Five Ways to Play in the Key of F, Clawhammer Style

Learn how to play effectively in the key of F in five different banjo tunings. We’ll start with three “namesake” or tune-specific tunings. Learn “Sandy River Belle” and “Wild Horses at Stony Point” in Sandy River Belle Tuning (fCFCD); “Last Chance” in Last Chance Tuning (fDFCD); and “Cumberland Gap” and “Little Satchel” in the Round Peak version of Cumberland Gap Tuning (fDGCD). We’ll then look at how to play effectively in F in two of the most common tunings; we’ll play “Girl I Left Behind Me” in Double C Tuning (gCGCD), and “Hull’s Victory” in G Modal Tuning (gDGCD).

Note that you can apply everything in this workshop to the key of G by capoing at the 2^nd fret, or by tuning up the banjo the equivalent of two frets. If you tune up the banjo two frets, you get these tunings: gDGDE (Sandy River Belle); gEGCE (Last Chance); gEADE (Cumberland Gap); aDADE (Double D); and AEADE (A Modal).