Exploring D Tuning and D Tuners - Bluegrass Banjo 

I'm pretty certain this is exactly how Scruggs learned three finger picking. He claimed, he was on the front porch playing Rubin tune down in D-tune and realized he had a roll going. Said he played it all week till Sunday when his brother Juney came to visit. He played it over and over as he couldn't wait for him to hear it. Juney kept turnin his head as he'd catch some sound. Directly he got to the porch and asked Earl, "is that all ya know"? Lol I'm sure most folks here have heard this story, but here it is, in case ya haven't. Kinda interesting little snip of Bluegrass history.

Wow, this video has caused a lighbulb moment for me. Plating with the tuning and seeing how the transition from g to d can change has made things just click a lot better. Thanks Jim for everything. I have never enjoyed a hobby as much as the banjo.

Gonna be spending a ton of time watching you lol. Comments help the channel so I will leave one on every video I watch. Least I can do for fantastic teaching for free.👍👍👍

I LOVE the way you teach, Jim!! I think you're an awesome teacher!!

This is the only person who I don't mind asking me to subscribe

Jim. This is why I love your channel. An eon ago, I learned to play the piano. After some years I got frustrated with it because I couldn't do what my teacher did. I needed to see the music and play it as written. Much later in my life, I wanted to take up banjo. I had a great teacher, bluegrass player, and learned to play and love it. This kind of thing, like tuning to a different key and just plinking around with the instrument is something I longed to do, thought I was totally incompetent with the piano, but have found that ability with the banjo. I hope you know how you help people like me to discover music . Thanks

Awesomeness! Thanks, Jim!

I alway enjoy learning something new when I watch your videos. Thanks for all you do.

Thanks for the great explanation of "de-tuners!" Someone was selling a banjo and said the D-tuners didn't come with the banjo. Went on a mission to figure out what they were, and here is this wonderful explanation. Who knew?!? Thanks Jim! Another terrific video!

I like the crouching into the camera frame! Give the video a cool vibe

By golly! Thank you so much for uploading this 👏🏼 I’ve been fix’n to change my banjo to D tuning to play “Little Mountain Church House”

Very instructive as I've been researching changing my tuners on my pretty new Rk-35 and ran into those two terms I had no clue about, Thanks for wising me up some more. Also looked into geared vs. planetary and "planet".

Always wondered how those D tuners worked, but never got to see one! Very cool!

I think JIM DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB. His lessons are enjoyable and digestible. Thanks Jim I always learn from your lessons. The D tune was extra special.

Succinct. Love it. Keep it up, you’ve got another subscriber.

I was just watching your RK-R20 unboxing and setup video! I’m learning bluegrass banjo and I’m strictly using your beginner videos!

Jim, I really enjoy your videos. I am a life-long harmonica player and pick on the banjo like a bully picks on kids in the school yard, but not as successful. ..But I'm getting better thanks to you. Not only are you very informative but your style of teaching is great.

Good deal Jim. I really like the way the Banjo sounds in D tuning. Thanks for the explanations. 👍🏼

Thanks Jim for the video. Just purchased now waiting for delivery of a Recording King RK 76. Used to play guitar. Looking forward to watching your lessons again with the new banjo. You have a great teaching style

Awesome!! Ive been trying for days to find out what kind of tuning pegs these legends are using to go in and out of different tunings. Thank you so much

Hi Jim I think you explain things really well thanks for the videos

And here i just told myself i wasnt gonna spend any more on banjo gadgets.

Thanks Jim, you answered my questions I had, and really like the pen cap idea, that’s my kind of hack. I have been playing along to my own songs incorporating simple licks in G to work the melody, but was stuck there. Thanks again!

Thanks again Jim

Hey Jim! Thank you so much for your video's. As an 18 year old living in Australia where the banjo is not as common as in the US and there aren't many teachers, your video's have been great. Over the last 2 years I've made alot of progress from watching your video's and it feels great to actually be able to play those songs I learnt in the beginner series up to speed aswell as a whole bunch of other tunes. Love what your doing and keep it up!👍 Hi from Sydney!

Wow, thanks for that wonderful explanation!

Great video Jimbo, definitely something I'm gonna have a go at. Thanks Davy

I tried putting it in D tune and instantly picked up Reuben, without instruction. I never would have thought that would have been such an easy song

That was soooo helpful. Thank you!

So glad you covered the D tuning and the D Tuners Jim. I have a late 1920’s Will van Allen banjo that started life as a 4 string flat top banjo. At some point in its life it was converted into a 5 string with a beautiful carved neck (flowers & bees design) & has what I’m sure are original Bill Keith/Scruggs D tuners as per the illustration in Earl’s Black banjo “bible” book. Apart from taking it out of the case a couple of times, I’ve not tried to play it. I’m still sticking with my daily banjo in G tuning, following your excellent videos and trying my best to become proficient, small steps at a time. Thanks for your dedication and encouragement, hopefully this old greybeard will get there in the end. You’re an inspiration 🇬🇧.

Great thanks

Amazing ! Thanks from France.

Excellent Jim thank you from the U.K.

