tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24707353.post-1145756211812880352006-04-22T18:36:00.000-07:002006-05-11T06:30:51.896-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2364/2567/1600/AWAGON1.2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2364/2567/400/AWAGON1.1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Howdy!<br /><br />In this post I want to deal with a topic that many banjo players resist. Playing in the 'Key of D'.<br /><br />All right, all right now, pipe down! It's not that bad. I know your banjo is tuned to 'G'. I know every song written should be played in 'G'. I know 'G' is God's key signature. Well, that's going a bit far but I really do understand.<br /><br />Nevertheless, we banjer pickers will need to play in 'D' from time to time.<br /><br />You have a couple of options. You can retune your banjo and learn to play in a new tuning. I personally try to stay away from this option because it really is a nuisance in a jam or concert setting.<br /><br /><span class="fullpost">You can't really capo up to the seventh fret and still sound respectable so you are often left with playing out of a 'D' position. I generally capo my fifth string up 2 when playing in 'D'. This brings the fifth string up to an 'A' which works really well in a 'D' key signature.<br /><br />Ok, here's the tab.<br /><br />This break of 'High On A Mountain' has some really nice highs to catch the soaring melody line. It also makes good use of the open forth string to give it that deep old-timey sound that a song like this cries out for.<br /><br />With a little work, you'll be feeling like your playing up in -<br /><br />"Them Thar Hill"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2364/2567/1600/HighOnAMountain.2.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2364/2567/400/HighOnAMountain.2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span>Sheldon Friesenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13066440763528899923noreply@blogger.com