A Mel Bay Publications, Inc. Webzine
June 2008 · Bimonthly
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In this issue: Basic Bluegrass Backup: Part One |
Two-Finger Bluegrass Banjo | Cello Suite 1 Prelude for Irish Tenor Banjo | Dig a Hole Print this Article (PDF) Email Article to a Friend  Ian with 5-String Dobjo Cello Suite #1Prelude for Irish Tenor Banjoby Ian Django Jones My name is Ian Nathaniel Django Jones, and I play around seven instruments. Violin (or fiddle, whichever way you feel like it), mandolin, banjo, tenor banjo, rubberbands, guitar, and piano. Only the instruments tuned in fifths do I play well. Now in this video clip, I am playing Cello Suite #1 Prelude for the unaccompanied cello by Johann Sebastian Bach. I have adapted it for the tenor banjo by changing the key from G Major to D Major. Oddly enough, the fingerings for the piece are mostly the same for a cello and tenor banjo. Since this is Bach, and not some simple Mozart melody, there are some rough sections that will be difficult to play. The song is also rather long without many resting spots, so stamina is a must. In measure 11, you will notice a blind jump to the 9th fret (F#). I've done this, because it sounds better than on the E string and plus it looks cool... You don't have to do it, but it is preferred. In measure 20, there is a G# on the G to an E on the D. You will use your index finger (1) for both of these. Any other fingers makes the later fingerings difficult. The rest of the piece is mainly just arpeggios and scales but that doesn't mean they are any easier. Measures 25-29 were a bit difficult for me to do on camera, and had to repeat a couple of times (O.K, more than a couple of times) to get it right. The only special fingering later on is for measures 37-39. Just going up on the A string a half-step at a time. It sounds neat, looks neat, and is easier than going to the E string and shifting up. You might notice that I pause or slow down during the song when there are no markings on the sheetmusic that say I should ritard or pause. It's just my own interpretation of the piece, and has been influenced by the cellist Yo-Yo Ma. I really do suggest listening to him play the Cello Suite. Not only is it a good selection, but it could improve your playing. Bach solos for any instrument are relatively easy to adapt for the Irish tenor banjo, so expect more of these in the near future. -Django Jones
About the Author:
Ian Nathaniel Django Jones has been playing violin since the age of 10. Now 17 his interests include Irish tenor banjo, mandolin, octave mandolin, five-string banjo. Born and raised in the area around Dallas, Texas, he has grown up in the presence of bluegrass, oldtime, Irish, rock, Texas fiddle, and country music. He likes bluegrass, but baroque/late-baroque style of music is what he prefers. Ian is the first chair violinist with the Richardson High School orchestra plays gigs around Dallas.Watashi no namae wa Jones Ian-kun desu. Junana sai desu. Ju sai yori baiorin o hikararemasu. Richardson koukou de ni-nensei desu. Dallas ni sundeimasu. Bluegrass yori, Baroquena sukidesu. Vivaldi to Bach no ongaku sukidesu. Visit Ian at http://DjangoJones.com [ top ]
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