I almost deleted this link - until I saw that this was the key to getting to the key of D - since I have so many fiddle tunes. My first thought was, "I'm just learning! Don't change the tuning on me!" But then I realized that these are not brain surgeon level chords. I think this gives me something I can really use.
Great video! i have learned multiple tunes in G and Sawmill, but now i feel confident to try some Double C and D tunes. you make learning really easy for us beginners!!! keep up the great work. looking forward to more videos.
Thanks so much man! I really appreciate all the support. I’ve got a few songs in the works right now - one you asked for - but I’ll post some double c songs/tabs soon.
Thanks, You've inspired me to call my Banjo man and next week I'm getting spikes put in. And maybe a slightly higher bridge... he said he'd see how it goes. As usual a great, informative video.
@BanjoSkills well I've only just started, so now is ideal time to start the process of developing different keys.. especially D as a lot of Irish tunes are in d, as is my whistle.
The first time I heard the “Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee” lyrics was from an old Warner Brothers cartoon called The Bashful Buzzard featuring a goofy buzzard who sang the song to the tune of Arkansas Traveler while carrying a bee in his claws.
Idk about a 5th string capo or a railroad spike... You're gonna have to check it anyway so all it does is save you what on my banjo is about a 1/4 turn. Good advice though. This is like a fundamental jam survival commandment.
True. I found it most helpful when playing with folks who were playing a bunch of different keys and not really grouping songs. That said, I love my railroad spikes now!
Okay here’s the lyrics to Arkansas Traveler Oh once upon a time in Arkansas An old man sat in his little cabin door And fiddled at a tune that he liked to hear A jolly old tune that he played by ear It was raining hard but the fiddler didn’t care He sawed away at the popular air Though his rooftop leaked like a waterfall That didn’t seem to bother the old man at all A traveler was riding by that day And stopped to hear him a-fiddling away The cabin was afloat and his feet were wet But the old man still didn’t seem to fret So the stranger said Now the way it seems to me You’d better mend your roof said he But the old man said as he played away I couldn’t mend it now it’s a rainy day The traveler replied that’s all quite true But this I think is the thing for you to do Get busy on a day that is fair and bright Then patch the old roof till it’s good and tight But the old man kept on a-playing at his reel And tapped the ground with his leathery heel Get along said he for you give me a pain My cabin never leaks when it doesn’t rain
I did my own spikes on my Epiphone. I messed up the first one and left a hole in the board. Probably need a lot more practice before I try it on a Deering.
I get a nervous going up more than 1 full step. So,. C-D is fine, C-D# and beyond, I use a capo. For the fifth string beyond one full step, you can use railroad spikes, a 5th string capo or tune it down.
Loving this new shapes .. why do we need to go to double c tuning ? I’ve played in g for four years now .. Can we just play the same cords in g tuning … ?
Yup, you can absolutely stick to open g tuning and play all the same chords. The reason I like to go to double c for songs in the key of c or d is that the 1-4-5 chords are simpler to play and have more open strings. This makes improvising and arranging quite a bit easier.
Double C tuning (@ capo +2) allows for EASY 'way up the neck' notes that are very close or equal to the normal 'high notes' of a fiddle. Playing especially celtic tunes from the 5th or 7th position (fret) and above, ALSO permits the normal 'lead' string to be the SECOND string and with most of the high notes immediately (somewhat) 'conveniently' ADJACENT on the 'first string' No need to be stretching anatomically impossible long distances !!!! Also in 7th position,all your (arpeggioed triplets, ornamentations, etc.) cords are all much closer in 'finger stretch' ... AND if the bridge is positioned perfectly and string tuning is also to perfection, expect that the (open) non-plucked non-fretted strings will begin to 'sympathetically resonate' in perfect harmony -- "wah-la": the characteristic Celtic FULL HOUSE 'WALL OF SOUND' . Unfortunately it takes a TONS of practice to 'get it right' when clawhammering (melodically, not rythmically) at 100-115+ beats per minute (So, you will probably need a brass finger pick for your strike finger . at these insane speeds ...... it takes many MONTHS to heal a worn-thru finger nail).. Double C tuning has to be "THE" absolute most 'versatile' tuning on a 5 string banjo ... especially for note-for-note melodic clawhammering, or even 2 or 3 finger. Most fiddlers will be jealous.
I almost deleted this link - until I saw that this was the key to getting to the key of D - since I have so many fiddle tunes. My first thought was, "I'm just learning! Don't change the tuning on me!" But then I realized that these are not brain surgeon level chords. I think this gives me something I can really use.
so glad to hear that! I think playing in a few tunings when you're a bit newer can actually really help you progress.
Excellent video. It was clear and informative.
Glad you enjoyed it!
So much helpful content packed into your videos.. really appreciate your non-judgemental style of presenting this info...thx
Thanks so much! I’m so glad they’ve been helpful for you.
Great video! i have learned multiple tunes in G and Sawmill, but now i feel confident to try some Double C and D tunes. you make learning really easy for us beginners!!! keep up the great work. looking forward to more videos.
