It is difficult to identify the type of Irish tenor banjo. It is indeed a four-string tenor banjo. Is it a 17-fret, or a 19.-fret? Is it equipped with a resonator? What tuning is it in? Standard tenor tuning C or G, D A, A or Irish tuning D, A, and E? After years of playing the tenor banjo in Ireland, listening to Irish sessions and even going to them live, I’ve come to realize that there is no standard, although there are generalizations.
WHAT IS THE ROLE DURING IRISH MUSIC’S BANJO PARTY?
When playing Irish music, the banjo’s primary role is to play the melody notes note for note. It should not be used as a chordal instrument. Many Irish instrumental tunes feature strong melodic lines. The tenor banjoist should be able to play these lines. This will allow you to understand why a particular type of tenor banjo is better than another, and how to tune it.
17-FRET VS. 19-FRET BANJOS
This is why I think the 17-fret is the most common. However, it does not make it the standard. The scale of a 17-fret tenor bingo is shorter because it uses a smaller scale. It is easier to play quick fiddle tunes that often contain many triplets. You can use the same fingering as a fiddle player, but this scale is much closer to that of a violin.
Professional players use 19-fret banjos quite often. This gives you two more notes, which can be very important for some tunes. It has the drawback that the scale is larger than a violin’s, making it more difficult to use the same fingering technique as a fiddle player.
Banjo Type : OPENBACK VS RESONATOR
This is the most difficult question to answer. Although I think an openback tenor banjo would be more popular with Irish players, it is difficult to say. Openback banjos allow your banjo to blend in with the rest of the band better. This is similar to the way old 5-string clawhammer players use an openback banjo. The banjo also has a warmer sound. Resonator tenor banjos are popular among Irish players. A resonator can increase brightness and volume. This will enable you to cut through other instruments during a session.
HOW TO TUNE THE IRISH TENOR BANJO
This is the most obvious and common point. We are choosing between the standard tenor binging tuning of C, G D, A, or the Irish tenor binging of G, D A, E. These tunings are tuned in fifths just like the classical string family. The standard tenor viola tuning is identical to the Irish tenor banjo tuning, while the Irish tenor banjo tuning has an octave lower.
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Irish Tenor Tuning
Today’s standard Irish tenor tuning is G, D, A and E. It uses a special set Irish tenor banjo string. This tuning was popularized by Barney McKenna, an Irish banjo player. This tuning is logical as Irish players play a lot fiddle tunes. It also makes it easier to arrange the tunes on the fingerboard because it’s the same tuning as a violin (but an octave lower). You would also have the same range (an opus below), so that every note on the fiddle can be played in this tuning.
Std Tenor Tuning
Standard tenor tuning (C-G, D, and A) will give your banjo a brighter sound because it has a higher pitch and more tension on the strings. This was the most common tuning before Barney McKenna popularized the Irish tenor tune. This tuning is not used by any Irish tenor banjo player. This is the most common tuning for jazz.
The End Notes
I encourage you to listen to more Irish tenor banjo music. You can start by recording it, but you should see it live. There’s a good chance that there will be an Irish music session at your local pub. I recommend it. Bring your 5-string banjo and join the fun. Talk to the tenor banjo players to find out what tuning they use, whether it is 17 or 19 frets, resonator, openback, or resonator. Then make your own decision about what works best for you.
