The High G on the 12 String Guitar & Nashville Tuned Banjitar is all the same as a 5 String Banjo yes, but if you have a Longer Scale Length it's recommended to drop the Tuning down a Step.
Just today it occurred to me that the sixer on the wall might sound better in Nashville tuning. I ordered a set of strings. At least a couple of manufacturers make a Nashville set, so there's no need to break up a 12-string set, although that does give you the option of reverting to standard.
I tried several arrangements of string gauges, but I settled on D’Addario Nashville tuning sets. I buy the nickel wound because that feels better than the bronze wound on a Banjitar.
The Dean Banjitar has the same Scale Length as the Guitar. The Unique thing about Banjitars is that the Rim is a tad bit deeper to help the lower notes sound better. So if you wanna do open G on the Banjitar I'd get some slightly heavier gauge strings.
wow, thank you so much for this video comparison. I'm looking to add banjo flavors to an Irish rock band, and while I am comfortable in open G tuning, I did not want to go through the banjo learning curve, Your suggestions about tunings and strings are really helpful. I was getting discouraged about the sound quality of banjitars with guitar strings, but your setups sound great. Also good to know that I don't have to spend thousands of dollars to get a convincing banjo tone!
Super video! very useful!! I have a few banjitars; loving the banjo sound but not wanting to have to learn a new way of chording after many years of guitar. I'm very happy to learn from you : that lighter strings sound better, and about Nashville tuning. I thought that i had invented that tuning today! when i thought "why not just sub a high E and A for those bassy strings that make it sound not like a banjo!' I'm going to do it asap. Also, this morning i was trying out a Gold Tone banjitar with the pickup and volume knob on the front; and i noticed that it had quite heavy acoustic guitar strings on it. I was comparing to a regular banjo next to it, and noticed , as you said, that the lighter strings (on the regular banjo) sound much more twangy and better. The Gold tone one sounded very unexciting; probably much due to the heavy strings.
If a player is really determined to keep the standard tuning with the low E and A strings, really light set of nickel electric guitar strings will get closer to the banjo tone we like. Of course, 5-string banjo players say, “Why not learn to play 5-string?” My answer to that is that the guitar’s tuning is way more useful. If I need to play in E-flat or B-flat minor, I can do it without retuning. There are more harmonic possibilities within reach. Ask a 5-stringer to play across jazz changes! Bela Fleck can do that, but not many others. We want the banjo tone with the possibilities guitar offers.
The cool thing about the Banjitar is that you can play in every key w/o re-tuning & you can even use your Guitar capo too. You can also drop the Tuning down a Whole step (like on the Nashville Tuned Banjitar) if you wanna sing in a lower key.
I'd like to know what the Nashville Tuned 6 String Banjo sound like w/ Vocals? These are great for Vocal accompaniment. You can also use the Nashville Tuned Banjitar to emulate the Tenor Banjo when strumming it cause the High G is a step below the High A of a Tenor Banjo (the Octave4+ .006 B4 String is a step above the High A of a Tenor Banjo).
12:12 Finally a Nashville Tuned Banjitar w/ a High G, however this one is tuned down a Step to D Nashville Tuning (D3, G3, C4, F4, A3, D4) because if you wanted to go to E you'd need slightly thinner strings. The lower tuning might make it easier to sing in a lower key.
For the Nashville Tuned Banjitar, substitute the B String w/ a .006 B4 String made by Octave4Plus (it'll be tuned down a Step on this longer scale length).
You might notice that I have a capo on the Nashville tuning banjo. I do tune down one whole step to take the tension off that string. Overall it makes it feel more like a banjo and it’s easy to use the capo to get to standard pitch.
@@GWGuitarStudio This lower pitched version of tuning minimizes the tension of that shimmery High G String, & as a Bonus you could also sing in a Lower key. Singers that need to Transpose down a step also really benefit from Tuning down a Whole Step. I have my Nashville Tuned Banjitar tuned down a Step too because one of the songs I've wanted to play on it (What a Beautiful name) is a little to High for me in the Key of G so I wanted to go down a Step to they key of F which is a rather hard key for Guitar/Banjitar in E Tuning. So if the song you wanna play is in the key of F Major, you can actually take your D-Nashville Tuned Banjitar, leave the Capo off & play in the Key of G Major a much more friendly key.
