The Irish tenor banjo

The tenor banjo has 4 strings usually tuned G,D,A,E for Irish music. Tenor banjos are great for mandolin or violin players, because they are tuned a fifth lower and can be chorded with the same fingering as a violin or mandolin. This feature contributed to the popularity of the tenor banjo during the dixieland jazz era of the early 1900's. It was a new sound immediately available to the many violinists and mandolinists of the day and it's popularity is still alive today in Irish music.

Keith uses 2 tenor banjos -

a beautiful Clareen "Elite" made by Tom Cussen in Galway, as well as one by the Deering Banjo Company

For more information see:

Clareen Banjos - made by Tom Cussen in Galway

HALSHAW MUSIC, banjo and folkmusic shop - home of Sully's banjos