Improvising in D minor

Inspired by a need to make my banjo sound more dark and moody, I've been playing more G modal than G major lately, messing around to find new licks and new melodies. As soulful as that key sounds, I think D minor goes one better. This is as close to dark and moody as I've gotten my banjo to sound.

I was inspired to try it by watching an old weekly workshop from Pat and Patrick Costello.. the first lick I use was learned by listening to Patrick goof around on a Skip James lick.

I have no idea what I'm doing, I'm pretty sure I'm using D minor, A minor and G minor chords. In any event I like how it sounds. Hopefully I can polish it up to sound better, as of this video it's all off the cuff.

To try this tuning, and I highly recommend it, tune your banjo thus: aDFAD. Have fun with it!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Banjo
• frailing
• Clawhammer
• minor
• key
• improvisation

[MrHelloecho]

try some larger gauge strings, maybe, can darken it up alot.

[bluedanbob]

@MrHelloecho Thanks for the suggestion, I'll have to give that a try.

[DreamPiano]

very nice !!

Serena

[bluedanbob]

Thank you very much! :)

[Lerody]

You sure captured the emotion on that! Very nice!

[bluedanbob]

Thank you!  I'm glad it came out okay.

[bluedanbob]

Thank you, I love the sound of that key. It's perfect for blues/country blues or mountain music.

[bluedanbob]

I'll have to try Gm next. I'm on a sort of minor/modal kick right now; been playing out of open G for a year and half. Other tunings are good to kick start your creativity

[bluedanbob]

Thanks, this was a lot of fun. I love the sound.

[ukeshale]

nice!