@@GWGuitarStudio We can call it a "D Nashville Tuned Banjo" because it's High Strung tuned to D which could be perfect if you're w/ a Vocalist, the song they wanna sing is a little too high for their voice in the Original Key & they wanna go down a whole step. If you replace the B String w/ a .006 B4 String made by Octave4Plus (it'll be tuned down a Step to A which is the same as a Tenor Banjo), then you're in the all new "High A D-Nashville Tuning" which is essentially "High B Nashville Tuning" down a Step.
My first banjo like instrument was an SX banjo guitar. It was OK for a while but these cheap aluminium pots really are too harsh. The SX was poorly made. They didn't even cut the neck properly to fit the pot and just stuffed a washer between the neck and rim and I read the same thing from someone else with the SX.
I was just thinking today while playing my old banjitar...."why not those bass strings for the high E, A, especially." I didn't know that it had already been done. The bright strings are the best sounding on the banjo.
A Zero Glide nut would really be a good update for all the stringed instruments you play so that the strings slide more smoothly.
I love comparing the 3 Banjitars. The Rim is actually a little deeper to improve the sound of the lowest notes.
The High G on the 12 String Guitar & Nashville Tuned Banjitar is all the same as a 5 String Banjo yes, but if you have a Longer Scale Length it's recommended to drop the Tuning down a Step.
Just today it occurred to me that the sixer on the wall might sound better in Nashville tuning. I ordered a set of strings. At least a couple of manufacturers make a Nashville set, so there's no need to break up a 12-string set, although that does give you the option of reverting to standard.
I tried several arrangements of string gauges, but I settled on D’Addario Nashville tuning sets. I buy the nickel wound because that feels better than the bronze wound on a Banjitar.
@@GWGuitarStudio I've ordered EJ38H, which are PB, but will bear the EXL150H nickels in mind. Thanks.
The Dean Banjitar has the same Scale Length as the Guitar. The Unique thing about Banjitars is that the Rim is a tad bit deeper to help the lower notes sound better. So if you wanna do open G on the Banjitar I'd get some slightly heavier gauge strings.
wow, thank you so much for this video comparison. I'm looking to add banjo flavors to an Irish rock band, and while I am comfortable in open G tuning, I did not want to go through the banjo learning curve, Your suggestions about tunings and strings are really helpful. I was getting discouraged about the sound quality of banjitars with guitar strings, but your setups sound great. Also good to know that I don't have to spend thousands of dollars to get a convincing banjo tone!
That’s great to hear. That’s why I do this.
Super video! very useful!! I have a few banjitars; loving the banjo sound but not wanting to have to learn a new way of chording after many years of guitar. I'm very happy to learn from you : that lighter strings sound better, and about Nashville tuning. I thought that i had invented that tuning today! when i thought "why not just sub a high E and A for those bassy strings that make it sound not like a banjo!' I'm going to do it asap.
Also, this morning i was trying out a Gold Tone banjitar with the pickup and volume knob on the front; and i noticed that it had quite heavy acoustic guitar strings on it. I was comparing to a regular banjo next to it, and noticed , as you said, that the lighter strings (on the regular banjo) sound much more twangy and better. The Gold tone one sounded very unexciting; probably much due to the heavy strings.
If a player is really determined to keep the standard tuning with the low E and A strings, really light set of nickel electric guitar strings will get closer to the banjo tone we like. Of course, 5-string banjo players say, “Why not learn to play 5-string?” My answer to that is that the guitar’s tuning is way more useful. If I need to play in E-flat or B-flat minor, I can do it without retuning. There are more harmonic possibilities within reach. Ask a 5-stringer to play across jazz changes! Bela Fleck can do that, but not many others. We want the banjo tone with the possibilities guitar offers.
The cool thing about the Banjitar is that you can play in every key w/o re-tuning & you can even use your Guitar capo too. You can also drop the Tuning down a Whole step (like on the Nashville Tuned Banjitar) if you wanna sing in a lower key.
