Hi,
I am totally new to Tenor Banjo and will be receiving a May Bell Slingerland 19 fret tenor tomorrow. I have made one previous post here when I first put my Tenor in lay-a-way at a shop a few months ago. I'm really exited about getting it and I'm looking for the FedEx guy. As I had put in my one other previous post I have been playing Mandolin for quite some time and I've decided that I want to learn tenor banjo to play mainly Irish Traditional music.
I have read other posts that discuss using heavier gage strings when tuning the 19 fret banjo (and 17 fret) to GDAE tuning. I have already purchased two sets of stings, one set of stainless wound 80/20 .014, .024w, .032w, .042w, and a set of John Pearse 80/20 bronze wound .013, .020w, .030w, .040w.
What I'm now considering doing is to tune to FCGD and then use a Capo at the second fret to still give me the GDAE and have less of a stretch for my old fingers.
My question is this. Will I still need to use the heavier gage strings if I tune to FCGD and use the Capo or will standard gage tenor stings be ok? Also, will the sound be as good using the Capo method over the GDAE tuning at the nut with heavy strings?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Bob