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Michael Keyes - Beginning the Irish Tenor Banjo, Part 3 | Dan Levenson –The Old Time Way
Gerald Jones - Finding the Melody in Many Different Keys

Finding the Melody in Many Different Keys

by Gerald Jones

Many three finger banjo players have problems finding the melody and playing in keys other than G is a mystery. Here is an easy way to accomplish both. Many melodies fall within the standard chord forms of D and C. Most melodic phrases usually start and almost always end on one the three chord tones, either the root, third or fifth. This narrows down your choices to a one in three chance of being right!

Out of the standard F position you can move your third finger to the third and second strings to find the melody notes that aren't on the chord. The first two measures of the A part of Wildwood Flower is found entirely within this fingering. The third measure is out to the C position.

The B part of Wildwood Flower is found mainly in the D position. The third finger moves from the fourth string to the third and the first finger barres the first three strings to provide the other melody notes. In the F position an additional melody note is found by lowering the first finger one fret.

Try the tab of Wildwood Flower in F. Just move the position up the fingerboard to play in other keys. Listen to the sound file. Enjoy!