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New to 4 String Banjo! NEED HELP!

Posted by Mason Van Luven on July 9, 2015 at 12:35pm in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts

Hi there, I have just picked up a 4 string banjo and I am having much trouble finding sheet music, and just overall general information to learn. If I could get one of you great people to help me out and point me in the right direction, that would be great. I am brand spanking new to add on

As well, is a 4 string banjo a tenor banjo, or is it just a different way it is tuned?

Thank You

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4, 101, 5string, banjo, help, iriish, music, please, string, tenor

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Replies

Mason Van Luven July 10, 2015 at 2:05pm

Thanks everyone. I ordered a book and DVD. Last question though, if I were to memorize chords, is the whole jist of it simply playing those chords and transitioning to other one.
Might be a stupid question.

BTW never played a string instrument
- Mason Van Luven > Mason Van Luven July 10, 2015 at 3:48pm
  
  Thank you! I'll still try my best lol
  - Bufo Bill > Mason Van Luven July 18, 2015 at 4:35pm
    
    Banjo Hangout is the place to go, as linked above. Tabs music and advice by the ton.
- Ron "Oily" Sprague > Mason Van Luven July 10, 2015 at 3:43pm
  
  Mason,
  
  Going from one chord to the next is but one way to play.It is the way many people learn to play thousands of songs. But there's waaaayyy more to music than that. Start simple. Some people never leave simple, and do great within that.
Ron "Oily" Sprague July 10, 2015 at 8:44am

Depends on how you tune it. Here are some of the most common 4-string (also called tenor) banjo tunings:
http://www.deeringbanjos.com/blogs/banjo-maintenance-tips/9210375-h...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/4-string_banjo

Here's a list of beginner chord shapes for standard (CDGA) tenor banjo tuning:

http://www.banjoseen.us/4StringBanjoChords/BeginnerTenor%20Banjo%20(CGDA).pdf

And in a couple other tunings:

http://chordlist.brian-amberg.de/en/tenor-banjo

http://banjolin.co.uk/banjo/tuning.htm

http://www.get-tuned.com/online_banjo_tuner.php

And how to construct chords in various tuning:

https://www.banjohangout.org/lessons/browse.asp?m=bytopic&id=4

And some good links to various tenor banjo tabs, tunings and songs:

http://www.irish-folk-songs.com/banjo-tabs.html

http://rigandjeels.com/category/tenor-banjo-tab/

https://www.banjohangout.org/links/browse.asp?m=byid&v=15

Get busy; you've got a lot of reading to do...
Matthew Borczon July 10, 2015 at 7:57am

yes both banjos are the same mostly. Tuning is another issue there are a couple different ways to tune, a bunch actually. I suggest tuning it like a 5 string banjo without the top string. Easy to make chords and find tabs that way. There are books and tabs for other tuning s as well. a lot will depend on what you hope to play like. strum and sing is easy if the chords are learned. melody and leads will take more time. Good luck and have fun.
the anonymous pick July 9, 2015 at 1:24pm

hi , you might find some helpfull stuff / folks here http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/banjoplayersunite