Introduction to the 6 string Banjo - Play it like a guitar!
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- Опубликовано: 31 окт 2014
- There is no reason that you can't play a 6 string banjo like a guitar - within limits. If you want to play Bluegrass, get a 5 string instrument made for that style. If you are a guitar player, and want to get a banjo sound with little to no learning curve, watch this.
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David, I am 78 years old and started the guitar about 3 years ago. I have always enjoyed banjo music. At my age it would be very difficult to learn to play a regular banjo. With this video I feel confident that with even my limited capabilities, I will be able to enjoy my Deering R6-6 string banjo. Thank you.
As a musician I primarily played guitar, but when I wanted to try banjo I went for a five string. I was somewhat worried that the learning curve would be difficult, but what I think I failed to understand is that the banjo is very easy. If you’ve played any finger style guitar, that knowledge and muscle ability transfers over very well, and you get to play all the classics with an accurate sound. The five string banjo is basically as difficult as a ukulele but with an extra string you occasionally pluck but almost never fret. In my opinion, I would just take a week to play with finger picks on a real 5 string banjo and follow Jim Pankies tutorials on RUclips. I’m playing real bluegrass with 6 days worth of banjo experience and it’s exhilarating!
Scruggs style picking is NOTHING like any sort of fingerstyle guitar. I'm a pretty decent travis picker but bluegrass picking with the syncopation is nothing like it. The only thing that translates is your ability to fret notes. I Highly doubt you were playing proper bluegrass after 6 days.
You have included everything one could want to know about 6 string banjo in this video, short of picking up one and playing it. Thanks, very informative and helpful!
Just found this video and enjoyed a heaping helping of common sense from this guy. Thanks for posting this. My Gold Tone GT-750 used banjatar arrived today. Looking forward to Praising the Lord at church with my new banjo like sounds.
Heres my advice, Video was great. The 6 string banjo is an instrument in its own right. I play both 5 string and 6 and each have there own unique quality. Nothing wrong with either one. an instrument is for pleasure, if you are not having fun with it. change your instrument. thanks
Unlike the 5 String Banjo you can play in every key w/o re-tuning and you can use your Guitar capo too, and any type of String:ruclips.net/video/DJv6PtwalgY/видео.html
Thank you thank you thank you. How refreshing! A clip that is well thought it out and prepared. You gave the information that one would need in the exact perfect order. And, without mistakes and babbling and silliness.Thank you thank you thank you
Nice sound !!!
I'm a guitar player and now I have a 6 strings Banjo to add more styles of music in my band.
Thanks Sir for all this information.😊👍🏻
This is a great video. Thank you for all of the information segments and especially for playing the two songs at the end.
Great video. Been thinking of a 6 string and had so many questions... you answered them all. Thanks.
Dave, thanks for taking the time to share this info. :)
Exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for the information, I’m a college student with a love of old country and blue grass and 12 years on acoustic guitar but no time to learn the banjo for now. Happy picking!
Wow! Dave, Thanks for this very helpful video. I used to play in a local blues band a few years ago. I’ve re-introduced myself to folk music, & my wife let me purchase an acoustic nice playing Washburn. (She’s the family financial officer). I’ve been writing songs, & recently thought...”hey, this would sound good with some banjo during the bridge”. Found your video because I was looking for a very “minimal learning curve”. Thank you so much!
Good video, with good information. I have a 6-string banjo as well and am beginning to use it more -and for more song arrangements as time goes on. I play mostly the old country western and sing-along tunes. I'm not originally a 6-string banjo or guitar player(although I do play both now). I started out with accordion.
Thanks for the informative video. I think you have achieved your purpose with it!
Thank you for your video was very informative I’m thinking of buying a six string banjo cheers and all the best from down under good job
Thank you for the informative video Dave. I bought mine from a friend a couple of months ago and it does what it should. Sounds like a banjo and plays just like a guitar. Some songs are deadly on the banjo and others should be played on a guitar. A great review Dave! Nova Scotia loved it!!!
This was very useful. Thanks for this. I'm planning to buy a 6-string banjo and this helped me alot. Cheers.
Thank you very informative, and honest, I try to play 5 string because I love the sound but like more guitar music bordering on classical played on banjo , so just thinking of buying a guitar , but may now look at a six string banjo
Thanks for the video, after debating getting a 6 string banjo this video helped make the decision eaiser. I am now going to get one.
Good comments of differences between 5 and 6 string banjos. When I saw you you reminded me of Harold Lloyd. Thanks for the lesson.
Good video, very informative...My 6 string banjo is the Dean Backwoods model. I have it strung with lighter gauge strings (.026 and .018) on the low E and A strings. This helps to give it a more unique sound. I have also added a stick on pickup on the back side of the head. This works well except I have to be careful about feedback. Anyway, this set up meets my needs, especially during the country jam session I attend. With 6 or 8 acoustic guitars, my finger picking style stands out nicely...
