Buying a Banjo: What to Look For, What to Avoid, and What You Should Do

A banjo is a unique instrument. It can be equipped with a wide range of features that are tailored to specific playing styles. This article will discuss which type of banjo suits your music and whether you need a resonator. We’ll also talk about the quality of instruments made by different brands.

Traditional banjos can have four or five strings. The most popular banjo is the five-string model. They are well-suited to playing Bluegrass and Folk Music. As you move along the neck, most string instruments can be tuned from low to high. The drone string on the 5 string banjo is located in the middle section of the neck and is tuned higher than other strings.

Although the 4 string banjo is also known as Plectrum banjo, it doesn’t have a drone. Because of its bright tone, the 4 string banjo can be strummed using a guitar pick (plectrum). It is common in Dixieland bands.

Banjos can have 6 strings. However, it is not clear whether these instruments are considered banjos. The 6 string banjo can be tuned just like the guitar and has a similar sound to the banjo. However, the membrane drumhead acts as the soundboard.

The 6 string banjo has been replacing the 4 string banjo in the Dixieland band, due to its ease of use for jazz guitarists and the additional sound it makes. The majority of techniques that produce the “folk-banjo” sound depend on the unique tuning of the 5-string instrument. These techniques cannot be achieved on the 6-stringed banjo.

You can buy new banjos starting at $200. Fender, Epiphone and Deering are all reliable brands.

The Deering Goodtime Two is recommended if you’re ready to invest in the instrument and have a serious commitment to learning the banjo. The instrument is approximately $700 new. However, you may be able find a used instrument for less than $500.

The Ibanez B50 is a great beginner instrument and costs only $300.

2 Comments

  1. Reply
    Aiden May 17, 2021

    You should had missed something, LOL. I was kidding. You have explained it so well. This is one of the great article. Thanks for posting it.

    • Reply
      Todd Diaz May 17, 2021

      Thank you so much Aiden for your appreciation. Keep visiting our Blog for more articles.

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