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Permalink Reply by Marc Brode on April 15, 2014 at 3:15am

I've been playing 6-string for about ten years. I built my first 3-string about five weeks ago. In those five weeks, I haven't even touched my 6-string. The 3-string is just so easy... And FUN,

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on April 15, 2014 at 6:14am

Yup, Marc.  :)

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Permalink Reply by Matthew Borczon on April 17, 2014 at 5:50am

I tend to play almost exclusively 3 strings. I do go to four when I play this beautiful banjo I bought from W. Sam it sounds fantastic so I can not help myself. Still there is something about those 3 strings that is as exciting as riding a bull! I also like the way my voice works with partial chords I especially like the way 3 strings forces me to think differently about how I plan to get a note, which note, do I even really need that note. I am a less is more kind of player anyway so this all just feels right to me when I play. Even the 3 stringed banjo I play is more to my likeing than a five string I own. Still got to love Sams 4 stringer. 

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on April 17, 2014 at 5:56am

Well said, Matthew.  I am guessing your 4 string banjo is a DGBD or DGBE.   I just finished a homely but good playing banger.   I have it tuned high G drone (using a guitar small E)   - then DGB.   So pretty much I have a high drone with a 3 string banjo.

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Permalink Reply by Matthew Borczon on April 17, 2014 at 6:35am

Uncle John I would love to know how you like that? I am either goint to try that next or build a 3 stringed cigar box banjo fretless. I have a wonderful 3 string fretted one built by Diane in Chicago with steel strings but lately I have been really liking the sound of fishline strings, particularly on a video of Dennis Havlena playing a 3 stringed fretless banjo he made. I thought I might try that. Still I have heard some wonderful sounds from one set up like you describe. I just want to clawhammer it. Nothing sounds better to my ear for some of the old time songs I play let me know how yours plays, or better yet I would love to see a video.....matt

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on April 17, 2014 at 6:48am

Well, first off, I like it when it has all 4 strings!   Using that high E from a guitar set has turned out problematic.   It just broke for the second time.   I liked the sound a lot when it was a 4 string and it played easy for me as I play a lot of DGB.

 

Claw hammer.  That is on my list of likes and want to learns.   If I get this string problem straightened out, I may give it a try.

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Permalink Reply by SlowHound on April 17, 2014 at 6:45am

Been playing four strings exclusively for the last few months and it's grown on me. Still have the 3 string draw to play off of but the extra string just opened things up for me.

I'm going to pull a simple 3 off the wall tonight and see what happens. 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Sprague (Knotlenny) on April 17, 2014 at 7:53am

You are absolutely right, Uncle John!
I love playing 3 string (DAD . . . Or any Root/5th/Octave tuning.). For me the beauty of it is being able to play completely thru intuitive "feel".

I think of them like a diatonic instrument - say a harmonica. I always play in the key of the root note of the open octave strings. And I will switch guitars or retune to play in a different key.

I make it a point to keep my cluttered old brain free of any thoughts about music "theory" when playing 3string.
For example: I know that the root/5th/root-octave tuning is not a full chord triad, I really don't know WHY it is that when you bar across those three strings you get that great major "power chord sound" - but when you slide up to the 9th fret the same position takes on a relative minor sound. I don't know why and I don't want to know Why. Don't even talk to me about "tabs" for 3 string - in my opinion that's just thinking too hard and thinking too hard gets in the way of that spontaneous creative feel of oneness with the instrument.

Playing three string is more akin to singing for me. It's a "right brain" function that (with a little practice and familiarization) you can Just simply "do" without that pesky analytical thought that permeates everything else we do in life.

THATS what I love about 3-stringers. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on April 18, 2014 at 1:49am

Huh.  Kevin they are like harmonicas.   We need a bunch.   I have them right now in GDg,   AEa,  CGC,   and DGB.   And I occasionally retune a fretted  GDg to AD F#.  

That 9th fret kind of minor chord sound is a recent learn for me.   Sure makes a nice Em or substitute on  a GDg.  

You are surely right on the instinctive thing.   Saddly, I am an uptight old bastard who can only get there infrequently.   But it is thrilling when I can.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Sprague (Knotlenny) on April 18, 2014 at 4:18am

Well Unc, when all else fails: I prescribe a couple of draws on the jug . . .
Guaranteed to transform even the most uptight of old bastards into a lampshade-wearin', intuitive-plunkin', life-of-the-party. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on April 18, 2014 at 4:36am

That has worked well for me, Kevin.   Another benefit of cbgs - I played my recently refurbished six string quite a bit the last few days.    Not very comfortable with arthritic shoulders.   The CBGs win there too.

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