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The banjo archive |
- Introduction
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- Printed music
Introduction
Classical and traditional music for a variety of banjo types:- Mandolin-banjo / banjolin
- The small banjo in GDAE tuning. Most of the titles for mandolin-banjo here are duplicates of the content at The Mandolin Archive. You can also try the tenor banjo titles on the mandolin-banjo. They ought to work well although you'll get them in a different key.
- Fivestringed banjo
- Most pieces are in standard "open G" tuning (gDGBD), but there might be one or two in alternative tunings as well. The titles for open G tuned plectrum banjo works just as wellon a fivestring banjo btw.
- Tenor banjo
- Various tunings:
- Standard tuning (CGDA): Choose "Tenor banjo" in the Instrument menu. Most of the Irish tenor banjo pieces also work in standard tuning, although they end up in a different key.
- DADA tuning: Choose "Tenor banjo (DADA-tuned)."
- CGCG tuning: The DADA titles works just as well in CGCG tuning. Use a capo in the 2nd fret if you need them to be in the "right" key.
- Irish tuning (GDAE): Choose "Irish tenor banjo". The standard tuning titles can also be played in Irish tuning, but if you want them in the "right" key, you have to use a capo in the 7th fret.
- AEAE tuning: The DADA tuned titles will work. Use a capo in the 5th fret to get the original key
- GDGD tuning: Play the titles for DADA-tuning ,- with a capo in the 7th fret if you need them in the key they're notated in.
- High C tuning (cGDA): Choose "Tenor banjo" and have a look. Some of the titles might work with a high octave fourth string.
- High G tuning (gDAE): Most of the Irish tenor banjo titles should work, but you won't use the fourth string much.
- Plectrum banjo tuning (CGBD): See plectrum banjo.
- Open G tuning (DGBD): See plectrum banjo.
- Chicago or "guitar" tuning (DGBE): See plectrum banjo.
- Other tuning: Sorry, nothing here at the moment, but have a look in The Mandolin Archive.
- Plectrum banjo
- Some of the titles are for standard (CGDB) tuning others for open G (DGBD). For other tunings:
- Irish tuning (GDAE): See tenor banjo.
- Chicago or "guitar" tuning (DGBE): Choose "Plectrum banjo (Chicago-tuned)." Many of the guitar-banjo pieces works well on a fourstring instrument too. Just ignore the two lowest strings.
- ADAD tuning: See tenor banjo.
- GCGC tuning: See tenor banjo.
- Guitar-banjo
- Most of the titles are for standard tuning (EADGBE), but there might be one or two for other tunings as well. Some of the titles in The Guitar Archive should sound good on a guitar-banjo. The plectrum and tenor banjo pieces in the appropriate tunings work well on a guitar-banjo too. Just ignore the two lowest strings on your instrument.
Don't know what kind of banjo you have?
Have a look at my list of common banjo types.My other banjo sites
I've just opened two more sites specially dedicated to the banjo:- The Irish banjo for those of you who want to play the Irish way,
- The Blues Banjo site
for the banjoists who want to play the blues. (Yes, it is possible!)
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Printed music
As big as Musica Viva is, you still can't find everything here. There's the problem with copyright on modern music for a start, and no web server on earth is big enough to store all music ever written. ;-)Besides, there is something about a properly published sheet music book that computer printouts simply never can have.
- Find music for banjolin (mandolin-banjo) at Sheet Music Plus
- Find music for tenor banjo at Sheet Music Plus
- Find music for five-stringed banjo at Sheet Music Plus
- Find music for plectrum banjo at Sheet Music Plus
- Find music for guitar-banjo at Sheet Music Plus
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