That Wildwood Flower stirred my heart.
I watched your video several times and it helped me pick out a 6 string banjo., I found a Gold Tone. Thanks for what you did here.. I truly appreciated it...
Thanks. Glad it help you. Gold Tone sure does make some nice banjos.
Thanks for the video. You helped me out trying to figure out what strings to get for the same model Framus 6 string banjo
I would like to thank you for this intro video to 6 string banjo. I have got one,but I have not done good practice and the instrument is sleeping inside its cover .... But I have seen this video and i guess that i'll try again. I greatly appreciate your plain language so I could understand your explanations even if I'm italian . Thank you so much . I'll keep follow you in other videos !!!
Very informative video,..thank you,.just bought 6 string banjo Gold Tone,...and I am learning how to use it, Mostly I do play 12 string guitar, i love country music and I will use your instructions for mine feature performance
Thanks for the very helpful video. I have been playing guitar for 65 years and am just considering a 6 string Banjo.
Nice job with this presentation , thank you
Thank you for the video, I was looking for more knowledge about the difference between a 5 string banjo and a 6 string banjo (here in Brazil, banjos has 4 strings as default and its pretty different than the 5 string), and once I know they have different tunings, I'm rolling for a 5 string, thank you very much!
What's really neat about a Banjitar is that it's fully Chromatic. Unlike the 5 String Banjo, you can play in every key without re-tuning, & you can even use your Guitar capo with it too.
Great video. I still have no idea which direction I want to go as far as banjo configuration and tuning, but this has been quite enlightening.
Hi Dave ta for a useful video, I've just purchased a Goldtone GT 750. I play guitar, mostly flat picking, with my mates on Mandolin, Guitalele and Melodeon we do folk and punk covers.Thanks for sharing your insights.
Very nice presentation. Thank you very much.
Thank you for making this, thumbs up!
Awesome video! I'm buying one.
Hello David, I enjoyed your detailed video here. Very informative, and straightforward. Having bought a Goldtone GT 750 six string banjatar about twenty years ago, I was never comfortable with the sound as it did not sound bright enough. A few years back I did purchase a used five string banjo and liked the authentic sound. I am going to string the Goldtone with "Nashville Tuning" and see if that helps. Thank you again.
Nice advice. Much appreciated.
I play DADGAD a lot on guitar and as I've just bought a 6 string banjo I'm going to explore playing in different keys. DADGAD has a droning string which may sound interesting.
A lot of great information and insight here. Thank you for the video.
+benlee111999 Thanks!
@@kingschoir6328 Unlike the 5 String Banjo you can play in every key w/o re-tuning.
Thank You Dave. Great video.
Great Video. Yeah I was watching a Keith Urban interview with DanRather and it came up that he plays a 6 sting banjo.Years ago like 1968 my cousin gave me a 4 sting tenor banjo that he had in his attic.I bought a chord book But learning different chords was frustrating to me.I Imagine there should be a lot of down sides to the six string banjo. Now as I am listening to the rest of your video I realize There is going to have to be some sort of tuning options and even then you would be as you said just getting a 5 string. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the video, lots of useful information. I just picked up a Framus 6 sting banjo from an Auction and was just curious of how well it will work for my purposes and your video confirmed my impressions of the instrument. The purists out there refer to them as cheap junk but I think its a well built instrument and a good deal for the money if you can find one. I'm mainly a 6 string acoustic player and have been playing since a kid but like the sound of a banjo but not sure I want to learn a 5 string. I'm learning the idiosyncrasies of the 6 string banjo and they are fun to play with. The 6 string banjo is great for old time guitar hacks like myself and looking forward to adding the sound to our local jam sessions. Thanks again!
really useful, mister, very thanks!
Dave... I can't thank you enough for this.
I'm a jazz guitarist. I watched Elderly Instruments' video and jazz sounds great on a 6 string banjo. I will be purchasing one soon.
Thanks for making this video. It helped me.
It's as if people have never heard of the Tenor and Plectrum banjo.
You can play Jazz, Ragtime, Blues...
All that goes great on a banjo of any sort.
Your video was pretty informative. I had considered trying a set of bronze tenor guitar strings out on my tenor banjo.
I already dialed in the amount of darkness to the sound of mine though and putting oh phospher bronze would throw it over the edge.
Also nickel plated strings just last longer.
Thanks Dave I just picked up a 6 string Contessa Banjo with really bad strings. It's old and needs a little help but with your help I think I'll have some fun playing it. Aloha and thanks for the tips
yeswings
Electric Guitar Strings will work cause they're identical in material to Banjo Strings (Nickel Plated Steel).
That was very informative,Thank you.
