Key of F...

[Tim Twiss]

What would YOU do??

If you get a piece of fiddle music in F? Which note do you reference as the thumb string?

[Al Smitley]

Any tune I learn on the banjo that's not from the tutorials is trial-and-error for me, ...which probably isn't time efficient.  Good topic!  It will be interesting to read comments.

[Tim Twiss]

I almost always think "Rice"...thumb string "E". Play it as is. It gives a nice contrast to all the music played in the typical keys.