Resources on transcribing for the banjo?

[Mike Moss]

Now that I've been delving more into making banjo arrangements, I've been facing interesting challenges in trying to make pieces suitable for the banjo... I have found that the first banjo part is often the easiest to arrange, as long as the harmonies are reduced to fit the scope of the banjo, but the second banjo part is more of a challenge.

Are there any resources on arranging solos and duets for the banjo? I know the Grimshaw tutor has a short section on arranging but it doesn't really offer much detail other than very basic considerations like transposing and such. Are there any more in-depth resources from the times? I'm particularly interested in accompaniment patterns to make the 2nd banjo parts more interesting. Any help would be appreciated.

[Steve Harrison]

Hi Mike..the best advice I can give is keep it simple..I usually start with the piano score and then strip it back to the basic melody until I've got the structure/framework of the arrangement. I then start building on this, always being mindful of what is playable. Choosing the right key is also a challenge, it's not always possible to use the key in which the tune was originally written. I usually examine the score and note the lowest and highest notes and then try and find a key in which this range of notes will work on the banjo. It's also a good idea to be creative in the use of octaves as away of getting all the notes to fit. With a piano score, always be mindful of what the 'left hand' is doing in the bass clef, it's often possible to add bits of this to the arrangement. The bass clef often shows the dominant chord for each bar.

[Mike Moss]

Hi Steve,

thanks for the advice; I also like working with piano tabs because the banjo can often handle the right hand harmonies with very little modification (barring 5-note chords and such). My standard procedure for the left hand is to eliminate octaves in the accompaniment and try to play the bass notes as single notes, and I also try to play the accompaniment from chord positions.

Thanks again!

Mike

[Steve Harrison]

Hi Mike, another suggestion that may sound obvious is to make sure you number all the bars/measures on your source score. I find this is a must do as it ensures that I don't keep losing my place.

Mike Moss said:

Hi Steve,

thanks for the advice; I also like working with piano tabs because the banjo can often handle the right hand harmonies with very little modification (barring 5-note chords and such). My standard procedure for the left hand is to eliminate octaves in the accompaniment and try to play the bass notes as single notes, and I also try to play the accompaniment from chord positions.

Thanks again!

Mike

[Trapdoor2]

I have not run across anything in the literature regarding arranging. Study of the masters (which I'm sure you already do) is probably the best route. Some are better than others, of course. A.J.Weidt seemed to enjoy making 2nds where they could almost stand alone as seperate solos; less the boom-chick and more of an interwoven artifact. I also enjoy 2nds where the 2nd is given a chance to swap melody with the 1st (like a bass-string solo, etc.).