Great video! You mentioned making the video because it was hard to find more info about the banjo/guitar (banguitar) on RUclips. I would suggest placing the words "banguitar" in your video title or description to make it easier for your viewers to find this great video. It didn't show up on Google until I put in banjo guitar. :-)
Would u consider posting a video showing some close up angles of ur hand playing ur roll pattern? Great work thanks for all the info!!
Great video really helpfull as I picked up my new gold tone :D
Thank you Dave, very informative, encouraging and good luck to you. The instrument is just great for Australian trad. music.
Thanks Warwick! Here's one way a six string can be used:
ruclips.net/video/1WeoOKg1bMg/видео.html
@@IntlPlaza You can use any type of Guitar Strings. With Nashville Tuned Guitar Strings you can get a Tenor Banjo Sound since the High G is a step below the High A of a Tenor Banjo (the Octave4Plus .006 B4 is a step above the Tenor Banjo A4):ruclips.net/video/DJv6PtwalgY/видео.html
I absolutely found your video very informative, well thought out, simple to understand, motivating, inspiring and at a speed slow enough that a beginning like myself could comprehend nearly every aspect. You spoke with a very calm voice. And applied the K.I.S.S method. I like the way you faded in and out of each segment. Very well put together learning video. You mentioned artists like Keith Urban and others. And the reading material was at a slow enough speed that I could actually read it instead of hurried through. I would vote your video a 10. Can't wait for more. I'm on board!! Thank you very very much. Highly appreciated the time you put into this learning video. Thumbs up! Thanks again. Brody McCain.
Thanks, Brody!
@@IntlPlaza
It's all true.
Loved it.
Fantastic video ! thank you sooooooooo much!
Well presented and thoughtful video. After reading a lot of the comments, I believe I will stick with the 5 string real banjo plan, open back. Especially since I don't play the guitar all that well anyway! Learning something new on a banjo might end up helping my guitar playing?! We're never too old to learn something new!
I guess that means mine is a fake banjo :-(
Planning to buy one. Thanks.
The Piezo Pickup makes the Banjitar sound natural when plugged in because it's picking the vibrations up from the Head.
Love them banjo's.
This is a great video. Thanks.
The Banjitar is the cousin of the Plectrum Banjo (and Tenor Banjo too) because they don't have a Drone String & are usually played with a Pick. It has the Strumming Banjo sound that you might recognise from Dixieland Jazz. The reason they leave off the Drone String is because it's to facilitate playing Full Chords with the Horns.
your title just answered the only question i had for this instrument.
Hey IP :)
Thanks for the information! I've had my Rondo SX Lefty 6-string hangin on the wall for four years now. I'm a 70/80/90's HR-Metal guy, but tonight I thought that I'd put the 6SB-Lefty in my hands and mess around - I decided to do a bit of "why-not" research on youtube while adjusting the action on this SX 6SB-Lefty and found and enjoyed your video contribution to the world :)
(My apologies for the continuous lefty reference - I just want lefties to know that they don't have to be left out of everything cool and sometimes un-cool to others)
P.S. Wildwood Flower reminded me of Fleetwood Mac's "Never Going Back Again" from the Rumours album....awesome....Lindsey channeling :)
Thanks again,
Caveman-EDG
fantastic mate... cheers
Old Crow Medicine Show use both 5 and 6 string banjos on the same tunes. Sounds great.
Denis Morton yeah but even Kevin Hayes from OCMS would tell you he’s essentially playing a guitar.
An excellent video.
I’ve just restrung mine with bronze. They don’t quite ring in the right way, but they’re ok. I’ll probably go back to steel if I get another set.
Very informative! Thnx.
I bought a 6 string so I didn't have to re-learn, but ended up learning some banjo finger picking and using that at times on my guitar to give a different sound.
I am putting my favorite Erin Ball pure nickel 8 gauge very light strings on mine. It came with some very heavy brass strings that chocked the life out of it.
Those strings should work well with your banjo.
I live 2 blocks away from the Deering banjo warehouse in San Diego. going to buy a tenor banjo from them pretty soon
And then move away?
Enjoyed your video and got me interested in the Framus. Can you give me some estimate of how much I would expect to pay for a similar instrument?
Amazing Video and very helpfull. I just bought a cheap 6 string banjo and you are right, the sound is awfull. cheap banjos should be forbidden! But to get an impression of what could be possible on a 6 string banjo, its just good enough. Think, I`ll get me a nother one more expensive. Thanks for your infos on strings and bridge. Keep on plucking:)
can you use claw hammer or F railing technique with 6 string banjo? Thanks!
I have one of those Framus 6 strings, It have the original head. it is a 1968 so the head is close to 54 for years old. So what would be the right size head for this banjo.
It certainly look cool
Do you know where I can purchase one of these banjos online? Also what kind of mic do you use for it?
Anyone curious as to what the thingy is at the base of the neck?
