"Chinese Tuning" - Clawhammer Banjo - Steve Baughman

One part of the final recap from my Banjoy Weekend, January 31-February 2, 2014. The tuning is fCGCD
The tune is one I made up, SUZHOU SISTERS.
Two Suzhou sisters side by side at the pond by the temple wall
The younger sister for handsome Henry cried, the old one didn't like that at all.
So the older sister pushed the young one in and watched her as she floated down
There wasn't much air in the water there, which caused the younger sister to drown.
Then the older sister on handsome Henry called, he was appalled, he said what she did was not good.
But he forgave her and they there resolved to get some take-out Chinese food
Then they made a guzheng from the young one's bones, and played it only after she was dead
But the only song that the guzheng would play is "I Wish I'd Learned to Swim Like Momma Said."
Now the moral of the story it is quite plain
No need to explain.
Words from a T'ang Dynasty poem, author anon. (not).

[@joannehack7588]

Wow!! never heard of this tuning. Love it

[@sazji]

That's gorgeous, thanks for sharing!

[@kishascape]

I do like how a lot of these stringed lute type instruments in china are somewhat banjo like. You can play traditional Chinese music on banjo very easily. It’s like a very refined and modernized form of all these ancient folk instruments from Europe, Asia, and Africa.

[@friendlybanjoatheist5464]

For anyone interested, this is the tuning I use on the song, "Suzhou Sisters". Great fun!

[@friendlybanjoatheist5464]

Hi, no, strictly five string. But it would sound cool on four string. They are using them sometimes in trad Chinese bands. I saw a guy playing one in a band in Chinatown a couple years ago.

[@MRSludgedude]

Sounds cool. I will have to use this tuning for some tunes i make . I play guitar in CGCCGC and i need an eastern banjo tuning to play lead over. Not sure if i would have to go up a step or down a step but I'm sure this will work . Just not sure what step id need to compliment open c 5 .

[@kishascape]

Who even are you?

[@timrizzo3941]

Really cool.. I was surprised at the corners to explore with this tuning. It's so easy to transition between, say, something like Suzhou Sisters(nice!) and a very open, A major kind of thing and back. Thanks for sending me down a path.

[@zenbanjo2533]

Hi Tim, so glad you liked it. Yes, it is a really fun tuning to explore. I believe I use this on Mondnacht also, but on a gourd banjo. Have fun. :-)

[@joannehack7588]

WoW

[@umkwaig]

Very pretty. Sad and beautiful as a banjo can be. Thanks from 2018!

[@sofgeorgiou]

Beautiful!!! Chinese banjo!!!

[@AntonEmery]

Very cool! Yet another banjo tuning to play with.

[@robert-oq9jq]

The tuning might work but let's hear Foggy Mountain Breakdown, that would say a lot more than a Chinese song with Chinese tuning

[@JayEhm1517]

Sounds wonderful.

[@joannehack7588]

✌🏽

[@joannehack7588]

Thanks for sharing

[@joannehack7588]

Cool

[@randellsmith7651]

Nice shamisen

[@joannehack7588]

Can you also read my fortune?

[@joannehack7588]

This tuning is AWESOME

[@FlatlandMando]

Super cool. Do you do any work with 4 string tenor banjos? I'd be interested in chinese tuning on that.

[@friendlybanjoatheist5464]

FlatlandMando Hi. I really do not know what to do with a four string banjo. Sorry. I love what other people do on them, though.

[@kishascape]

It’s the same thing just minus the 5th drone string.

[@havokbaphomet666]

Steve, tell me you offer online lessons!!!

[@friendlybanjoatheist5464]

hi sorry, no, not yet anyway. thanks, though.

[@morgandebruler9281]

How about now? 🤔

[@joannehack7588]

China