The Devil's Interval: Scary Banjo Sounds to Lose Friends and Alienate People

To celebrate Halloween in 2022, I put together a simple video about the so-called "Devil's Interval", or "tritone". It's quite simple to learn, and shows you how emotionally powerful two notes can be. It also dovetails beautifully with what we're working on over on Banjo Quest.
If you would like access to the full Banjo Quest experience, and would like to join a vibrant community of Banjo Lovers, please visit: www.patreon.com/tomcollins
For more information on the history of the Devil's Interval in music, see Adam Neely's amazing video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aX7LqHqkppmBb9E
Fender has a nice article about it too: www.fender.com/articles/tech-talk/the-devils-chord-the-eerie-history-of-diabolus-in-musica

[@Stelmaria38]

Thanks for the lesson! Although I don't need the devil's interval to lose friends and alienate people, this happens naturally whenever I play.

[@learningandgrowing7746]

I love the sound of minor and other spooky sounds on the banjo! It makes my inner goth/country kid happy. It's my favorite kind of y'all-ternative music.🦇🤠

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

I had to laugh at "y'all-ternative"! Thanks for the comment!!

[@jonclayburn2805]

Tom, I want to thank you for the short lessons you have posted over the last several years. I play the ukulele in a clawhammer style and have needed some instruction to get me beyond the beginner level. You're Banjo Blitz and Banjo Quest series along with other short videos have been a great help to me on my journey. I've been tempted to join you over on Patreon but have held back due to the fact that every lesson has to be translated to match the tuning and string number of a ukulele so I'm not sure how I would fit in a banjo tutorial session. Anyway... This is mostly a heart felt thank you t you for your generous gift to the clawhammer world which has been such a great blessing to me.

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

Jon, Thank you so much for this comment! I've toyed with the idea of doing some clawhammer uke videos, and will probably do them eventually. So glad you're getting something useful out of these videos. Cheers! Tom

[@jonclayburn2274]

I most often play a baritone ukulele. It’s playable range is more similar to the banjo, though it doesn’t go as low if you tune reentrantly as is required for clawhammer. I also have a short scale four string tenor banjo tuned like a baritone uke. (I believe that’s “Chicago Tuning” with a high D). It’s my way of short cutting into the banjo world. Thanks again.

[@SuperJelly55]

That note gave me slight goosebumps on my shoulders

[@chipcurry]

I love The minor flat five cord and I have used it in a lot of my compositions. Those notes are all over the place and bebop music. It's terrific how you included in COH!

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

Yeah, the banjo is good at dissonance! Thanks for the comment!

[@ECSizemore]

Gettin a banjo next week.

[@huliniswhoiam]

Tom, what is the make and model of that banjo? I love the tone.

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

Hey Ryan. Thanks! That's my Ome Omega. It's a real peach!

[@huliniswhoiam]

@@TomCollinsBanjo I've heard good things about Ome! I'll have to check them out!

[@ECSizemore]

Jug band ??

[@SeaWasp]

Bad note once, it's a mistake, twice it's jazz :)

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

so true!

[@mrksstrmntzr]

😂

[@deadmanswife3625]

First 🎤☠👿🎃🎃🕸🕷🕸🕸

[@petrliska5073]

You'll find the same notes in the good old blues scale.