Recently, I've started playing all my C tunes in standard tuning (gCGBD). Previously, I'd experimented with it, but had a lot of trouble with it, because I still played with a lot of heavy brushes and would have to keep the B string fretted to keep it from clashing with the rest of the strings. But now that I've refined my playing somewhat, I find that it works really well. I harldy bother tuning to double C at all anymore. It's much easier to make the switch from open G to standard, you only have to tune 1 string instead of 2, and every minute counts when you're on stage or playing with non-old time musicians. The tuning is more flexible, too, and it's easier to play the melody for a verse or so and then go back to chording. Buell Kazee inspired me to try it, as he mentions in his banjo book that he uses standard tuning for most of the tunes people play in double C. Phillip Kazee does the same thing. Hobart Smith also used it for a lot of tunes. Anybody else? I'd like to hear some thoughts.
↧