I've purchased a wonderful CD of a highland piper Mackenzie playing along with accordian, set drums and tenor banjo- playing in Bb. Is the banjoist playing Irish tuning GDAE capoed up, or reg. tenor tuning CGAE, tuned down 1/2 step or actually playing in Bb?. Do you guys ever capo to play in A (to play with "A "smallpipes or songs in A)? Is "Sailors Hornpipe" played in D or G? Thanks
Hard to tell without hearing it.
But, I think he is probably playing CGDA tuned down a halfstep to Bb.
Not as weird as it looks, but you can get a really nice sound in these keys.
Didn't the Tannahill Weavers pit bagpipes against banjo in the 70's?
Forgive my stupidity, but CGDA tuned down a half step would give you B F# C# G# (or Cb Gb Db Ab). How does that help with playing in Bb? As I write, I realize that you probably meant a *whole* step (Bb F C G), enabling you to use G fingering (as it would be in GDAE).
As for capos in GDAE, you can either capo at the 1st fret and use A fingering, or at the 3rd fret (a little cramped on a mandolin, but comfortable on a banjo) for G fingering.
THe CD is just that," MacKenzie's Ceilidh'" P/M Malcolm and M. MacKenzie. the picture on the front is the band in the background and people dancing in the fore. There is also a fiddler in the group. Klub Records 1991 from the UK. Very enjoyable!
Thanks for all the replys, and yes I meant tune down a full step to Bb. Jon
playing banjo at a "ceilidh"
playing banjo at a "ceilidh"
I've purchased a wonderful CD of a highland piper Mackenzie playing along with accordian, set drums and tenor banjo- playing in Bb. Is the banjoist playing Irish tuning GDAE capoed up, or reg. tenor tuning CGAE, tuned down 1/2 step or actually playing in Bb?. Do you guys ever capo to play in A (to play with "A "smallpipes or songs in A)? Is "Sailors Hornpipe" played in D or G? Thanks
# Posted on November 17th 2005 by pick&bow
Re: playing banjo at a "ceilidh"
Is the banjoist playing Irish tuning GDAE capoed up, or reg. tenor tuning CGAE, tuned down 1/2 step or actually playing in Bb?
---Probably GDAE capo'd but maybe playing in Bb if a short scale banjo and a big fingered player.
Do you guys ever capo to play in A (to play with "A "smallpipes or songs in A)?
--- No need to. "A" is a natural key for the GDAE banjo
Is "Sailors Hornpipe" played in D or G?
--- Usually G but sometimes in A. Never heard it in D but - if you want to, why not?
I'd like to hear this CD, what's it called?
# Posted on November 17th 2005 by Bren
Re: playing banjo at a "ceilidh"
Hard to tell without hearing it.
But, I think he is probably playing CGDA tuned down a halfstep to Bb.
Not as weird as it looks, but you can get a really nice sound in these keys.
Didn't the Tannahill Weavers pit bagpipes against banjo in the 70's?
# Posted on November 17th 2005 by Greenwiggle
Re: playing banjo at a "ceilidh"
I haven't heard Sailor's Hornpipe in a log time. Back in the 80's I needed to know it in both G and D, (but never A).
What was the name of this CD again,? where can I get one?
Leessee...GHB, accordian, setdrums, tenor banjo. Talk about "the Ladies from Hell".
# Posted on November 17th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: playing banjo at a "ceilidh"
Hi pick&bow, do you mean John Don MacKenzie? - he also plays with "The Incredible Fling Band".
http://www.tradmusic.com/groupinfoa.asp?groupID=1733
# Posted on November 17th 2005 by On Sabbatical
Re: playing banjo at a "ceilidh"
yes ive used capo on mandolin and banjo to go with bagpipes and smallpipes its really no big deal nothing groundbreaking about that unfortunatley
# Posted on November 17th 2005 by Ripthecalico
Re: playing banjo at a "ceilidh"
Forgive my stupidity, but CGDA tuned down a half step would give you B F# C# G# (or Cb Gb Db Ab). How does that help with playing in Bb? As I write, I realize that you probably meant a *whole* step (Bb F C G), enabling you to use G fingering (as it would be in GDAE).
As for capos in GDAE, you can either capo at the 1st fret and use A fingering, or at the 3rd fret (a little cramped on a mandolin, but comfortable on a banjo) for G fingering.
# Posted on November 17th 2005 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: playing banjo at a "ceilidh"
THe CD is just that," MacKenzie's Ceilidh'" P/M Malcolm and M. MacKenzie. the picture on the front is the band in the background and people dancing in the fore. There is also a fiddler in the group. Klub Records 1991 from the UK. Very enjoyable!
Thanks for all the replys, and yes I meant tune down a full step to Bb. Jon
# Posted on November 17th 2005 by pick&bow
It can be done
we did a ceili at The Savoy Hotel once bringing in Mick O'Conner on banjo and, wait for it, calling the sets _and he did a great job
he's in GDAE and i've never seen him use a capo
# Posted on November 18th 2005 by lisaniska
Re: playing banjo at a "ceilidh"
I would use a capo on the first fret, I think the Tannahils used to tune their banjo to the pipes.
# Posted on November 24th 2005 by tirvaluk