings are a new thing to me. Would my fretting finger placement be on the same fret, if I tuned down the whole step?"

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Yes indeed. You got it figured out!

quote:

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Originally posted by mrphysics55

GS Quote ...

"I'm thinking of tuning the first banjo down a whole step to fcfac, nothing to do with singing, just more out of curiosity. Please bear in mind, these re-tunings are a new thing to me. Would my fretting finger placement be on the same fret, if I tuned down the whole step?"

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Yes indeed. You got it figured out!

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Thank you kindly for answering. Have a fine day.