tenor banjo - easy to convert to lefthand?
kplumm
bridge not glued on making it easier to convert? I'm okay at making
nuts from the guitar. Any other problems?
I've read that Irish musicians use thicker strings tuned down a 4th
or possibly a fifth. Could someone explain this for me, and tell me
what I'd need to task for when buying strings. I think I'll like that
lower sound, and I don't like the weird fifth string on the 5 string
banjos, it seems a bit of a weird thing to get your head round if used
to guitar.
Thanks.
Don Tuite
A tenor bridge is like a 5-string bridge, except it only has 4
notches. You could just reinstall the old nut backward to string the
banjo for left-handed playing.
Irish players tend to tune GDAE, rather than CGDA. You can take the C,
G, and D strings from a standard tenor set, move them one position
over and tune them a full step higher, but that leaves the question of
what to do for the low G string. You could get a whole set of mandola
strings and use all four, or just use a G mandola string, but I
haven't found that I like that -- not enough overtones. I've
experimented with other alternatives -- I think it was Kevin Carr who
suggested a wound-silk guitar string -- but I haven't been crazy about
anything I've tried.
Ten or so years ago, there was a thread on the Banjo_L listserver
about strings for Irish playing, and somebody mentioned a music shop
in Ennis that had the real deal. When I was in Limerick last year, I
drove over to Ennis and found the shop and bought a lifetime supply
(two sets) of strings from them. Each set cost 12 Euros.
I haven't tried them yet -- been playing other instruments -- but
here's the technical data: One set is bronze, and the package says
they were hand-made in Germany expressly for Clareen Banjos (Tom
Cussen). The G, D, and A strings are wound, and their diameters in
mils are, respectively, 0.036, 0.026, and 0.017. The plain wire E
string is 0.0115 mils. contact info:
Tom Cussen
Slieveaun
Clarinbridge
Galway, Ireland
+353 91 796156
tomc...@tinet.ie
The other set are hand-made by Newtone in Heanor in Derbyshire. The
phosphor-bronze-wound G, D, and A strings measure 0.035, 0.026, and
0.016 mils. The E string diameter is 0.010. Contact info:
Newtone Strings
11B Stainsby Avenue
Heanor
Derbyshire DE75 7EL
England
If you look on Elderly's site, the dimensions of their John Pearse
"lights" are pretty close to what I bought in Ennis. So unless Tom
Cussen makes it a point to dip all his strings in Galway Bay to imbue
them with the spirit of the ancient bards, you can probably get much
the same thing from Lansing, Michigan, that I bought in County Clare.
For reference D'Addario's light mandola string dimensions are 0.049,
0.034, 0.23, and 0.14 mils. (A mandola scale is 16", versus the
tenor's 17".)
Dan'l
Since you learned on a lefty guitar, I suppose you're correct in
wanting a lefty tenor banjo - but see below*.
To convert a standard tenor banjo to lefty, the top nut grooves (4
grooves cut in slightly different widths top to bottom) order will have
to be flopped, which actually means you will need a new nut unless the
old nut needs lowering anyway, where you can file it down and make new
grooves in the flopped format.
If the old bridge is not compensated (staggered on top edge, not
typical) all you have to do is rotate it 180 degrees on the head. If
the banjo has an arm guard mount it on the other side of the head, and
you're in business.
You're correct that tenor banjo is a good choice for Irish music -
though it was never used for that before the 20th century. But if it's
the lower keys you like get the longer-necked version of the
instrument, called a plectrum banjo.
I'll assume you've already considered a guitar-banjo, which is
available (or as easily converted) as a lefty instrument. That has the
same 6 strings as a guitar.
BTW that 5th string on a 5-string banjo makes possible the rhythms the
instrument is known for -- 8th and even 16th notes roll right off your
hand! It's not weird at all when you know what it's for. (I realize
it's confusing that it's called a "drone" string, because that's not
its musical function).
- Dan'l
* Consider that with banjo, both hands need to be coordinated, so you
could learn to play a standard ("right-hand") tenor banjo. It's
frustrating that left-handers don't think they have a choice. Even with
guitar there are many left-handers that learned to play a standard
guitar because their instructors allowed the option. True, some left
handers felt they had to play a standard guitar upside down or with
strings flopped but neither was necessary.
Tom Russell
Hi
I buy strings for my my Irish tenor (short scale, tuned GDAE) from
Andy Perkins at http://www.andybanjo.com/trolleyed/index.htm
If you mail him I'm he will advise on suitable strings for your
instrument and make up sets of any weight you wish. I started with
12/20Wound/32W/44W but now prefer lighter 11/16/28W/38W
Last lot I bought were £10 for 3 sets including UK postage
Hope this helps
Tom
Tony
symmetrical and those that aren't are going to be expensive. It is actually
simpler and more effective than reversing a right handed guitar.
I don't know where one buys un-cut bridges these days but I'm sure any
luthier's supply would have them.
I've never played Irish tenor banjo so I can't help you there. I believe
most of the people I've actually watched play them used a short scale (17
fret) tenor - but I'm not sure that is a given.
--
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"kplumm" <kpl...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1162484415....@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Rex Hunt
turned around. You might have to enlarge the notches in both the bridge
and nut anyway for the larger strings used in the Irish tuning. As far
as strings go, octave mandolin strings work and you get two sets.
Rex