11/02/2020 06:14 PM
The banjo is an unique instrument that can have a variety of features intended for specific styles of playing. In this article, we’ll cover what type of banjo is right for your style of music, whether or not you’ll need a resonator, what brands make quality instruments, and what to look for when buying a used banjo.
HOW MANY STRINGS?
Traditional banjos have either four or five strings. 5 string banjos are the most common and are best suited for playing Bluegrass and Folk Music. Most string instruments are tuned from low to high as you move across the neck. The 5 string banjo has a drone string that starts in the middle of the neck, and is tuned higher than the other strings.
The 4 string banjo, also called Plectrum Banjo, is basically the same instrument as the 5 string banjo but doesn’t have a drone string. The 4 string banjo is strummed with a guitar pick (plectrum), and is a common feature of Dixieland bands because of its bright tone that cuts through the sound of the ensemble.
There are banjos with 6 strings. Although, whether these instruments can be considered banjos at all is a point of contention. The 6 string banjo is tuned and played just like the guitar, but achieves a banjo-like sound due to its membrane drumhead that acts as the soundboard.
In recent years, the 6 string banjo has begun to replace the 4 string banjo in Dixieland bands, due to the ease of transition for jazz guitarists, and the added sound that the 2 extra strings create. However, most of the techniques that create the characteristic “folk banjo” sound rely on the unique tuning system of the 5 string instrument, and these techniques are not achievable on the 6 stringed banjo.
RESONATOR OR NO RESONATOR?
If you want to learn to play bluegrass banjo, you need a resonator. The resonator is a concave wooden piece that encircles the body of the banjo from the backside. The purpose of the resonator is to reflect sound off its inside surface and project that sound out the front of the instrument, resulting in louder volume and brighter tone.
Bluegrass musicians always prefer to have a resonator because their style of playing most often involves plucking individual strings one at a time, and the added volume helps to cut through the sound of the ensemble during solos.
Open-back banjos allow the instrument’s sound to reflect off the body of the performer, resulting in a quieter volume and mellower tone. Open-back banjos are preferred by claw-hammer style players, and many singer-songwriters.
OTHER COMPONENTS
The Pot
The pot is the name of the hoop shaped body of the instrument. When the strings are plucked, they vibrate the bridge, which vibrates the head of the banjo, and then the body of the instrument, creating the audible sound that we hear. The Rim is the wooden hoop to which all the parts of the pot are attached, and is the most resonant part of the body.
The Rim needs to be made of hard wood. The best banjos have rims made from multiple layers of maple, plied together. Cheaper rims may be made from softer woods or light metals, resulting in poorer sound quality. Top banjo brands also make the neck from maple.
The Head
The banjo, like a drum, has a head stretched across the top of the pot that acts as a sounding board. Originally, banjo heads were made from animal skin. Heads today are made from mylar, which has a brighter tone, isn’t affected as much by humidity, and isn’t made from a dead animal.
The Bridge
Banjos have a floating bridge, meaning that it is not attached to the head, and is held in place by the tension of the strings. Bridges, like the rim, are made from hard wood.
When buying a used instrument, it’s important to remember that strings, the head, and the bridge can all be replaced. So, it’s okay if those are in bad shape, as long as the body is undamaged and the neck isn’t warped.
5th String
While antique instruments were made with tuning pegs that held the strings in place just by the friction of wood against wood, modern instruments most often have tuners with gears that help keep the strings from sliding wildly out of tune. The 5th string is often an exception. Some brands make geared 5th string tuners. Others don’t. But, having a geared 5th string is always preferable.
BUYING NEW
New Banjos can be purchased from $200 and up. Reliable brands are Ibanez, Epiphone, Fender, and Deering.
If you are ready to make an investment in the instrument, and are seriously committed to learning the banjo, we recommend the Deering Goodtime Two. It costs around $700 new, but you might be able to find a used instrument in good condition for under $500.
For a little less price, but still great quality, the Ibanez B50 costs around $300 new and makes an excellent beginner instrument.
BUYING USED
Banjo's are reasonably easy to modify after purchase. It's possible to buy a used banjo and have the action (string height) altered, change the head, change the bridge, remove a resonator, add a resonator (sometimes), and even install an electric pick-up. Over time, these mods would cost about as much as buying a brand new banjo, but will give you added time to figure out what your instrument needs while you learn to play.
Older and vintage instruments can commonly be found in music stores and pawn shops. The right instrument can have decent sound quality, and a cool vintage look. Be sure to inspect that the body of the instrument is in good shape, that the pot isn’t dented or warped, and that the neck has only a subtle forward curve.
Be careful to avoid brands like Rogue, Kent, Hondo, Mountain, & Kay, brands that have a musical term in the name like “Melody,” “Harmony,” or “Ode,” and anything with the word “Uncle” in it.
As always, if you have an instrument and need to know what work is needed to get the best possible sound, bring it into our studio and one of our teachers will help you make a list of repairs and recommend the right repair shop.
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Need help deciding which banjo is right for you? Sign up for lessons with one of our teachers!