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Anthony S - Posted - 03/02/2026: 12:58:17
I’m really looking for a travel banjo so i can take it on an airplane w/o hassle. And so i can throw it in the back of the car and throw other stuff on top of it.
So i want a HSC too.
With that being said, I’ve just started considering a C scale banjo. They look even shorter length than an A scale. Are they?
But how do C scale banjos work? I mean if i play a song using std G tuning tabs on the C scale banjo, i assume the song sounds in key of C?
What if i want to play a song in G on a C scale banjo? What would i have to do? Capo up a bunch of frets?
As you can see, i don’t know much about this.
Any insight or instruction or advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
banjered - Posted - 03/02/2026: 13:05:07
I have a C-scale banjo but to answer your questions are longer tha I can write. At the "Q" question/search box to the left of this page type in "C-scale banjo" and then let's C what is left over for questions. banjered
martyjoe - Posted - 03/02/2026: 13:51:33
Compact and rugged. I always check it in with the other baggage on the plane (in its soft bag). If they refuse because they don’t want to take responsibility which has happened a couple of times it just fits into the overhead. Oh and it’s a full scale banjo that fits in a 3/4 guitar soft case.
RDP - Posted - 03/02/2026: 18:20:49
Use .013 .016 .022 .030 .013 strings on a C scales banjo to get into G tuning. What I do.
Dan Gellert - Posted - 03/04/2026: 16:07:56
It all depends on what you want to do with it. If you're singing, or playing with other musicians, absolute pitch is important. If you want a travel banjo mainly to keep your instrumental skills in practice, it shouldn't matter what pitch your banjo is at, as long as it's in tune with itself... unless you have a strong sense of absolute pitch (usually not-quite-correctly called "perfect pitch").
A C-scale banjo is going to sound most like a banjo should with strings of regular banjo gauges, but tuned a fourth above standard banjo pitch. It's like putting a capo on the 5th fret. A set of strings heavy enough to tune to regular G on a scale that short (and not rattle or be impossible to play in tune) will sound pretty clunky and dull.
pinenut - Posted - 03/04/2026: 20:47:06
quote:
Originally posted by Anthony S
I’m really looking for a travel banjo so i can take it on an airplane w/o hassle. And so i can throw it in the back of the car.
Yup, everybody wants this.
Make sure you try playing it for more than a few minutes before laying down cash...
Edited by - pinenut on 03/04/2026 20:48:09
mikehalloran - Posted - 03/07/2026: 07:33:17
Unfortunately, there are very few C scales on the market. These have a 19"–20" scale with 19 3/4" being typical.
The Pearse Hartford D (ss) or Deering Julia Belle (nickel) are .012 .014 .020w .024w .012. They work great and can be tuned to G or up to C. Back in the 1960s, these were Mediums and we tuned to pitch (actually, both Gibson and Vega used slightly heavier 4th strings).
I used to buy Savannah and Saga travel banjos and string them up with these gauges while setting them up for children. Wish I had kept one for myself.
Paul R - Posted - 03/12/2026: 13:55:32
Yes, a C scale is shorter. An A scale is 2 frets shorter than standard, and a C scale is five frets shorter than standard. C scales are sometimes called banjeaurines.
About a year ago I got a hold of an old Stewart-MacDonald Eagle kit banjeaurine. It's currently tuned to C, that is, tuned to play the chord shapes of G tuning, but five frets higher. It has the old Stew-Mac aluminum pot, so needs a lot of taming the shrill sound.
I'm looking for a tenor banjo case, preferably used and cheap, and maybe a gig bag (tenor gig bags are easier to find). It currently sits in an open-back case.
If I want to play in G, I tune to double C shape, which gives me F, and capo up two frets. Since I don't (yet) have spikes, I use a Pearson elastic fifth string capo.
Anthony S - Posted - 03/12/2026: 17:30:30
Very interesting. Thanks. Think I’m going to try to find an A scale for my “travel” banjo. But this is interesting. Good info. Interesting-looking banjo.
