Part One: Introduction to Comping on the Banjo

[@elbschwartz]

People don't appreciate how difficult it is to play one instrument in fourths tuning (bass) and then another in fifths tuning (tenor banjo). Respect.

[@ised-5239]

The tenor banjo's tuning is like a mandola.

[@TonyfromBham]

You re so right Ethan. To add to the complexity, Mr. Vappie plays guitar, which is tuned to fourths and one third.

[@brassbandmission1643]

Thanks Jazz Academy! As a banjo player this is very much appreciated.

[@vincenzomorandi973]

Fantastic resource and exciting lesson, clearly explained and well played. Thanks Jazz Academy and Don Vappie for this wonderful gift!

[@jayvandevender6290]

My son is a bass player he recently bought a banjo and he's frustrated with it and shared this video with him I hope it helps him

[@andreboco]

Jay, have your son contact Tyler Jackson..he is a bass player and a fantastic banjo player.look him up on FaceBook

[@BluesBank]

Love Don's playing on both tenor banjo and 7 string guitar. Had the pleasure of jamming with him while we were both teaching at the Centrum Summer Blues Week in Port Townsend, WA. about 12 years ago.Another great tenor banjo player and singer is Jim Mazzy (who has a few youtube videos, though he needs more that really are well produced and do a better job featuring him.) One of the things about both Don & Jim is they have a deep respect and vast knowledge of the Blues as well as Jazz. Many early Jazz Banjo players (and Jazz musicians in general) lack that deep roux in their playing, which for my liking, seriously limits their musical conversational communication skills.

[@TonyfromBham]

Don Vappie - National Treasure

[@Muzikman127]

Real musicianship here! Great overview, short and to the point, and well demonstrated. Just as useful for bandleaders/composers/arrangers as for players too

[@owenkitchens2936]

this man is a legend he played with my high school band in New Orleans

[@stevenkoehler6018]

Really great stuff

[@deskryptic]

Excellent!

[@williamlockner8788]

Thank you, very helpful

[@parachute3725]

So cool!

[@ised-5239]

The comping is very much like bluegrass mandolin chord rhythm chop

[@jan_pospisil]

Can I ask you please? What is main different between 19fret and 17 fret tenor banjo and what strings ar good for jazz, and tunning? Thanks a lot, have a nice day.

[@raventheillusionist6689]

nice!!

[@ZarekSilberschmidt]

Nice! I play the six string banjo, still helpful!

[@BRIAN_IVERSON_20]

six strings aren’t banjos, they’re guitars, hope this helps

[@ZarekSilberschmidt]

@@BRIAN_IVERSON_20 😂 to true

[@ised-5239]

Does the tenor banjo also read alto clef like a viola or mandola?

[@mmsound3667]

I'm guitarist and I want to start playing a trad jazz, New Orleans style banjo. So I'm thinking about buying a six string banjo. Yes I would like to tune it like a guitar and I've some questions. First of all I'm thinking about buying another set of strings and put a thinner strings for the LOW E-A-D to avoid the bass strings and tune it for the same notes E-A-D but one octave higher to get more like traditional banjo sound. I don't like the bass strings on banjo (especially E-A) because it just doesn't sound like traditional banjo and I'm playing mostly on jams with other people which are playing bass notes. Is it possible to tune low strings one octave higher with your six string banjo? The second question is: what kind of strings will be better for trad jazz? Nylon or Steel? I think I like more steel string and I guess it will be louder so It can be helpful during the jam sessions to mic it up or just to play unplugged.

[@TonyfromBham]

All I can tell you is what works for me. I have tried every combination, and I found the best set up for jazz banjo is tenor banjo tuned CGDA unamplified with .9 to .30 steel strings. I hope this helps.

[@ised-5239]

Tony Lombardo The jazz tenor banjo is tuned like a viola and mandola.

[@presterjack9764]

On guitar, this is called Nashville tuning, so you can look that up for reference. Usually would also include a high G string. You could also consider tuning to A standard, might feel more natural but you can stay in the higher range. And if you could transpose from C to G you wouldn't have to think about the tuning

[@jasonroberts6713]

Are the chords available?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

I played that on my Tenor Guitar

[@ised-5239]

Tenor banjo, tenor guitar and mandola have similar default tuning of cgda.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@ised-5239 It's all the same Tuning (same for Mandocello etc). The Tenor Guitar has a really Jazzy sound because it was made in the "Transition period from Banjo to Guitar".

[@ised-5239]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 mandocello is one octave below and what is also referred as octave mandola like octave mandolin is what to the mandolin (gdae tuning).

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@ised-5239 They do make 10 String Mandocellos too.

[@ised-5239]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 10 string mandocello is also called 10 string octave mandolin, 10 string octave mandola, or 10 string octave mandoliola/mandolinola (mandolin and mandola hybrid).

[@simonanthonymcglynn3918]

Hi Don, Is it ok to tune like a guitar? will it sound ok? I play jazz guitar but a trad jazz band want me to play banjo. thanks Simon.

[@guidemeChrist]

Why is his blues form only 6 bars lol