Titania's Music Box - Benji Flaming - solo banjo (solobanjo.com)

An exercise in restraint. With the exception of the introduction and ending, this tune is composed from a palette of 9 harmonics.

For those of you who don't play stringed instruments, perhaps I should explain that a "harmonic" (in this context) is a note which is played while lightly touching the string in one of several mathematically significant locations. The finger on the string prevents certain vibrations from occurring, while leaving other vibrations unobstructed. The result is that we hear a different pitch. If you want to know more, Google and Wikipedia are your friends. ;)

The title of this tune is, of course, a reference to the queen of the fairies in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". And yes, this will be on my upcoming solo banjo CD. See http://solobanjo.com/ for news and updates.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• solo
• banjo
• all
• harmonics
• mellow
• contemplative
• new
• age
• alternate
• tuning
• benji
• flaming
• monroe
• crossing

[chris4rosser]

so you should do tabs to this cause this is great

[SoloBanjo]

@chris4rosser I've been considering a book of tablature, but I've had too much else going on to make it a priority. I'm sure it'll happen sooner or later. Regardless, thanks for your interest!

[kaunartist]

Amazing! What tuning is that in?

[SoloBanjo]

@kaunartist Thanks! The tuning, from 5th string to 1st string, is EAECD. It's the same tuning I use for "The Iron Kettle" (which you can also find on this channel) and my "Weekly acoustic sketch" for 2010-11-02 (which you can find on my "BenjiFlaming" channel).

[pezhope]

amazing, such a haunting sound

[kaunartist]

@SoloBanjo Thanks, I thought that looked like a Nechville with a through-string. I was starting to suspect that after the first note on the 5th string seemed impossible to find ;)

[SoloBanjo]

@kaunartist Actually, it's a regular 5th string physically dropped down to the 2nd fret. My Nechville Nuvo lets me do this, and I don't know whether the fingering would be playable with the 5th string still up at the 5th fret.

You might want to tune your banjo GAECD, and then capo strings 1-4 at the third fret (which would make it a Cm tuning, rather than Am). This would give you the same relative fingerings I use.

The tune itself is fairly simple - I'm sure you could work it out. :)

[kaunartist]

@SoloBanjo Now that I think about it, just wanna check: when you say EAECD do you mean you've got a guitar-style low-E on the fifth, or the regular 5-string banjo 5th g tuned down to an e?

[kaunartist]

@SoloBanjo Ohhh thanks. I was thinking about coming back to this and just figuring it out myself about a week ago...good timing!

[banjoman1437]

Ever since you played a Randy Woods Concert Hall I've been trying copy yur style of playing, your playing style is the absolute best by any mean s that I have ever seen!