Online School Of Music: Old Time Banjo with Benny Bleu

F-tuning for Clawhammer Banjo

Level: Intermediate. Must be able to bum-diddy.

A music theory course disguised as a banjo lesson. We'll explore the beautiful F tuning for clawhammer banjo. A rather uncommon tuning amongst old time jammers, but oft-heard on both source recordings and by modern clawhammer artists. In the process we will examine just what it means to 'know' a tuning. We'll cover the theory of major scales, minor scales, and chord-building. We'll use the F-tuning to play in F major, D minor, and we'll talk about how to play tunes we already know in this new tuning. 

Week 1: Introduction to F tuning (fDGCD). Theory of scales and chords.

Week 2: Playing in F major: Dwight Diller's 'Cumberland Gap'

Week 3: Playing in D minor: Benny Bleu's 'Dropped Fork'

Week 4: Figuring out a tune you already know: 'Big Sciota'