What’s the Best Banjo for Me?

All Banjos Top 10

While you might not think it, there are many different kinds of banjo. You can get 4-string, 5-string, 6-string banjos, open-back banjos, or closed-back banjos. Most of the time, a particular kind of banjo fits best with a particular style of music, so you might be wondering, which banjo is best for bluegrass? Which is best for dixieland jazz or Irish folk? In this Buyer’s Guide, we answer all of your FAQs to help you find the banjo you’re looking for. If you can’t find the answer to your question here, feel free to contact us!

1. What’s a Banjo?

So, what exactly is a banjo? What does it look like, and what does it sound like? Since you can get many different kinds of banjos, we can say that it is a fretted stringed-instrument that usually has steel strings. The classic banjo sound is made by the combination of the steel strings and a skin, or head that’s stretched tightly across the round body of the banjo, making it look like a drum. It’s this ‘drum’ that gives it a loud, ‘twangy’ sound with a short yet resonant sustain.

It’s actually hard to be certain of what the word ‘banjo’ means, and where in the music-world the banjo is played the most, but its origins are well-known. The banjo is based on the stringed-instruments that were played by West African slaves brought to the Caribbean four centuries ago, and the instrument as we know it today first became popular during the 19th century and is now played all over the world. Since you can find it everywhere, the banjo is probably best defined by the country you find it in and what it’s being used to play (see Questions 2 and 4).

All Banjos

2. How Many Strings Does a Banjo Have?

The number of strings of any banjo often depends on the music style it’s being used to play:
4-string tenor banjo: These are commonly played with a plectrum as part of dixieland bands. They’re also used to play traditional Irish folk music, often using a special Irish tenor banjo tuning (see Question 5).
5-string banjo: This is the most popular kind of banjo and fits with any kind of music, but most people will know it as a bluegrass banjo. The machine head (or tuner) for the shorter fifth string is fitted at the fifth fret of the neck, rather than at the headstock, so the fifth string is in fact ¾ of the length of the other strings, giving it a much higher pitch. This string is also referred to as the ‘drone’ string, or ‘thumb’ string since most of the time, it’s not held down as part of a chord but played open, at a fixed pitch. As such, the fifth string is often just tuned to a pitch to match the key of the song being played.
6-string banjo (guitarbanjo): The benefit of a 6-string banjo is that you can use the same tuning as that of a guitar (E, A, D, G, B, E), making the transition for a guitarist much easier.
Ukulele banjo (banjolele or banjuke): This version of a four-string banjo is smaller than normal and has the same standard tuning as a ukulele. These are great if you’re used to playing a ukulele but want a louder, banjo-style sound.

For more information see Question 4.

5-String Banjos
4-String Tenor Banjos
6-String Banjos
Ukulele-Banjos
All Banjos

3. What’s the Difference Between an Open-Back and Closed-Back Banjo?

With an open back banjo, the back has literally been left open, so that some of the sound is absorbed by the clothes that the player is wearing. The result is a softer, less piercing sound. Players that love the ‘clawhammer’ (or ‘frailing’) finger picking technique often prefer an open back banjo.

With a closed back banjo, a ‘resonator’ has been fitted to the back. This gives the sound more volume and prominence. Many bluegrass banjo players opt for a closed-back banjo because it sounds more powerful.

Open-Back Banjos
Closed-Back Banjos
All Banjos

4. Which Kind of Banjo Fits Which Kind of Music?

The kind of banjo that would suit you best depends on the kind of music you want to play. Here are a few guidelines help you narrow it down:

Folk: any kind of 5-string banjo
Native American old-time: 5-string open-back banjo
Bluegrass: 5-string resonator (closed-back banjo)
Jazz/Dixieland: 4-string tenor banjo
Traditional Irish music: 4-string tenor banjo

All 5-String Banjos
5-String Open-Back Banjos
5-String Closed Back Banjos
4-String Tenor Banjos
All Banjos

5. How Should a Banjo Be Tuned?

The tuning of a banjo depends on the kind of banjo and the music it’s being used to play. Having said that, the most common 5-string banjo tuning is referred to as ‘open G tuning’, where the strings are tuned in G, D, G, B, D.

The most common 4-string banjo tuning is C, G, D, A, where the transition between each string is a fifth, like a violin or mandola. For traditional Irish music, the G, D, A, E tuning is often used, and if you’re a guitarist making the step over to a banjo, then you can use the so-called Chicago tuning, where the strings are tuned to the same pitch as the first four, highest pitched strings of the guitar: D, G, B, E.

To help you tune up your banjo, you can use a simple chromatic tuner.

All Banjos
Chromatic Tuners

6. How Do You Play a Banjo and is it Hard?

Just like a guitar, a banjo can be picked with the fingers or played with a plectrum (also known as a pick). Using picks to play bluegrass banjo is really common and more than one pick is often used: so a thumb pick and set of two finger picks (see the included image).

Learning to play chords on a 4-string banjo is likely to be a little easier than learning to play a guitar, simply because a guitar has 6 strings. But, if you want to learn to play something like bluegrass on a 5-string banjo, then it can be more difficult. Basically, any style that a complete beginner wants to play is likely to be a little difficult at first. It’s all a matter of patience and practice.

Tips:

If you already play the guitar, then a 6-string guitar-banjo is the easiest way to transition (see Question 2).
For younger children, a ukulele is a good instrument to start with before moving onto the banjo, since a ukulele is smaller and has softer, nylon strings.

Banjos
Finger Picks
Thumb Picks
All Plectrums
All Ukuleles

7. What Accessories Do I Need?

Using a tuner, you can easily and accurately tune up your banjo. A simple chromatic tuner is recommended. Also see Question 5.
If you want to play your banjo standing up, then you’ll definitely need a banjo strap.
You can change the pitch of the strings quickly by placing a banjo capo across one of the frets. With a 5-string banjo, a separate fifth-string capo can be used.
Protect your banjo if you’re taking it out on the road, to rehearsals, or lessons using a banjo bag or case.
Make sure to replace the strings of your banjo with fresh ones every now and then for optimal sound.
Banjo plectrums will give you a distinctly brighter sound (see Question 6).

Chromatic Tuners
Banjo Straps
Banjo Capos
Banjo Cases & Bags
Banjo Strings

Links & More Information

Blogs & Buyer’s Guides

Ukulele Buyer’s Guide
The Difference Between the Ukulele, Banjo & Mandolin