How to Choose the Right Banjo

A banjo is a stringed instrument with a rounded body and a long and thin neck. It is often used in bluegrass and country western music genres and has a distinctive style and sound. If you are interested in buying a banjo for yourself, it is important that you have some basic information about this musical instrument before you actually make the purchase. Here are a few pointers that can help you learn more about the banjo and also help you choose the right one for yourself.

Banjo players wear multiple finger picks to pluck the instruments, however, some of them may use their fingers instead. Banjos usually come in four or five strings, although six-string banjos are also available. These six-string banjos can be tuned and played very much like a guitar.

The most popular style of the five-string instrument is the bluegrass style which is played on a banjo with a resonator. It is a style that requires much practice to get the right fluency and tempo, however, it is very good for jamming. The Clawhammer, the frailing, and the old time style banjos are quite similar and are very popular with enthusiasts of old-time and folk music. Often played with an open back banjo, it has a mellow tone and is quite good to sing along. It is also relatively easy to learn. The folk style banjo is played without finger picks and is a mixture of both melody and chord playing. This is often played with a banjo with a long neck and it can be played on both an open back or a resonator banjo. Classical banjo is also played without finger picks and sometimes on a banjo with nylon strings.

A popular style of the four-string banjo is the tenor. It is played with a pick and is usually strummed, giving a jazz sound. It’s tuning is higher and is a good instrument for jazz bands. The Irish tenor, which is similar to the tenor banjo, uses a seventeen fret neck and not the usual nineteen fret neck. This is often used by mandolin players as an alternative instrument. The neck on a plectrum banjo has the small scale of a five-string neck but without the fifth string. It is the least popular of all the styles and uses a G tuning just like the bluegrass banjo.

There are other banjos available such as the banjo mandolin, the bass banjo, the ukulele banjo, and the dobro banjo. The body of these styles is a banjo, however, the neck and tuning is the same as the names of these banjos.

While buying a banjo, make sure that it is easy to play. Check to see if it is easy to push the strings down in front of the nut and also farther up the neck. It should be easy to play with the right hand and you should be able to hear a clear note by just lightly picking a string near the bridge.

If you plan on playing the banjo, you will also need to buy a few other things such as a case to keep the banjo. An electric tuner will be needed to check if the pitch of a string is high or low in tune. If you plan to play styles that use a finger pick, you will need at least two metal finger picks and a plastic or metal thumb pick. An extra set of strings and picks will come in handy in case the one you are using breaks.

So, pick a banjo that sounds fine and can be played easily. The style of music that you intend to play will decide whether you want to go for a four-string, a five-string, or even one of the other alternative banjos. Consider your budget and keep your preferences in mind and you won’t make a mistake while choosing the right banjo.

Banjo Uke Finished and Working at LAST!!!

I finally, months after beginning, have figured out how to tune my banjo uke and actually make music with it I am happy with. Didgeman80 gave me the idea of where to place the bridge (which made all the difference!!) in this video: www.youtube.com And Aaron Keim inspired me to kick out some old time Clawhammer on the new uke in this video: www.youtube.com Thanks a bunch guys! You made my day!

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Banjo Ukulele Playing

Me singing & playing “Five foot two” on my Tyler Mountain Banjo Ukulele. I have only been playing for a couple of years. Sorry about the audio being out of sync with the video, I used my digital camera and when it uploaded it got weird.

