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Thread: Tenor Banjo String Gauge (CGDA v GDAE octave)

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    Default Tenor Banjo String Gauge (CGDA v GDAE octave)

    Hey all,

    I've got an old Lyon & Healy tenor banjo (20" scale). It's new to me and I'm curious about your string gauges.

    In additional, some folks play tenor CGDA and some match octave mandolin GDAE so I'm curious if you play with both whether you change your strings with the tuning.

  2. #2
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Tenor Banjo String Gauge (CGDA v GDAE octave)

    With that scale length I'd be using 40/30/20/13 for GDAE tuning, and lighter gauges than that for CGDA.
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    Default Re: Tenor Banjo String Gauge (CGDA v GDAE octave)

    It sounds like it also probably has 17 frets? I've always had a difficult time tuning 20" scales to my satisfaction using GDAE tuning. The G strings always seem a little floppy to me and the intonation is thrown off a bit.

    I have an OME with 19 frets and a 21.5" scale length and it tunes up fine with GDAE. An inch and a half can make a big difference.

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    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Tenor Banjo String Gauge (CGDA v GDAE octave)

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Larson View Post
    In additional, some folks play tenor CGDA and some match octave mandolin GDAE so I'm curious if you play with both whether you change your strings with the tuning.
    I've used CGDA, GDAE, and DGBE on tenor banjos - and all 3 tunings need their own strings, except the high E string on octave mandolin and Chicago tuning are the same.

    So yes I do have to change strings when I want to change tunings. Currently I'm back to standard tenor banjo CGDA.

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    Default Re: Tenor Banjo String Gauge (CGDA v GDAE octave)

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidKOS View Post
    I've used CGDA, GDAE, and DGBE on tenor banjos - and all 3 tunings need their own strings, except the high E string on octave mandolin and Chicago tuning are the same.

    So yes I do have to change strings when I want to change tunings. Currently I'm back to standard tenor banjo CGDA.
    David I'm curious, do find that scale length makes a big difference with all those tunings and gauges?

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    Default Re: Tenor Banjo String Gauge (CGDA v GDAE octave)

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Foss View Post
    David I'm curious, do find that scale length makes a big difference with all those tunings and gauges?
    To a certain degree, yes; I've played 17 and 19 fret tenor banjos, 5 strings strung as a pseudo-plectrum for DGBE, etc. and the string gauge will be determined by the scale length and the sound and feel you want. Mostly on CGDA tenor I'm happy with standard strings that are about a .010 for the high A.

    Now, the GDAE tuning is a bit more interesting. I have a friend that has been playing Irish tenor banjo for decades, and he uses a mixed set with a plain steel E, a wound phosphor bronze A, and 2 wound nylon classical guitar-type strings for the D and G, as he thinks the tone on those strings is better.

    I prefer all-metal strings on any tuning.

    Now, if you want the same feel on two banjos with the same tuning but different scale lengths, the longer scale instrument will need a slightly lighter set.

    I'm not overly picky about the exact feel, as long as the strings are not too tight nor too loose I'm OK with it.

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    Default Re: Tenor Banjo String Gauge (CGDA v GDAE octave)

    Thanks for the detailed reply!

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