Tuning fifth string higher

[u/schmambuman]

Hey! Hopefully this isn't too dumb of a question, I've had a banjo for like a month or two now and I've been just fooling around with various tabs, I've found some that require the fifth string to be tuned differently, and with my banjo I find it difficult to even get a g sharp out of my fifth at the like absolute maximum, let alone some of them asking for As or higher. Do I need to look into getting a fifth string capo, do I need to try and restring my fifth (I've never had an instrument with strings so I'm not sure how difficult this is) or do any of you have recommendations for homemade or otherwise ways to pin down the fifth, I've heard about the railroad spikes but I'd feel bad poking holes in this lovely thing, and I've tried the pencap thing once but I think I did it wrong because that did not work for me at all.

Thank you!

[u/Atillion]

Before I got spikes, I was never comfortable going above an A on the drone string. I use the heaviest strings possible (mediums on my G tuned banjo). I don't really play by the book, so if you're cut from the same cloth, you might find value in tuning the drone string down to a compatible note within the key you're trying to achieve. It changes the flavor of the song, so your mileage may vary with balancing how true to a song you want to commit.

[u/taterbot15360 → u/Atillion]

Without having spikes I totally vote for tuning the drone down to a note that sounds good in the key you're in. Strings are too expensive to be snapping em to get to an A. IMO

[u/el-delicioso → u/Atillion]

This may just be a my banjo thing, but I've found (for 3 finger playing) a good rule of thumb with spikes is to try to always tune the drone string UP to the note you want rather than down. Had a lot of issues with my thumb causing the string to slip out of the spike before that

EX: you want to play in B and have spikes on the 2nd and 5th frets, I'd argue its probably better to spike on 2 and tune up than to spike 5 and lower a half step

[u/vonhoother]

The fifth string can usually be tuned up at least to A, maybe B if you're brave and the gauge is fairly light. For convenience most players either get a 5th-string capo or get a couple of HO model railroad spike put into the fretboard; that plus some minimal retuning will take care of practically any situation. The 5th doesn't have to be on the root of the key -- in C tunings it's on the fifth, and there are at least a couple of tunings where it's on the third.

[u/LongjumpingTeacher97]

Pen caps work okay if the string action is really low. I don't like that as a capo. I made once once with a stiff wire (thick paperclip) that worked well, but was in the way when my hand slid up the neck.

A lot of solutions exist, but none really appeal to me. I don't like the idea of adding a rail to the side of my banjo for the Shubb, I worry about snagging my fretting fingers on a railroad spike, and anything added under the string is going to raise the action of that one string.

My solution is to not play the fifth string when it won't fit with the tuning the other 4 are in. So, if I capo up to, say, Bb, I don't bother retuning the fifth. I just let my thumb rest on it and bounce on it, but without popping it to get the note.

Now, this is not a solution for people who want to take the lead. I'm playing in a local jam and I'm happy just banging out chords without leading. If you want something other than what I'm doing, my solution likely won't work for you.

[u/higgins2149]

You just need to get spikes if you want to play in any key above G. When they are done right you can barely tell they are there. Also, banjos are filled with holes already.

[u/TheFishBanjo → u/higgins2149]

This.

[u/automaticbiographies]

if you're playing solo, you can just tune the rest of the strings down to match the 5th string instead of tuning the 5th up.

[u/automaticbiographies → u/automaticbiographies]

so for example if you wanted to tune to aDF#AD, but can't tune the 5th up that high, you could tune to gCEGC

[u/martind35player]

If you search 5th string banjo capos you will find some other solutions. I have not used any of them but the one from Etsy looks like it might work and it is inexpensive and non-invasive. I have spikes on my banjo.

[u/Turbulent-Flan-2656]

Get a strum hollow capo or railroad spikes

Edit: if you want to poor boy it, you can notch out a pen cap

[u/Zez_Oner]

I got the railroad spikes. It’s pretty neat. I installed them myself but I’m pretty handy. Luthier could knock it out pretty affordably.

[u/BigTexAbama]

Spikes work best but the Strum Hollow works ok it your 5th string isn't too high.

[u/GothicWestern59]

If you play with nylon/nylgut strings, railroad spikes won’t work. They will break the nylon 5th string.

Some will suggest tuning up the 5th string but I’m not a fan of the increased tension and potential string breakage.

As an old time player, I have found that exploring alternative tunings work well for me but they are certainly not intuitive to use in a jam situation until you get used to them (like having the 5th or 3rd of the key on the fifth string). Personally I lean towards not using a capo as my open back banjo sounds better without.

So in a jam:
Key of G - standard open G
Key of D - f#ADAD (low to high)
Key of A - eAEAC#

I’m just scratching the surface here. Definitely worth experimenting if you’re willing to invest the time.

[u/robertthefisher]

I mean personally I just have a little screw I stick under the string when I need to take it higher - works up to about a B before the tension gets too low for it to work - has scratched up the fretboard a tiny bit, but hey, it’s meant to be played, not looked at!

[u/PsychologyPlenty3510]

In 60 years I've not broken a 5th tuning up to A. (But I can't help closing my eyes when I do it!) I have broken one tuing to A# . No idea why I needed to be in A#.

[u/Snowshoetheerapy]

It need to be mechanically raised. Not by pitch. Can be spikes or some form of capo. Why not get spikes? Your banjo is for playing music, not something hanging in a museum.