Is the G string the lowest? In other words, are you strung GDAE?
The nut was most likely cut for CGDA, standard tenor tuning, and your G string is a little too thick for the slot. This can be easily fixed with the right file, probably best done at your local shop. A little graphite in the slot will help. short-term, and if you are in CGDA tuning.
Don't see any wind-up here. I agree with Will's answer - file the nut slot to make it a little wider. Try not to increase the depth of the slot, though.
I think that Will has the most likely answer. It is possible that the slot on your bridge is narrow too or that your tuning peg is faulty. An easy way to determine if you need to widen the slot is to put a thinner gage string on and see if tuning is smoother. If that is true, then you need to have someone widen the slot for you unless you have some experience doing it. If you have a rough passage with the thinner string, check the tuner with no string on.
Widening the slot is not that hard, just tedious. As pointed out you don't want to make it too deep otherwise you will get buzzing in the open position. If you consider that the proper file is $20 (or the equivalent) and the possibility of you not doing the job correctly is high, then the right way to go about this is to have a luthier do it for a reasonable price.
If you insist on doing it yourself, go very slowly and check the slot every one or two strokes of the file to see if you are there yet. Also you can press the G string at the second fret and see how much space there is at the first fret. You do this by pressing down over the first fret while holding the string at the second fret. If there is visible space or movement then you have a way to go. If you go too far (and that may be one stroke of the file) then you have to get a new nut or fill the slot with superglue and baking soda to start over. Also the thick g string needs a little more leeway than the E string does due to its greater movement.
It is up to you to decide how you want to deal with this.
When it is all done, take a pencil and put some of the graphite from the pencil in the slot. This will lubricate the slot and allow the string to move a little more smoothly.
Technical banjo question
Technical banjo question
Hey,
Was hoping someone in the session.org online community could help me with a technical problem I've been having with my banjo:
My G string keeps getting caught at the nut.
Any suggestions?
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by sweaty palms
Re: Technical banjo question
not sure i understand - could you explain that differently?
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by saltybrian
Re: Technical banjo question
Is the G string the lowest? In other words, are you strung GDAE?
The nut was most likely cut for CGDA, standard tenor tuning, and your G string is a little too thick for the slot. This can be easily fixed with the right file, probably best done at your local shop. A little graphite in the slot will help. short-term, and if you are in CGDA tuning.
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by will morgan
Re: Technical banjo question
I once thought that I'd only need those files once in my life. The fifth time I thought that bought them.
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by Ramiro
Re: Technical banjo question
Sometimes my g string catches my nuts too!
This must be a wind up?!
# Posted on November 8th 2008 by Rob
Re: Technical banjo question
The probable solution is to wind up the tuning peg a little.
More likely to meet with success than trying to wind up session members, anyway ...
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Technical banjo question
Don't see any wind-up here. I agree with Will's answer - file the nut slot to make it a little wider. Try not to increase the depth of the slot, though.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by DaveL35
Re: Technical banjo question
I think that Will has the most likely answer. It is possible that the slot on your bridge is narrow too or that your tuning peg is faulty. An easy way to determine if you need to widen the slot is to put a thinner gage string on and see if tuning is smoother. If that is true, then you need to have someone widen the slot for you unless you have some experience doing it. If you have a rough passage with the thinner string, check the tuner with no string on.
Widening the slot is not that hard, just tedious. As pointed out you don't want to make it too deep otherwise you will get buzzing in the open position. If you consider that the proper file is $20 (or the equivalent) and the possibility of you not doing the job correctly is high, then the right way to go about this is to have a luthier do it for a reasonable price.
If you insist on doing it yourself, go very slowly and check the slot every one or two strokes of the file to see if you are there yet. Also you can press the G string at the second fret and see how much space there is at the first fret. You do this by pressing down over the first fret while holding the string at the second fret. If there is visible space or movement then you have a way to go. If you go too far (and that may be one stroke of the file) then you have to get a new nut or fill the slot with superglue and baking soda to start over. Also the thick g string needs a little more leeway than the E string does due to its greater movement.
It is up to you to decide how you want to deal with this.
When it is all done, take a pencil and put some of the graphite from the pencil in the slot. This will lubricate the slot and allow the string to move a little more smoothly.
Mike Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by mikeyes
Re: Technical banjo question
Oh, come on now...it was a joke. Rob was the only one who picked up on it. I laughed as soon as I read it....pretty clever...
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by banjobabe
Re: Technical banjo question
Oh, and one more thing. Do guys wear G strings? Just wondering....maybe that's the problem...
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by banjobabe
Re: Technical banjo question
I also picked up on it, banjobabe (see my earlier post).
People who use this forum to ask "technical questions", then subsequently fail to acknowledge the ensuing replies are either:
(a) Rude or -
(b) They are windup merchants.
In this case (a) - and possibly (b) as well.
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Technical banjo question
I left this one alone because it looked like a saddo at work
# Posted on November 9th 2008 by millionyears_bc
Re: Technical banjo question
Yes, he has no history, no details and the username has to be a giveaway! Amusing though?!
# Posted on November 11th 2008 by Rob