5 string or bluegrass banjo
This is the style you would use for bluegrass music and in this
country is the most popular. Normally tuned to an open G chord,
a thumbpick and two finger picks are usually used for playing the
5 string banjo to increase brightness, volume and ease of speed.
Tunes are created by playing melodic arpeggios and occasional single
line runs.
Tenor or Irish banjo
Has 4 strings and is a shorter scale length than the 5 string. This
is used most commonly for playing Irish music (jigs, reels etc.}
as well as in trad jazz bands. The tenor banjo is played with a
plectrum, single note runs creating the melodies
Plectrum banjo
Also has 4 strings but the same scale length as a 5 string and is
most commonly used for playing Dixieland style jazz. As suggested,
a plectrum is used with a more chordal approach than the others.
6 string banjo
Is less common and tuned the same as a guitar allowing a
guitarist to get the sound of a banjo without the inconvenience
of having to learn to play one.
How much
is a beginners banjo?
Beginners' banjos sell for as little as $300 but
as with most things, cheapness doesn't always translate into value.
We always stress the importance of tone and playability when buying
any musical instrument. If you are working within a budget it is
not necessary to start with a high quality professional instrument
but buying the cheapest available can hinder learning by not giving
the incentive needed to achieve. If you are not committed enough
to buy a decent instrument you're not likely to get very far.
We recommend a Samick SB-5 ( $449 ) as a basic entry
level model except if buying a 5-string it is advisable to step
up to a model with a geared 5th string tuner such as the
What are the points to consider about banjo construction?
Tone ring
A tone ring can take many forms but basically it is a metal ring
that sits between the rim of the banjo and the head. As the name
suggests it has a major bearing on the tone of the banjo. The composition
of the tone ring can vary from die cast metal in cheaper banjos
through to special combinations of brass and alloys which produce
a metal similar to that used in bells hence the name "bell
brass tone ring". You would expect to pay from $1000 up to
purchase a banjo with a proper tone ring.
Vellum or plastic heads
The head is the skin or plastic which forms the soundboard of the
banjo and is similar to a drum skin. Early banjos used various animal
skins (also referred to as vellums). These had to be fitted (or
lapped) to suit the individual banjo so the size of the vellum was
not critical. Vellums give for want of a better word a "plunky"
sound, which is o.k. for some styles of music but not suitable for
modern bluegrass. The tension varies due to changes in humidity
and temperature, which affects the tone.
Plastic heads are more stable and can be tuned to
higher tensions without risk of breaking. Most modern banjos are
fitted with plastic heads the standard size being 11". A limited
range of fractional sizes are available to fit older instruments.
They also come in various crown heights to suit banjos with different
style tone rings.
Pot Assembly
The body of a banjo is referred to as the "pot assembly".
This determines the structural integrity of the instrument and the
tone. The pot assembly has gone through numerous designs and changes
over the years but the most common pot assemblies you will encounter
these days are as follows.
- Thin wooden rim - usual for entry level banjos
- Cast alloy rim - the next step
- Gibson style pot assembly - consists of a thick wooden rim,
heavy duty flange and tension hoop and a metal tone ring. This
is generally regarded as the standard for quality instruments
and most quality banjos today have this design or similar
We suggest a banjo with a cast alloy pot assembly
to begin with. This is stronger than the cheaper wood rims and also
has more tension hooks to allow even tensioning of the head. These
banjos generally start around $500.
If your budget allows you can buy an entry level
banjo with a tone ring and heavy duty pot assembly for around $1000.
Other considerations
Functional features
There are functional advantages to features such as geared tuners,
which make it easier to tune (especially the 5th string!) and heavy
duty tailpieces which improve tone.
Aesthetics
Fancy inlays, binding, gold hardware and pearloid tuning heads are
a personal choice that make a banjo look prettier but don't add
to the tone or playability
Set up
Often overlooked when buying a banjo is the set up. A banjo requires
a proper set up to realise the correct tone and action. This is
achieved through adjustments to the head tension, neck angle, rake
angle of strings to bridge etc. All banjos we sell from entry level
up are set up optimally. This is not true of most of our competitors.
Quality after sales
service
At Gladesville Guitar Factory we have genuinely interested,
specialist staff that have been playing and working with banjos
and other folk instruments for over 30 years. As well as repairs
and maintenance, we have tuition books and videos, accessories such
as straps, mutes, strings, imported spare parts, thumb and fingerpicks but most importantly knowledgeable and
experienced advice.
Contact us and we'll be happy to answer all your questions |
