Key Dodges 1/2

For a standard 5-string banjo, there are two ways to get around the key restriction: capos and retuning.

As I mentioned in “Let’s Capo,” it takes two capos to change the key of the whole banjo: a banjo capo to cover strings 1-4, and a 5^th string capo.

A variety of 5^th string capos are on the market.  Some are permanent rails holding moveable fretting “fingers”; others are small gadgets temporarily attached to the banjo at the chosen pitch.

Another possibility is to drill the fingerboard and insert “railroad spikes” along the 5^th string. You hook the string under the head of the tiny spike to capo the string.  Banjo players find this more convenient than it sounds.  But it’s a delicate operation to place a spike correctly; do not attempt this at home!

An interesting thing happens if you capo all 5 strings at the 5^th fret or higher: The 5^th string sounds the same note as the 1^st string.

None of these complications apply to the capo-ble banjo, of course.

Next post: retuning.