How to Choose a Banjo Style and a Banjo

Hopefully I'm able to pass along some information to help you decide what style (3 Finger/Bluegrass or Old-Time Frailing/Clawhammer) and what sort of 5-string banjo you want to play.

Banjos used: Recording King RK-R35 and Ramsey Woody

[JimPankey]

I think most folks start out suspecting they'll only play at home. Eventually, though, the banjo winds up going out. Never-the-less either open back or resonator should be just fine if you're undecided.

It's much like when I was deciding on a bicycle - MTB or Road bike. A friend told me, "Just buy one". That's my advice here. Buy a banjo in your budget - that you like. Once you start learning you'll have some personal experience to guide you, and you can then buy another banjo. :)

[ChrisRadloff]

As a longtime bass player who has a sudden yearning to own a banjo, I very much appreciate your explanation. It was exactly what I needed to know in buying my first beginner banjo! Thank you. 

[audrybella]

Your beard can hide your face Jim but nothing can hide your distinct eye expressions and movements. For an accomplished banjo player and musician your current look hits the bullseye (IMHO)!

[mr.mikeaz]

Jim I've played simple guitar since the late 60s when I hurt my hand awhile back I could only move 2 fingers at the time and couldn't fret or bar the guitar so I figured out 2 fingers on 4 string banjo. Toured the Deering factory and bought a goodtime plectrum never regretted it.

[thealabamianchilihead]

Grew up watching hee haw, and im young (18) haha, but roy is one of the best if not the best person to ever pick up a stringed instrument. Wasn't limited to just a banjo either, man could play a fiddle and a guitar too. I imagine he did many hours if practice to get that good

[AndrewKurdelski]

Whoa! Beardless Jim is freaking me out. Love what you do brother.

[JimPankey]

I thought about mentioning it, but as far as a style or even banjo goes I didn't think it mattered much. However, to answer your question, that area of the fingerboard is scooped out to facilitate playing over that area of the neck. Some folks seem to think it's easier if it's scooped there. Check out my review of the RK-OT25...

[JimPankey]

...and many players played clawhammer style using a finger pick on resonator banjos.

I play several different banjo styles, but I only picked two of the more prominent styles that someone interested in learning might have heard.

Like I said, "Yes, you can play any style of banjo on any style of banjo." The intent of the video was to give a starting point, and not give hard and fast rules about how things have to be done.

[kcgrp]

I definitely want to learn to play the 5-string bluegrass banjo.  In fact, I've been wanting to for over 20 years, and I'm finally going to bite the bullet this year.  I just hope it's not too late, and that I'm not too old.  I'm 42 now, will probably be 43 by the time I'm able to take lessons.

[jasonalbaum]

Hey- I am 45, just picked up a banjo last night. Jim wanted to say thanks for making these lessons available on YouTube for the newbies like me. Any advice to help me get going??

[davestambaugh]

Gibson came into the banjo market very late in the four string era. After the war there were two camps. The first four strings were discovered when there were so many mandolin players who liked playing mandolin type instruments with a flat pic. There were many who were used to picking with a plectrum. At first they just removed the fifth string. Aquiring the tecqunique of playing the five string was considered to steep of a learning curve for some. So after playing five strings with the useless tuner someone started making banjos without the fifth string peg and the first four string banjo was invented. After the turn of the century a lot of these mando players started trying different scale lengths using capo on the plectrum banjo tuning to EADG that they were used to playing only with way more volume that you could get from a wood sound board instrument. So as with the five string becoming the plectrum a lot of these guys started having Vega make custom short scale instruments to eliminate the useless capo. In 1908 Vega came out with the Little wonder But they did nit make any Little wonder five strings at that time as the five string was not so popular at that time. Besides there was already a short scale version of the five string.

[norwoodbaybridge]

It is also worth mentioning that, aside from differing kinds of banjos; there are also many variations in: (1) the length of the banjo neck; (2) the diameter of the banjo pot; (3) the differing ways to capo the 5th string; and, *4)  the softness, or hardness, of the strings chosen to play on the banjo; among a myriad of other customizable features.

Owning a banjo; or two; as the author of this video seems to have acquired; is, in many ways, like owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Banjo players, it has been found, are not "herd" animals; and, are quite imaginative; which remarkably, is, no doubt, why they have chosen to play the banjo in the first place.

There are also a seemingly unlimited number of ways to tune the strings of a banjo; and, more ways are always being experimented with by some backwoodsman (or, backwoodswoman).

When all the dust has settled, what is probably important to most folks is that when they open the case of their banjo to take it out and play it; that they like what they see; and, what they hear.

If a person purchases a banjo with cold, hard cash; and then, doesn't like what he or she sees or hears whenever that person saddles up the banjo on his or her knee; it won't be long before it is never played; as, in this day and age, there are many, many ways to enjoyably spend one's time; and, it don't have to be on some banjo.

There is also a lot said about not spending much money for a banjo; as, a plain, workingman's banjo will sound just as good as an ornate piece of genuine art.

But, what's wrong with buying a banjo from an independent banjo maker here in the US; and, paying him fairly for the time and effort he put in to make it?

He's just trying to make a living with his calling; just like everyone else.

If a guy spends his time ornately decorating a crafted banjo masterpiece; why not support that particularly wholesome activity?

Wouldn't it be better if people, world-wide, were making instruments of music; rather than instruments of destruction?

It never hurts to support craftsmen and woodworkers of all stripes so that a person can hand down an heirloom piece to his kids and his grandkids.

People take pride in masterful craftsmanship; and, rightfully so.

If a person gets a good banjo that he or she likes looking at; and, likes to hear when he or she sits alone in the evening and plays it; that person will end up being a grand banjo player just because of the time that banjo spends in his or her hands for the pure love of what they are playing.

Happiness doesn't come from having things; happiness comes to men and women when they accomplish something worthwhile; when they accomplish something that they are proud of; and, that benefits society objectively.

A good banjo player can do much for charitable organization fund-raising throughout his or her lifetime.

Interestingly, a person playing the banjo well does not offend any political group; nor, does a person playing the banjo well ever offend any religious affiliation.

Good banjo playing opens many doors; and, brings men and women; young and old; together in hand clapping and foot tapping.

Look at the smiles you see when a person is playing the banjo well.

It has been tried to think of something else that does that when done in public; but remarkably, so far,  that something else can't be thought of.

[noahshillings]

I didn't even realize it was Jim because he doesn't have the beard

[ShepFL]

Thanks for explaining the difference in plain English. I just picked up a blue grass style banjo and hoping to start lessons after the new yr.

[donaldfair]

My banjo obsession began in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia listening to Bluegrass Gospel music .

[johnjriggsarchery]

Land of the Lost. Good man. Funny you mention Hee Haw. Grandpa Jones clawhammered and he played on a resonator banjo.

[inambaguum]

What a great video. I'm thinking about starting banjo and had already done this research elsewhere, but this is by far the best video to explain in simple terms the differences between the styles of playing and banjos.

[Lynxthejonin]

Honestly I'm finding a lot of these things out after the fact of buying my banjo. Bought a used one with a resonator - its great - but I'm most accustomed to punk rock and folk, so I'd figure the frailing style works. Man is it heavy..

[steveramsey]

Hi I am 57 years old. Have never been able to read music and have no idea about how to form "keys" whilst playing. I have recently bought a banjo and am wondering how do I form keys and how do I remember which key to play in each song. I have started to learn rolls but that is all I have learned and I am still slow. Thanks in advance

[julienielsen]

I took clawhammer lessons once. I like open back banjos. Right now I want to learn melodic banjo.