Hello All,
every now and then I meet with a group of friends to play some Bluegrass songs. I am not a professional Banjo picker and I need to prepare myself very well and practice quite some time to play new songs. Now it happens from time to time, that I prepared a song in e.g. G (because I found tabs or because the that`s the original key). But when we play the song together, we need to play it in e.g. F because this fits better for the singer.
To avoid rewriting and practicing the same song again in a different key with different tabs, I additionally have a long neck banjo (Richwood RMB-1405-LN).
This has often worked well, but there are two things that I don`t like about this approach:
The long neck banjo sounds really nice for e.g. folk songs. However, it is an open back banjo and does not really fit to the Bluegrass songs.
If I practice for more than 30 mins on the long neck banjo without capo, my left hand and also my back start to hurt seriously.
So I was searching for a better solution! Luckily, the previous owner of my other Banjo (Deering Artisan Goodtime Special) put some D-Tuners on it. So I tried to tune the Banjo from Open G (g d g b d) to Open D (a d f# a d) and use a capo. It works, but with this, I have to do a lot of re-tuning and, moreover, I have to re-write my notes.
Now I want to try another approach that finally leads to my question:
I am searching for another Resonator Banjo that I want to tune down to Open E (e b e g# b). I want to put medium or heavy gauge strings on it and keep it in this tune. But I don`t know if this still sounds well on an arbitrary Banjo? Are there any Banjos you would recommend?
Still not the professional price range but rather up to e.g. 1500$ (if new, or e.g. up to 1000$ for used ones).
Note that I`m living in Germany and unfortunately we do not have (m)any shops where I could simply go and try a lot of different Banjos ;-)
Thanks in advance for any tips, comments or recommendations.
Cheers,
Stephan
quote:
Originally posted by StephanKHello All,
every now and then I meet with a group of friends to play some Bluegrass songs. I am not a professional Banjo picker and I need to prepare myself very well and practice quite some time to play new songs. Now it happens from time to time, that I prepared a song in e.g. G (because I found tabs or because the that`s the original key). But when we play the song together, we need to play it in e.g. F because this fits better for the singer.
To avoid rewriting and practicing the same song again in a different key with different tabs, I additionally have a long neck banjo (Richwood RMB-1405-LN).
This has often worked well, but there are two things that I don`t like about this approach:
The long neck banjo sounds really nice for e.g. folk songs. However, it is an open back banjo and does not really fit to the Bluegrass songs.
If I practice for more than 30 mins on the long neck banjo without capo, my left hand and also my back start to hurt seriously.
…
Thanks in advance for any tips, comments or recommendations.
Cheers,
Stephan
Any standard 5 string can be tuned down. The question is simple: will you like the results? It will cost you a set of strings to find out.
The Pearse Hartford Low D (stainless steel) and Deering Julia Belle (nickel) sets are both guaged .012 .020w .024w .012.
Both sets are sold as being for low D tuning so try one out. You'll like it or you won't. Tuning to low E instead of D will not put a strain on your banjo. Vega Mediums (.012 .015 .020w, .026w .012) and Gibson Mediums (.012 .014 .020w .025w .011) in the 1960s were slightly heavier and were designed to play in G — a few of us still use these including myself.
BTW, all four of my long necked banjos are strung with custom sets consisting of the old Vega Medium gauges. Only GHS makes a standard wound .020w string long enough for these but they do so in in bronze and stainless steeel. I use ss on mine.
Edited by - mikehalloran on 09/24/2026 13:45:51
You can tune just about any banjo down to E if you use medium or greater strings. It should sound fine. Archtops sound particularly good in a low tuning.
A 27” scale might help. l
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