THE KEY OF C FOR 5-STRING BANJO

Numerous songs are performed in the key of C. Many banjo players limit their playing by only performing solos in the key of G. When a song is performed in the key of C, they simply place a capo at the 5th fret and play a solo they have worked out in the key of G. The material in this book demonstrates several practical ways to play in the key of C without retuning from standard G tuning or using a capo. The songs included in the book were chosen for one of two reasons: 1) the song is traditionally performed in the key of C, or 2) the song can easily be performed in the key of C to accommodate a singer's vocal range.

The key of C is presented starting with the open position (location) and moving up the neck. Additional topics are presented as they pertain to each position. More than 20 songs and 125 licks and examples are interspersed throughout the text. The book comes with an accompanying CD that plays all of the examples - first slow and then up to speed. Songs are performed with a separate rhythm guitar practice track.

TOPICS

• The Key of C: Open Position
• Emulating Key of G Licks
• The G and C Major Scales Compared
• The Tonal Center
• Common Chords in the Key of C
• Combining Chords, Notes, and Rolls
• Melody Notes on the Fourth String
• The Key of C: Second Position
• Third Position G and G7 Chords
• The Turnaround
• Two Positions for the Note E
• The Key of C: Fifth Position
• Fifth Position Chords
• Transferring G Licks to the Fifth Position
• Capoing the Fifth String
• Transposing Fifth Position Songs
• The Key of C: Seventh Position
• Chords from the Seventh Position Scale
• Connecting Different Position F Chords
• Locating Melody Notes Within Chords
• Connecting Positions with Passing Notes
• The Key of A Minor
• Harmonic Minor
• The C Melodic Scale: Two Octaves
• The G7 to C Resolution
• Dampening Unwanted Strings
• Left-Hand Finger Adjustments
• Another Melodic Scale Pattern
• Melodic Licks from the Key of G
• Fiddle Tunes in Melodic Style
• Three Beats Per Measure
• The Triplet and Six - Eight Time
• Modulating to and from the Key of C
• Back-Up in the Key of C
• The Chord Vamp
• Fill Licks from the Key of G
• Tag Licks
• Back-Up at Slow Tempos
• Connecting Chords
• Moveable Licks
• Adding Slurs
• The Twelfth Fret and Beyond

SONGS

• Back Up And Push
• Banks Of The Ohio
• Billy In The Lowground
• Bury Me Beneath The Willow
• Careless Love
• Coming 'Round The Mountain
• Do Lord
• Haystack Rag
• Home Sweet Home
• Jesse James
• Last Chance Waltz
• Lonesome Indian
• Maple On The Hill
• Michael Row The Boat Ashore
• O'Hoolihans's Wedding
• Pig In A Pen
• Put My Little Shoes Away
• Silverbell
• Spinning Wheel
• Under The Double Eagle
• Wayfaring Stranger
• Will The Circle Be Unbroken