Jim I love your channel when I bought my alveraz it had 2 and 3 rd Keith tuners I decided to add the 1st 4th tuners on it I stopped playing banjo I want to get back playing again I play keyboard and both lap and pedal steel guitar when I chatted with you I was living with my mom and dad in April 1 of 210 I had a accident I fell and broke the ball off my right hip and my mother took me to the hospital I had surgery then I went to rehab April May June I lost my dad in June of 2010 I got out and lived with my mother she passed away in February of 2011 I live in a senior living place I just turned 64 back in August

Wow Jim those Keith style detuners look /sound great 👍

did not know that there are D tuners .. I have wanted to learn Reuben for a long time, but until after I have properly tuned my banjo again in G tuning it is Christmas again .. haha and yes I have subscribed and I love your videos .. but you know that already 😊 Great Video with that little subscribe reminder! And yeah some weeks i think you reach 50.000 subs! Bevor i reach 30 haha😂

Thank you for the amazing content keep it up

I'll continue the endure the preschool teacher style to pick up what you're puttin' down, Jim. 😅

I've tried for All the Saints in G , mebe D tuning is the ways to go 😂❤

Thanks god, Jim this sure was an amazing video! I've got a cheap banjo with guitar tuners and i thought i could never get that D tuning feel, I'll surely check that "cheat a" tuner out!

thanks Jim

Good job

Thank you

You are now helping me. New sub here.

I don’t run into many folks with a Price Knight. I have an 1982 model. Nice axe!

Thanks Jim's I'm still monkey n around was g. And rolls but this is also a great key /tuning keep up the great work videos are so helpful rockabilly bass player ..played guitar for 32 yes and decided to try out pedal steel and dobro. For last 5 yrs but once I found your beginners guide jumped back onto the banjo surgery induration ...thanks 👂👏👏👏👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🥃

Brilliant jim as usual would love to see you do a version of auld lang syne 👍👍

👍

That G voicing sounds a lot like a GMaj7 chord to me, it’s actually kind of beautiful on you are my sunshine but might not fit every song so well!

Hey Jim Just want to say thank you for explaining how these D-tuners work I've been wanting to figure this mystery for a long time Definitely gonna buy one and experience it on my guitar

I use this tune for almost all fiddle songs

thanks jim for an easy way to tune. your banjo is coming thru so nice. what model is it, and have you modified it?

Hello Jim, I see you are playing always on a record King. Do you have any experience with Deering Banjo’s and if so what do you think of the quality af this brand ?

I've got a 5 string Banjo fitted with Keith pegs which I put on in the early 1980's they are now getting a little bit gritty when I use them do you know if there is any way I can service them maybe using Some WD40 but I can't see how I can get it in to the mechanism

Hi Jim, I´m new here, I realy like your lessons, I don´t have a banjo, but I wander if you know where can I get a good banjo to started, it can be a website or a store that you can recomend me, I live in San Diego

just bought a second banjo it is a gold tone mini tuned to c. how can I get the tabs showing chords comparable and compatable with my 5 string gold tone cripple creek i.e. G C D etc........finger positions

Are those the extra wide or standard cheat a keys? I have an ome banjo.

Hi

How often should you change your strings or is it only when you break one. Is this a silly question?

What tuning did Stringbean play in most of the time. I do think he played in G tuning much?

Im interested in this style of tuner, but for my guitar. What is the range on them? As in how far apart can the two notes on any given tuner be?

Intermediate player new to d tuners. Can you play the flint hill intro/Earl scruggs mid song tune on the keith tuners

I play around maybe 2 or 3 hours of banjo each day with my d tuners and this is my 2nd time I broke my string within 3 months is that something to worry about?

How do you set the d-turners I can't seem to get mine to work

Hi. Is that the Recording King RK35 you are holding?

Could you post up some video of you playing full speed? That would be great!

Just bought the Cheat a keys and set them up However when I de tune sometimes the tuner is stiff and the force of trying to twist it shifts the whole mechanism down the peghead, throwing the tuning way off. It seems like its screwed on to the head as tight as possible, any idea why this happens?

I’ve been playing guitar for years, and I am interested in banjo. Can I learn banjo?

I used my slide on my bango, is this a thing? I like it.

Hey Jim, I can’t find the cheat a key tuners anywhere online. They seem to be out of stock. Can you help me locate some?

Jim what thumbpick are you using here?

cant i just use a capo on sec fred that wil give me d tuning if its a d cord

My D'tuner doesn't fit my banjo! What do I do?

How do Rail Spikes work with a D Tuner?

I know this is just me so take it for what it's worth - I do like what you are doing here (sub'ed, notified, liked) but your style of leaning into the camera is truly getting on my last nerve. Either get in the camera or don't. Besides all that - thanks for your effort. You have me experimenting with D tuning. I haven't gone there before. Play on bud. :)

I love your channel but I sure don’t like the leaning. It drives me crazy.

What's the difference in 3/4 string de-tuners vs 1/2 string de-tuners. I put 3/4 string tuners on my banjo over 20 years ago & was told I could buy two sets & replace all Four pegs with no problem. Also, if my memory is correct I paid less than $125 for my "Scruggs Tuners," but nobody was outfitting a banjo like that at the time. 🤔🪕