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George Formby Style Banjo Uke: Fan Stroke Tutorial

The fan stroke is often admired for it’s visual effect and the apparent skill of the player. This tutorial shows you how to learn the Fan Stroke, first by learning the motion and fingering and then all importantly a technique for getting the timing right. Make sure you know how to do the “Split Stroke” first, if you don’t know this see my Split Stroke tutorial first. This isn’t the only way to do the fan, there are lots of variations especially with fingering and where you can slot the fan into a rhythm, for example see Stephen Sprought (You Tube user ukelounge). User 4276357 has also just put up some videos of Jack Jones (an amazing uke player) showing how to do the Fan Stroke, so try those also. When you have mastered this, to add a further dimension, try to match the fan to the split stroke sound (not just the timing). In this case the first stroke is with the thumb instead of the little finger, and the index finger upstroke and little finger downstroke are on just 2 strings not four. If you wish to hear GF style played properly or to receive tuition from an official tutor, my channel isn’t quite the place! The best advice is to try one of the George Formby Society Conventions (details available from their website). The Banjo-Uke used in this tutorial is a Cartwright Super Delux (an Abbott Monarch copy) in ADF#B tuning. Thanks for watching and Good Luck! Cheers, John.

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Pickup Transducer for Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Ukulele, Etc

• Great product, Great price!
• Mounts easily inside your stringed instrument.
• This unit works with a standard 1/4″ plug.
• Connects to your PA, mixer, or amplifier.

Product Description
This is the perfect solution if you need to amplify your instrument and do not want to break the bank but still want a professional setup without having to call in a Luthier. This little transducer is a “hot” pickup and you will be very impressed with the quality at such an inexpensive price. Just mount the transducer inside your instrument with the supplied double stick tape and run the 1/4″ jack out a hole that you make in your ideal location and thats it (Transdu… More >>

Pickup Transducer for Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Ukulele, Etc

How easy is it to learn to play plectrum banjo if you know how to play ukulele?

I play ukulele and I want to take up banjo. I was thinking of plectrum banjo because it only has 4 strings like the ukulele, but do you think this would make it easier for me to learn?

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Banjo Ukulele #3

Oak and Cherry Tenor Banjo uke original tune Lyrics: Come back here it,s not your turn to go It’s not fair I’m gona miss you please don’t go As the tears roll from my eyes I begin to let you know I realy love you , thanks for every thing you ever did you are my best friend Do you remember walking hand and hand to the park thoose were the days Just me and mt Grandma, me and my Grandma ma,me and my Grandma Come back here it,s not your turn to go It’s not fair I’m gona miss you please dont go As the tears roll from my eyes I begin to let you go Song writen By Brian Archer/ Bent Note Instruments

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I want to learn to play either the banjo or ukulele. What is easier to learn to play w/ no musical experince?

I really want to learn how to play an instrument like the banjo or ukulele. I really enjoy bluegrass music. I have zero musical talents or experience. I would throw the harmonica in the mix, but I hear it is very difficult to learn.
Any advice?

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Banjo Cumbus with Soft Case – 23″

• Light weight but very sturdy and remarkably loud.
• Shipping insurance included.
• A nylon case included.

Product Description


23″ in length. It has metal frets and 4 courses of the 2 strings each. The Cumbus is a relatively young instrument. It was developed in Istanbul in the early 1900′s. The inventor, Zeynel became known as Zeynel Abidin Bey. The famous Ataturk Mustafa Kemal, Turkey’s first president, dubbed it Cumbus, pronounced joom-bush. Cumbus is Turkish for revelry, just the mood this instrument inspires. Our Cumbus are imported from the Family shop of Zeynel Abidin on Atat… More >>

Banjo Cumbus with Soft Case – 23″

Vintage Style Pro 5 String Banjo w/ Planetary Gears

• Nickel Plated Armrest
• Planetary Gears w/ Geared 5th Peg
• Rosewood Fretboard
• Mother Of Pearloid Inlay
• 24 Nickel Plated Brackets

Product Description


Welcome to the new new 24 Bracket Pro Banjo by Savannah. Quality design and at an unbelievably low price. This banjo is easily transportable and will sound great in any environment! Be one of many to witness the powerful sound that fine craftsmanship and high quality Maple, Rosewood and Mahogany can produce.


* Pro Remo Head * Full 1 yr manufacturer warranty * Shipped insured * Brand New!… More >>

Vintage Style Pro 5 String Banjo w/ Planetary Gears

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