As a quick cheat sheet, your guide is as follows: Standard G (relative) 4th string 5th fret = 3rd string open 3rd string 4th fret = 2nd string open 2nd string 3rd fret = 1st string open 1st string 5th fret = 5th string open From standard tuning, you can navigate to alternative tunings by doing the following. Here are some popular examples. Sawmill 2nd string 2nd fret = 1st string open 1 Finger C 2nd string 2nd fret = 1st string open Drop 4th string. Cross reference 1st string second fret. D tuning (rueben) Drop 5th, 3rd, 2nd down. Cross reference all strings with your open 4th string.
this is good stuff Tyler ! Much better to learn like this than to use a tuner. A tuner is good if you’re completely lost but it’s nice to adjust real quick between tunings without having to pull up the tuner
I’ll give you a really good tuning if you haven’t messed around with it, Little Birdie Tuning, eCGAD. You can pick some really pretty stuff out of it, Little Birdie, Little Omie Wise, Rye Whiskey, The House Carpenter, and Barbara Allen.
Tyler, that’s a fine lookin’ dipper flipper you got there. What’s your opinion on a 2 piece flange raised head banjo vs. a 1 piece flange (without factoring in tone rings - holes vs. no holes.) I’m curious since you have both types. I have both types too, and since you are my kinda style banjo player I’m just wondering what your ears tell you and which you prefer? I have my own thoughts on it, but I don’t know many that have both types of raised heads other than me to ask personally.
Thank you brother! That's a great question. My ear prefers the 2 piece flange if I'm only considering the flange as the variable for the sound. I never really gave it much thought until you asked to be honest, so great observation. I didn't know I had a 1 piece on the Neat and a 2 piece on the Gibson until just now. A banjo is the sum of its parts in my experience, so I would not be surprised if a flange makes a significant change to the sound profile. What are your thoughts? I am intrigued now!
Ive always sort of preferred a 2 piece flange. They are heavier though. But while I like both, I think the 2 piece flange has a brighter tone capability… maybe a little sweeter tone? If I had to put a word in to describe it. But that said… I love my one piece flanges too… I think the one pieces could be described as drier at times. It’s hard to describe really. I was curious since you acquired your new banjo what you thought. They definitely have different characteristics. Tell me the story on that new one. Is that a custom made job? Copy? Or a genuine article? It sounds crisp and clean! I love the fiddle shape peg head look… and a wreath pattern… and then amber buttons are my favorite. I always say I’m giving her a new set of earrings when I put them type tuner buttons on a banjer!👍
and also on this note… it seems Raymond Fairchild preferred a two piece flange as well. His custom made instruments from Frank Neat came with 2 piece flanges and flathead tone rings…
@thebanjooutlaw I think sweeter is a perfect word to describe it. When I go back to the Neat (1 piece flange) it does feel like it's dry and cracky enough to peel paint off a wall, even with the same bridge and head tension. It'll pierce your ears, I don't think there is any way around it. I've tried every configuration on that thing and even with a frosted top, thicker bridge, and looser head it just cracks. The Gibson sounds more well rounded, and sweet, while still containing a crack. Best of both worlds in my opinion. If that's because of the 2 piece flange I'm sold on em! I'll do a longer video on this banjo specifically as well as my others, as my lineup has changed quite a bit this year. Most folks won't care about the hyper specific details but I do and it sounds like you do so I'll share. It's a Frank Neat neck made in the Style 5 pattern, so it is not a Genuine Gibson neck. This is no problem to me, as I'm sure you know Frank Neat is the kinda the standard for any pre-war Gibson conversions or if any neck work needs done. I've personally never played a better neck than what Frank Neat makes, genuine Gibson included. I believe the only genuine Gibson article is the Style 5 resonator. As for the pot assembly, we have a 2 piece flange, a Mitch Meadors tone ring, a Mitch Meadors tailpiece, and I'm not entirely sure on the rim. It's unlikely that it's a Genuine Gibson rim as it's in really nice shape. I'm not sure on the year exactly, I'll ask Mitch when I see him. It's probably no more than 20 years old. The only thing I've changed so far are the tuner buttons, they were black originally but I love the amber too so I couldn't resist. So in a short: Not a fully Genuine Gibson. Frank Neat neck, Mitch Meadors pot assembly. I suspect it was modeled after a Deluxe Style 5, minus the gold plating/engraving as it looks very similar to Ralph's Style 5 on the Pete Seeger special. Send me an email so we can get in touch outside of TH-cam comments! Tyler
As a quick cheat sheet, your guide is as follows:
Standard G (relative)
4th string 5th fret = 3rd string open
3rd string 4th fret = 2nd string open
2nd string 3rd fret = 1st string open
1st string 5th fret = 5th string open
From standard tuning, you can navigate to alternative tunings by doing the following. Here are some popular examples.
