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| tenor banjo, DGBE what strings? - Beginner Questions - Banjo - Banjo - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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ukaholic Approved
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I have an old tenor banjo that I would like to set up like my uke in DGBE tuning. Should I use guitar strings for this or use regular banjo strings and swap them around to match the DGBE turing as close as possibe Any suggestions or comments are welcome, I have not done this before but after reading this forum it sound like a good idea. Will it sound like a banjo if I use guitar strings? Thanks. Last edited on Mon May 5th, 2008 04:15 am by ukaholic |
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Will Approved 
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ukaholic wrote: I have an old tenor banjo that I would like to set up like my uke in DGBE tuning. Should I use guitar strings for this or use regular banjo strings and swap them around to match the DGBE turing as close as possibe Any suggestions or comments are welcome, I have not done this before but after reading this forum it sound like a good idea. Will it sound like a banjo if I use guitar strings? For tuning a tenor banjo to DGBE (Chicago tuning), which is the tuning that I use, you can just use the standard strings (gDGBd) in a 5-string banjo set. Because the tenor has a shorter scale (23" vs. 26" for a 5-string), you can tune the thinnest (high-D) string up to E without breaking it. Guitar strings usually have a bronze winding on the lower strings, and they don't sound quite right on the banjo. One thing I've tried recently is using a set of Cleartone treated nickel-wound electric guitar strings (extra light gauge); these strings sound great in DGBE tuning, and the nickel-winding seems to have the right tone. The treated strings have a 1-micron coating on all of the strings (even the unwound ones) to protect against corrosion. Last edited on Mon May 5th, 2008 01:25 pm by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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Will Approved
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After tuning your tenor banjo to DGBE, you can use a banjo capo at the 5th fret, and you'll get GCEA (low-G) uke tuning. Without a fifth string to complicate tuning, the capo may be freely used on any fret, and the higher capoed notes will be clearer and sharper than on a guitar capoed that high. Last edited on Tue May 6th, 2008 11:10 am by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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ukaholic Approved
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Will wrote: For tuning a tenor banjo to DGBE (Chicago tuning), which is the tuning that I use, you can just use the standard strings (gDGBd) in a 5-string banjo set. Because the tenor has a shorter scale (23" vs. 26" for a 5-string), you can tune the thinnest (high-D) string up to E without breaking it. Guitar strings usually have a bronze winding on the lower strings, and they don't sound quite right on the banjo. Thank you Will for the fast reply. I think I will try the Cleartone guitar strings and see if it sounds like a banjo. I will get some regular banjo strings also so I can try them both. Are most 5 string banjo strings about the same or is there one you like better. I did pay someone over a year ago to set this up for DGBE like a baritone uke but they put nylon strings on it. It does not sound good, just kind of a dead sound, not like uke and not like banjo when it is played. Its been sitting in the closet all this time and then I wandered in this forum I started wondering if it was so dead because of the nylon strings on it. Will definitely give this string suggestions a try and possible perk this old banjo up some. ...and that capo idea sound like a winner too. I am assuming that since these strings are metal that I will have to use a pick instead of my fingers like I do on the uke. Last edited on Tue May 6th, 2008 08:23 am by ukaholic |
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Ptarmigan Approved 
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Hello there, I must confess, I don't play a Uke, but I have played a Tenor Banjo for over thirty years & for Irish Music, I tune my Tenor to GDAE & for that I would use: 12, 18w, 28w & 38w. I could be wrong of course, but I would imagine that the G Banjo strings would be way too thin, to give you a good sound from your Tenor. Anyway, here's a page with a variety of guages for Tenor Banjo, for different types of music, which you might like to check out. As you may notice, I go for their Medium Guage for Irish Music: http://www.eaglemusicshop.com/products.asp/SubCatID/258/4-string-banjo-strings.htm Cheers Dick
____________________ My Website My ezFolk Page My Old Time Music Forum (Europe) |
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Will Approved
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ukaholic wrote: Will wrote:For tuning a tenor banjo to DGBE (Chicago tuning), which is the tuning that I use, you can just use the standard strings (gDGBd) in a 5-string banjo set. Because the tenor has a shorter scale (23" vs. 26" for a 5-string), you can tune the thinnest (high-D) string up to E without breaking it. Guitar strings usually have a bronze winding on the lower strings, and they don't sound quite right on the banjo. Nylon strings will definitely not sound good on a tenor banjo. It definitely needs metal banjo strings. The original tuning for tenor banjos was CGDA; this tuning is in fifths and covers a wider range of notes than DGBE, so the original gauge tenor strings can't really be used for DGBE tuning. I was using d'Addario banjo strings, but when I read about Cleartone strings with an ultrathin coating to prevent corrosion, I eventually switched all of my guitars to that brand. These are the Cleartone electric guitar strings (nickel-wound, extra light gauge) that I am currently using on my tenor banjo tuned to DGBE:  Regarding Dick's note about the Irish style tenor banjo, it is tuned even lower than CGDA to GDAE, one octave lower than a mandolin, requiring even thicker gauge strings to get the proper tension. What you'll need for DGBE tuning are a set of regular 5-string banjo strings. Just use the 4 long strings and leave out the one used for the drone (it''s actually an extra G string). The thinnest string can be tuned safely up to E (normally D for 5-string banjo). It's possible to play your DGBE banjo with your fingers, but you'll get more volume and better tone if you use a flatpick, or try out the Herco thumb-flatpick that I use (it's a teardrop shape flatpick with a loop, worn on the thumb): 
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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Will Approved
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Ptarmigan wrote: Hello there, ukaholic is seeking to use a tuning that spans a narrower range of notes, DGBE, so the regular gauge strings from a 5-string set will work for that purpose. ukaholic: a banjo capo at the 5th fret of your DGBE-tuned tenor banjo will give you regular uke tuning with a low-G. Last edited on Tue May 6th, 2008 11:45 am by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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Philj200 Approved 
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Not knowing any better, I just purchased a set of tenor string and tuned them in the Chicago-style (DGBE). Works fine. Nice banjo-ey sound and I don't have to learn another family of chords.
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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| ezFolk Forums > Banjo > Beginner Questions - Banjo > tenor banjo, DGBE what strings? | |
