How To Play a Tremolo On the 4 String Banjo

[@DaveCurtis-b3u]

Good lesson thank you for posting this

[@TonyfromBham]

He’s using mandolin-style tremolo with a fairly tight wrist. Jazz banjoists use a different technique that utilizes a much looser wrist.

[@ised-5239]

But the same thing is holding dorito-shaped flat pick.

[@TonyfromBham]

@@ised-5239 if you want to see a true 4-string banjo tremolo (as opposed to the mandolin tremolo demonstrated here) watch videos by banjoists like Buddy Wachter or Cynthia Sayer. The four-string banjo tremolo is a completely different technique than the one taught here, and the difference has nothing to do with pick choice.

[@WansbeckBikecam]

Yeah it sounds awful. Far too rigid in the wrist and in the wrong position.

[@ised-5239]

Tremolos sometimes also apply to different banjos and genres, including bluegrass and Irish.

[@1234588001]

hi should the top-heavy string be higher than the rest thanks for the video

[@erlethepearl]

David, thanks fo the informative banjo lesson; very good. I see that you're playing a 19-fret tenor tuned c, g, d, a. Why is it that the 17-fret banjo is tuned lower (g, d, a, e) when the neck is shorter? Is it just a different sound that is desired? - Greg

[@DeeringBanjoCo]

Hi Erle, both the 19 fret and the 17 fret tenor can be tuned in either standard tenor tuning (C,G,D,A) or in the Irish tuning (G,D,A,E). The strong majority of jazz style players will be using a 19 fret tenor because you get the extra notes. The Irish community is much more mixed on whether to use a 19 fret or a 17 fret tenor. Some Irish style players such as Gerry O'Connor even tune their banjo in standard tenor tuning.

[@ised-5239]

Deering Banjo Company yes CGDA tuning uses in Irish is just like playing a mandola in Irish music (which is also CGDA tuning).

[@ised-5239]

We can also steal the tremolo technique from mandolins.

[@davideddy2672]

The tremolo is owned by the mando 😁

[@dafinat]

i have beder option

[@bernardgreenwald6959]

Is David just up from a nap?