Sawmill
2nd string 2nd fret = 1st string open
1 Finger C
2nd string 2nd fret = 1st string open
Drop 4th string. Cross reference 1st string second fret.
D tuning (rueben)
Drop 5th, 3rd, 2nd down. Cross reference all strings with your open 4th string.
this is good stuff Tyler ! Much better to learn like this than to use a tuner. A tuner is good if you’re completely lost but it’s nice to adjust real quick between tunings without having to pull up the tuner
Great explanation! I haven't used a tuner in probably over a year at this point.
I’ll give you a really good tuning if you haven’t messed around with it, Little Birdie Tuning, eCGAD. You can pick some really pretty stuff out of it, Little Birdie, Little Omie Wise, Rye Whiskey, The House Carpenter, and Barbara Allen.
I don't believe I've played around with that tuning, thanks!
I better write that down.
It's so fun to me (now) that banjo has so many tunings and so fun to watch say guitar and base players start twitching watching it lol
I wish you a very happy new year and many things with the banjo for 2025
Happy new year!!!! Thank you my friend
Great lesson, Tyler! Much appreciated!
No problem Chris, hope it helps! You can get to standard by ear for sure. Just remember the fretting positions and you're good to go.
@ That will really help me out when I want to show off at Guitar Center. Their banjos are always out of tune.
Easy, have John sit beside you and have him tell you what's wrong with your tuning
Crazy question: for people who have no idea, how/what does one hear in order to know they've matched two notes?
Tyler, that’s a fine lookin’ dipper flipper you got there. What’s your opinion on a 2 piece flange raised head banjo vs. a 1 piece flange (without factoring in tone rings - holes vs. no holes.) I’m curious since you have both types. I have both types too, and since you are my kinda style banjo player I’m just wondering what your ears tell you and which you prefer? I have my own thoughts on it, but I don’t know many that have both types of raised heads other than me to ask personally.
Thank you brother! That's a great question. My ear prefers the 2 piece flange if I'm only considering the flange as the variable for the sound. I never really gave it much thought until you asked to be honest, so great observation. I didn't know I had a 1 piece on the Neat and a 2 piece on the Gibson until just now. A banjo is the sum of its parts in my experience, so I would not be surprised if a flange makes a significant change to the sound profile. What are your thoughts? I am intrigued now!
Ive always sort of preferred a 2 piece flange. They are heavier though. But while I like both, I think the 2 piece flange has a brighter tone capability… maybe a little sweeter tone? If I had to put a word in to describe it.
But that said… I love my one piece flanges too… I think the one pieces could be described as drier at times. It’s hard to describe really. I was curious since you acquired your new banjo what you thought. They definitely have different characteristics.
Tell me the story on that new one. Is that a custom made job? Copy? Or a genuine article? It sounds crisp and clean! I love the fiddle shape peg head look… and a wreath pattern… and then amber buttons are my favorite. I always say I’m giving her a new set of earrings when I put them type tuner buttons on a banjer!👍
and also on this note… it seems Raymond Fairchild preferred a two piece flange as well. His custom made instruments from Frank Neat came with 2 piece flanges and flathead tone rings…
@thebanjooutlaw I think sweeter is a perfect word to describe it. When I go back to the Neat (1 piece flange) it does feel like it's dry and cracky enough to peel paint off a wall, even with the same bridge and head tension. It'll pierce your ears, I don't think there is any way around it. I've tried every configuration on that thing and even with a frosted top, thicker bridge, and looser head it just cracks.
The Gibson sounds more well rounded, and sweet, while still containing a crack. Best of both worlds in my opinion. If that's because of the 2 piece flange I'm sold on em!
I'll do a longer video on this banjo specifically as well as my others, as my lineup has changed quite a bit this year. Most folks won't care about the hyper specific details but I do and it sounds like you do so I'll share.
It's a Frank Neat neck made in the Style 5 pattern, so it is not a Genuine Gibson neck. This is no problem to me, as I'm sure you know Frank Neat is the kinda the standard for any pre-war Gibson conversions or if any neck work needs done. I've personally never played a better neck than what Frank Neat makes, genuine Gibson included. I believe the only genuine Gibson article is the Style 5 resonator.
As for the pot assembly, we have a 2 piece flange, a Mitch Meadors tone ring, a Mitch Meadors tailpiece, and I'm not entirely sure on the rim. It's unlikely that it's a Genuine Gibson rim as it's in really nice shape. I'm not sure on the year exactly, I'll ask Mitch when I see him. It's probably no more than 20 years old. The only thing I've changed so far are the tuner buttons, they were black originally but I love the amber too so I couldn't resist.
So in a short: Not a fully Genuine Gibson. Frank Neat neck, Mitch Meadors pot assembly. I suspect it was modeled after a Deluxe Style 5, minus the gold plating/engraving as it looks very similar to Ralph's Style 5 on the Pete Seeger special.
Send me an email so we can get in touch outside of TH-cam comments!
Tyler