Er, thanks Captain Obvious. That is the entire point of these instruments!
@@officialWWM Super versatile
I'd like to know what the Nashville Tuned 6 String Banjo sound like w/ Vocals? These are great for Vocal accompaniment. You can also use the Nashville Tuned Banjitar to emulate the Tenor Banjo when strumming it cause the High G is a step below the High A of a Tenor Banjo (the Octave4+ .006 B4 String is a step above the High A of a Tenor Banjo).
Nah. You don’t want to hear me sing!
@@GWGuitarStudio I actually do, but you may have to work on it. I think a Lower Tuning might help with that.
To me, it sounds best with the Nashville set on it.
That’s what I use on two of them. One of them I keep in standard and the last of them is a 12-string Banjitar that I keep in double-Nashville tuning.
Just wondering what kind is the first banjo?
what strings should i get for a banjitar in D standard? What is your favorite affordable banjitar? THX for this video SUBBED.
Your question prompted this video. Enjoy. Top 10 Banjitars Under $500
czcams.com/video/a9kZqbOGmb4/video.html
12:12 Finally a Nashville Tuned Banjitar w/ a High G, however this one is tuned down a Step to D Nashville Tuning (D3, G3, C4, F4, A3, D4) because if you wanted to go to E you'd need slightly thinner strings. The lower tuning might make it easier to sing in a lower key.
For the Nashville Tuned Banjitar, substitute the B String w/ a .006 B4 String made by Octave4Plus (it'll be tuned down a Step on this longer scale length).
You might notice that I have a capo on the Nashville tuning banjo. I do tune down one whole step to take the tension off that string. Overall it makes it feel more like a banjo and it’s easy to use the capo to get to standard pitch.
@@GWGuitarStudio This lower pitched version of tuning minimizes the tension of that shimmery High G String, & as a Bonus you could also sing in a Lower key. Singers that need to Transpose down a step also really benefit from Tuning down a Whole Step. I have my Nashville Tuned Banjitar tuned down a Step too because one of the songs I've wanted to play on it (What a Beautiful name) is a little to High for me in the Key of G so I wanted to go down a Step to they key of F which is a rather hard key for Guitar/Banjitar in E Tuning. So if the song you wanna play is in the key of F Major, you can actually take your D-Nashville Tuned Banjitar, leave the Capo off & play in the Key of G Major a much more friendly key.
@@GWGuitarStudio We can call it a "D Nashville Tuned Banjo" because it's High Strung tuned to D which could be perfect if you're w/ a Vocalist, the song they wanna sing is a little too high for their voice in the Original Key & they wanna go down a whole step. If you replace the B String w/ a .006 B4 String made by Octave4Plus (it'll be tuned down a Step to A which is the same as a Tenor Banjo), then you're in the all new "High A D-Nashville Tuning" which is essentially "High B Nashville Tuning" down a Step.
@@GWGuitarStudio If you had a Nashville Tuned Banjitar with the same Scale Length as a Guitar, tuning it to E would be ok.
I’m curious, is that head the same as a drum skin ?
The size is different, but it’s pretty much the same thing. Remo makes them and their main market is drum heads.
@@GWGuitarStudio I see. Thanks for the info.
My first banjo like instrument was an SX banjo guitar. It was OK for a while but these cheap aluminium pots really are too harsh. The SX was poorly made. They didn't even cut the neck properly to fit the pot and just stuffed a washer between the neck and rim and I read the same thing from someone else with the SX.
when doing Nashville tuning is it still tuned in e a d g b e
Yes. Your chords work just the same as regular. Just the top four strings are an octave higher.
I was just thinking today while playing my old banjitar...."why not those bass strings for the high E, A, especially." I didn't know that it had already been done. The bright strings are the best sounding on the banjo.
My comment below should have said "why not substitute the higher versions of the low E and A." I didn't know that it had already been done.
i have a really great deeding good time 6 with a resonator and it is awesome
Those Deering banjos are sweet.
I just ordered one today!