Once you’re all tuned up and ready to go, you’ll need to place your body and hands in the right playing position. If you’ve got a 6-string banjo, then you’ll need to tune EBGDAE, in descending order, just like a guitar. The strings here will be set to GDAE in ascending order, an octave lower than the standard 4-string tuning. This is the same tuning that mandola and viola musicians use, with intervals of fifths between each string.Īnother option is to use Irish Tenor Tuning, which works well in folk music. If you’ve got a four-string and want to play Dixieland Jazz, then the standard choice is to tune is CGDA. The strings here should be tuned to F# – D – F# – A – D in ascending order so that you can strum the strings with no fingering and get a D chord. This was made famous by the Bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs. Similarly, you could also try out D tuning. This means you can strum all the strings simultaneously to play a G chord, without having to press any fingers down on the fretboard.

Once you know what you’re doing, banjo tuning is easy – just remember to use an electric tuner to get the notes perfect.ĥ-string models are most commonly tuned in open G, in ascending order of GDGBD. Tuningĭifferent banjos require specific tunings, so it’s important to get this right before trying to learn a song or lick. However, if you’re experienced and have been saving up, then, by all means, go for a resonator. Just be aware that resonator banjos are often heavier and tend to be pricier than the open-backed variety (due to the use of extra material), so it may be worth opting for an open-backed model if you’re a novice shopping on a budget. This, in turn, amplifies the string’s vibration, so that the instrument produces a much louder, twangier sound with more sustain. This variety has an enclosed back and a wooden bowl, attached to the body’s inside chamber. Traditionally, solo folk artists that use a clawhammer technique would opt for an open-backed banjo, for its softer tone and reduced volume.īluegrass players, on the other hand, often have to compete with other instruments so almost always go for a banjo with a resonator. Open-backed models are quieter, as the amplified sound projects outwards towards the musician rather than the audience. Open-Back or Resonatorīanjos have two types of body, known as ‘open-backed’ or ‘resonators’. With that in mind, if you’re hoping to learn traditional techniques such as clawhammer, this variety is probably not the best option for you. But, when it comes to chords and scales, these instruments are played more like a guitar than a 4 or 5 string banjo, and are tuned like one too, so are most suited to experienced guitarists. 6-StringĦ-string banjos have a regular banjo body and a guitar’s neck, so are sometimes known as ‘banjitars’ (yes, really!).īecause of the extra strings and extended fingerboard, they offer the largest range of notes that produce a classic twangy banjo tone. So are best suited to players with some prior experience. They are more complex than their 4-string brothers, due to them having the fifth string attached halfway up the instrument’s neck and an extra tuning peg on the fifth fret.Īs well as this, these instruments are played using either a clawhammer technique in folk music or a thumb pick and two metal fingerpicks in Bluegrass, which will also take some time to master. You’ll most often hear these instruments being used by Bluegrass and folk artists, but just remember, the additional range of notes will require some time to master if you’re a beginner. 5-Stringĥ-string models are the most traditional variety of banjo, with the extra 5th string adaptation being thought up by African predecessors. Standard models have 19 frets, whereas the Irish variety have 17. They are sometimes referred to as plectrum or tenor banjos, as you play them using a pick to strum chords and melody notes. In regards to style, these instruments are often sought after by Dixieland Jazz or Irish folk musicians, so would make an especially good choice for any novices interested in these genres.

Fewer strings also mean they’re a bit easier to tune (although there are a variety of ways to tune a tenor banjo). 4 StringĤ-string ‘tenor’ banjos are usually the best choice for beginners, seeing as having fewer strings is easier to get your head around when it comes to theory and because the smaller fret spacing is less of a stretch on your fingers. Banjos are quite diverse, coming with sets of either 4, 5 or 6 strings, all of which work best with folks of different experience levels and musical preferences. Before you go out and buy the first banjo you see, it’s important to consider which type you need.

Six stringed banjo