Have a question for you and thanks for the videos. I play the guitar upside down and backward, long story... Martin D18 from way back. I would like to buy a banjo to try and I have been around long enough, that you have to spend enough to get some quality and yet I am not sure how my claw hammer fingerpicking will adapt. Suggestions?
The Banjitar is also a 6 String variant of its 4 String Cousin the Plectrum Banjo.
For somebody like myself who has no desire to play country or bluegrass, a 6 string banjo is great for adding a different texture to rock, "alternative" or folky stuff.
A 6 sixtring bassguitar is still a bassguitar...:-) saw a banjo guitar today in a shop...sounded great.
love you man
have a lunabird sounds great flat pic throught a laney 50wat amp so just try and find what you like
I have a Dean banjitar that I enjoy playing because I've always used banjo style finger-picking & I didn't want to start over in 1974 again with a banjo. No learning curve & that's what makes these fun. These should come with a compensated saddle. Mine sounded a little out of tune & it bothered me until I found a wooden compensated saddle. This was years ago so I don't remember where I ordered it from, probably Stewmac or Allparts. Anyway now it sounds like I tuned it today, not last month.
Concerning the saddle, you are 100 percent correct. There is a guy who will make one for your specific instrument.
IntlPlaza
I use Argentine Gypsy Jazz Light Gauge Strings (also Rouxinol R-30 Strings w/ a Wound B String) which are IIRC I think they're Copper w/ a Silver Plating so they're not going to be as bright as Bronze strings. It's more of a Gypsy Jazz Sound.
The five string {or four and a half} banjo is a beast unto itself. It is probably has the steepest learning curve of American folk instruments. A six string banjo is intended to give the timber of the five in a limited "conventional" way. If you are are a performer and get a few songs that work, that would be the maximum number in a stage set. There is just too much people recognize and expect when a banjo is a vital part of a piece. There are masters of guitar {Mark Hanson} who admit they just couldn't relate or make the banjo work for them. It takes more frustrating practice than any folk instrument! It is very much worth the effort and rewards the musician who is so inclined and does not give up. This is not an instrument for " if I can do it, anybody can" mindset. Hope this helps encourage those who do choose to take it on.
Thx for this - I think its important to know the 5 stringer aint easy.
Fun Fact: “They” say that the banjo sounds you hear on Neil Young’s song , “Old Man” , was played by James Taylor.
On Neil’s six string banjo.
Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee on Harvest album. Thanks 😊
Although i can actually play a real banjo , ive been considering the option of a banjo guitar more and more , Framus makes very good instruments , old German company !! Surprisingly Guitar Banjos are considered staple instruments in alot of Middle Eastern and North African Folk music ... Most of the old Rai bands ive seen use Framus banjos , as they lend themselves well to solo styles /Oud style melody's rather than strumming . Nice presentation !
Hello
Thanks for your very informative site.
I am left handed and have found a super right hand 6 string banjo. Is there any reason why I cannot flip the nut, bridge and guard.
The banjo is engraved like yours and is a German Hofner from the 70's.
Good left hand banjo's are hard to find.
Philip Virgin should be fine let me us know how it goes :)
If I were to tune it in 5ths like a viola or violin would I have to put different gauge strings on it?
Thanks, I just bought a nice used Luna 6 string banjo on Facebook market , a great deal. The first song I want to learn is the guitar part of dueling banjos, I'll play it on the 6 string banjo , any help you can provide is appreciated, tutorial RUclips , tablature etc... Thanks, Mike
do 6 string banjos use regular (acoustic) guitar strings?
i am having a Banjo guitar for my birthday and it used to belong to a folk band that only played one show.
I am looking at changing my Framus 6 string banjo head. I have the original Framus label head which means it is about 54 years old.. Has anybody changed the head and which head and size did you use. What ever help you can give me I have never done it so I don't want to order the wrong head.. thanks Also Mine doesn't have the string separator at the top and the A string hits the 6E string post and the B string hits the E string post. Any Ideas on where to get one of those.
Thank you!
For something close to a 5 string sound, use Nashville tuning, stringing with 12 string high octave strings. Then string the 6th string, E, with a 1st string high E. Sounds best if you can fingerpick.
Great video. No I do not want to buy a banjo and re-learn every finger style song I play, not to mention transposing all of that music. That would take years, and I don't have the time. So I am going to look for one of these and play things I know right off the bat. Thanks for all the information.
Actually, Celtic punk rock bands like dropkick murphys and flogging molly use banjos, accordions, mandolins, and bagpipes. Canadian Celtic rock bands such as Jubilee riots (enter the haggis) are the same way. Swedish rock bands like Baskery are the same way.
Great Video! Thanks :-)
sorry, asked the question before this part of your video, thanks!
"You can't play rock & roll on a banjo"
Rob Scallon screaming in the distance.