Thanks so much man! I really appreciate all the support. I’ve got a few songs in the works right now - one you asked for - but I’ll post some double c songs/tabs soon.
@@BanjoSkills awesome!
Thanks. Tomorrow I be tuning up in C.
Awesome! Send me an email and I’ll send you my fly around my pretty little miss tab. That’s a great intro
Thanks, You've inspired me to call my Banjo man and next week I'm getting spikes put in. And maybe a slightly higher bridge... he said he'd see how it goes. As usual a great, informative video.
Great to hear! I find them so useful - can't go back to a banjo without them!
@BanjoSkills well I've only just started, so now is ideal time to start the process of developing different keys.. especially D as a lot of Irish tunes are in d, as is my whistle.
Very helpful! Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks so much for this great video! :)
The first time I heard the “Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee” lyrics was from an old Warner Brothers cartoon called The Bashful Buzzard featuring a goofy buzzard who sang the song to the tune of Arkansas Traveler while carrying a bee in his claws.
I remember that one!
I'll be hosting a live banjo session on Dec 28th! Join me if you want to learn Gospel Plow at banjoskills.com/live
Idk about a 5th string capo or a railroad spike... You're gonna have to check it anyway so all it does is save you what on my banjo is about a 1/4 turn. Good advice though. This is like a fundamental jam survival commandment.
True. I found it most helpful when playing with folks who were playing a bunch of different keys and not really grouping songs. That said, I love my railroad spikes now!
Very informative 😎👍
Glad it was helpful!
Okay here’s the lyrics to Arkansas Traveler
Oh once upon a time in Arkansas
An old man sat in his little cabin door
And fiddled at a tune that he liked to hear
A jolly old tune that he played by ear
It was raining hard but the fiddler didn’t care
He sawed away at the popular air
Though his rooftop leaked like a waterfall
That didn’t seem to bother the old man at all
A traveler was riding by that day
And stopped to hear him a-fiddling away
The cabin was afloat and his feet were wet
But the old man still didn’t seem to fret
So the stranger said Now the way it seems to me
You’d better mend your roof said he
But the old man said as he played away
I couldn’t mend it now it’s a rainy day
The traveler replied that’s all quite true
But this I think is the thing for you to do
Get busy on a day that is fair and bright
Then patch the old roof till it’s good and tight
But the old man kept on a-playing at his reel
And tapped the ground with his leathery heel
Get along said he for you give me a pain
My cabin never leaks when it doesn’t rain
Those are a lot better than the baby bumblebee version I remember! Thanks for that
Oh my god the lyrics are awesome I can't believe I've played this song so many times and never heard them.
Moral of the story: Making music is more important than home maintenance. And never fret the small stuff.
I did my own spikes on my Epiphone. I messed up the first one and left a hole in the board. Probably need a lot more practice before I try it on a Deering.
Ouch! I had a luthier do mine because I was afraid of that happening.
Thank you. When you change the tuning, if you have to tune up does it get risky with strings snapping?
I get a nervous going up more than 1 full step. So,. C-D is fine, C-D# and beyond, I use a capo. For the fifth string beyond one full step, you can use railroad spikes, a 5th string capo or tune it down.
@@BanjoSkills thank you for this!
Loving this new shapes .. why do we need to go to double c tuning ? I’ve played in g for four years now .. Can we just play the same cords in g tuning … ?
Yup, you can absolutely stick to open g tuning and play all the same chords. The reason I like to go to double c for songs in the key of c or d is that the 1-4-5 chords are simpler to play and have more open strings. This makes improvising and arranging quite a bit easier.
Thanks banjo guru … 🎉
Double C tuning (@ capo +2) allows for EASY 'way up the neck' notes that are very close or equal to the normal 'high notes' of a fiddle. Playing especially celtic tunes from the 5th or 7th position (fret) and above, ALSO permits the normal 'lead' string to be the SECOND string and with most of the high notes immediately (somewhat) 'conveniently' ADJACENT on the 'first string' No need to be stretching anatomically impossible long distances !!!!
Also in 7th position,all your (arpeggioed triplets, ornamentations, etc.) cords are all much closer in 'finger stretch' ... AND if the bridge is positioned perfectly and string tuning is also to perfection, expect that the (open) non-plucked non-fretted strings will begin to 'sympathetically resonate' in perfect harmony -- "wah-la": the characteristic Celtic FULL HOUSE 'WALL OF SOUND' . Unfortunately it takes a TONS of practice to 'get it right' when clawhammering (melodically, not rythmically) at 100-115+ beats per minute (So, you will probably need a brass finger pick for your strike finger . at these insane speeds ...... it takes many MONTHS to heal a worn-thru finger nail)..
Double C tuning has to be "THE" absolute most 'versatile' tuning on a 5 string banjo ... especially for note-for-note melodic clawhammering, or even 2 or 3 finger. Most fiddlers will be jealous.
I like triple c for up the neck as well! Makes it very easy and sounds great
I have a question would double c tuned down a whole step be fBflatFBflatC?
Yup, that's right!
Ngl, this makes me weanna get a banjo lol. Maybe write some country music.
Then my job is done!