"The Swallow" Cello Banjo Gold Tone 4-String CEB-4 in double octave tuning

http://www.banjocrazy.com/
Hi, my name is Paul Roberts; I'm a multicultural roots musician, multi-instrumentalist and composer. And I'm trying to awaken the world to cello banjos... and sell one (at least) to everybody in the world. Cello banjos are growly beasts that have only very recently returned to us from antiquity. These instruments -- and all Gold Tone musical instruments -- are available through my website: http://www.banjocrazy.com/ where you can also find my phone number to call me, free, within the US.

Im playing a CEB-4 Gold Tone Cello Banjo. The CEB-4 is a 4-string banjo, which is tuned in fifths, like the violin and mandolin family instruments. The 4-string Cello Banjo and Gold Tones many other instruments are available for purchase on my website.

The CEB-4 is an auspicious comeback for an instrument that hasnt been manufactured since the early 1900s. The comeback took place recently when Wayne Rogers (Gold Tone founder/president) got inspired to bring the Cello Banjo back into the world, after hearing Marcy Marxer play an old Gibson in a banjo duet with Cathy Fink on YouTube.

There are several interviews on my site about Gold Tones 4 and 5-string Cello Banjos. Some of those Ive interviewed include Marcy Marxer, Wayne Rogers, Bob Carlin, Cathy Fink and Mike Keyes. This link goes to my articles/interview page: http://www.banjocrazy.com/articles.shtml

Besides the CGAE cello tuning, Ive discovered the Gold Tone CEB-4 also has a beautiful voice tuned GDAE which is how an Irish tenor banjo or octave mandolin is tuned. And unbelievably it will go all the way down to double octave tuning, an octave below Irish tenor! This double octave tuning is a major breakthrough in plucked string instrument capability. To be able to play with such ease, two octaves below a violin, is simply amazing. I cant think of another plucked string instrument can do that.

The CEB-4s rich voice suits many styles of music folk, Celtic, classical, jazz, Renaissance and Early Music. The instrument's versatility in pitch ranges opens up a lot of tonal options. I play 4-string Cello Banjos (and Irish-style tenor) using a 2-finger style, thumb and 1st finger, with plastic finger picks. Its a style I saw Gordon Johnston doing. Gordon does a 3-finger style. He anchors his pinkie on the head; I float my hand above the strings, a la classical guitar.




Here are some YouTube videos I did to demonstrate the 3 pitch ranges I have explored with this instrument: GDAE (Irish tenor banjo, octave mandolin), CGAE (cello, mandocello), GDAE (two octaves below mandolin, fiddle).




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxF8gSX4k-A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W0iZq6_LVU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyenyyiRIbU&feature=related

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 4-string
• Cello
• Banjo
• Gold
• Tone
• CEB-4
• Irish
• tenor
• banjo
• octave
• mandolin
• mandola
• cittern
• Renaissance
• music
• traditional
• classical
• Paul
• Roberts
• BanjoCrazy.com
• Middle Eastern music

[guitgrl]

Paul, this is fabulous! I have to learn this piece. Thank you, Marcy

[strumstering]

@guitgrl Marcy Marxer responding to my video! Yeeha! Folks, this is the remarkable lady who is responsible for the cello banjos coming back into the world! [Check out her YouTube viideos with Cathy Fink.] Thanks, Marcy. (read my interviews with Marcy on banjocrazydotcom.

Hey Marcy, it's been a while. Let's do another interview!

PauL at banjocrazydotcom

[powwowdoc]

Paul, I just did a middle-eastern banjo piece for my new CD and wanted to tell you how much I enjoy what you do. You have an awesome talent.

[strumstering]

@powwowdoc Thank you very very much. I really love to hear your Middle Eastern banjo piece!

Best regards,

PauL banjocrazydotcom

[tedskes]

Love it ! This instrument opens the way (again) for a real banjo quartet matching the string quartet.

[strumstering]

@tedskes Hey, let me know when you get that banjo quartet up and running! I'll come hear you play!

Best,

Banjo Crazy PauL

[strumstering]

@janprimus Thank you very much. I really appreciate that : )

Best,

Banjo Crazy PauL

[strumstering]

@frankryle I'm tuned exactly one octave below your tenor - GDAE. That puts me two octaves below a fiddle or mandolin; you being one octave below. So, the good news is that you don't have to adapt anything - it'll just come out an octave higher than me. I'd love to hear your rendition!

Best,

Banjo Crazy PauL

[strumstering]

@southsydney Well, I never considered myself as such, but how nice of you to say...

Best,

Banjo Crazy PauL

[strumstering]

@hereitcomesagain I'm so glad you like it. Yeah, I was surprised this thing could be tuned down that low; but it carries it well throughout the entire range. Thanks for your comment.

Best,

Banjo Crazy PauL

[frankryle]

Hi there,

I love this piece- am learning tenor banjo and was wondering if it is possible to adapt it for GDAE tuning- any suggestions? Thanks for the great pieces!