Alternate tunings?

[Ethan Schwartz]

I did a search and not much came up. I am curious how many examples in the classic banjo repertoire there are of scordatura AKA alternate open-string tunings. To date, I don't recall having come across any. I don't consider elevated bass (gDGBD) to be a scordatura as it is too common, really more like a second standard tuning. 

[Trapdoor2]

I usually bring at least two to our jam but sometimes four. It just depends. Since it is "Irish Month" I've added my Tenor...

Jody Stecher said:

Marc, the solution is simple. Just bring 6 banjos to every old time session, each in a different tuning. 

Trapdoor2 said:

Since I play other forms (trad Clawhammer), retuning is simply a way of life for me...esp. at a jam, where I'm usually forced to retune for every piece (despite my pitiful pleas to at least play a couple consecutively in the same key or modality).

[Jody Stecher]

What is your tenor banjo?  I've got a Paramount Aristocrat that I love. I used to have an Orpheum #1. Also good. I use a metal string only for the highest. I found that for GDAE Irish tuning, wound classical guitar strings sound far better than wound metal strings. Just like in the classic banjo genre.

Trapdoor2 said:

I usually bring at least two to our jam but sometimes four. It just depends. Since it is "Irish Month" I've added my Tenor...

Jody Stecher said:

Marc, the solution is simple. Just bring 6 banjos to every old time session, each in a different tuning. 

Trapdoor2 said:

Since I play other forms (trad Clawhammer), retuning is simply a way of life for me...esp. at a jam, where I'm usually forced to retune for every piece (despite my pitiful pleas to at least play a couple consecutively in the same key or modality).

[Trapdoor2]

My favorite for IT is a Bacon Blue Ribbon. I also have a Paramount Style A, but it is set up for Dixieland...I use std. steel sets on both.

Jody Stecher said:

What is your tenor banjo?  I've got a Paramount Aristocrat that I love. I used to have an Orpheum #1. Also good. I use a metal string only for the highest. I found that for GDAE Irish tuning, wound classical guitar strings sound far better than 

[Jody Stecher]

Oh!  For Dixieland and CGDA tuning I prefer all metal.  And in general I think tenor banjos sound better at CGDA than at GDAE.  Somehow they always do. So I tried a different kind of strings for Irish tuning and sure enough it helped. And my point for including this in a Classic Five-string Banjo forum is that I'm suggesting that Classic Banjo has something to teach the Larger Banjo World Out There. And that thing (amongst others of course) is that "soft" strings have something to offer other genres.  BTW I always have strung my Vega guitar-banjo with a set of Nylon guitar strings. It puts out more sound and more pleasant sound. On the basses it's a doggone "String Tuba". 

Trapdoor2 said:

My favorite for IT is a Bacon Blue Ribbon. I also have a Paramount Style A, but it is set up for Dixieland...I use std. steel sets on both.

Jody Stecher said:

What is your tenor banjo?  I've got a Paramount Aristocrat that I love. I used to have an Orpheum #1. Also good. I use a metal string only for the highest. I found that for GDAE Irish tuning, wound classical guitar strings sound far better than