I found a method book for 7 String Banjos which (still made today) are essentially 5 String Open G Tuned Banjos w/ 2 more Bass Strings (C3 & G2) in between the D & High G Strings to broaden the range, plus their body is larger to help the lower pitches resonate better. Lots of people might not have realized the Banjitar body is supposed to be larger than a 5 String Banjo body.
@UCfFpgnb3fQo46uJD_JkdZug The 8 String Banjo is great for playing alot of fun music because with the Low G & D Strings you can go down into the Guitar/Banjitar register & with another high G that's full length (The Drone String can be the same length as the Melody string if you wanna use a Guitar capo to eliminate the need to change keys) you can go higher than a Normal Banjo can go too so it's almost 5 Octaves.
@@8tomtoms8 I wish Deering & Gold tone made these types of Banjos (even Double strung Models) because they're really cool. 5 String Plectrum Banjos exist & they're really just 4 String Plectrum Banjos with an additional Bass String to extend the lower register.
@@8tomtoms8 My name is Oscar Stern BTW & I was thinking of a 16 String Version with 8 pairs of Strings (pairs 3-7 are tuned in Octaves thanks to an Octave4Plus .006 High B String) because I love the 12 String Jangle & Banjo Twang so much that I wanna put them both together. The larger body not only helps the lower pitches resonate better, but it also supports more tension. For the 16 String Version, we'd have to use a wooden top because it's much much stronger than a drum head, & it'll also have EMG 8 String Guitar Pickups plus an intonatable 8 String Bridge.
You know how some people who have a Banjitar say that Low notes on Banjitars sound Toy-ish to them? The Low notes on this 8 String Banjo sound great because the body is a bit larger than a Standard 5 String Banjo body (the 8 String Banjo is a bit hit, next up a 16 String version with 8 pairs of Strings & a big ol neck with an ideal spacing). What's the diameter of the Plastic Drumhead on the Banjo?
@@8tomtoms8 Cool idea. A 16 String Banjo (with 8 pairs of Strings, pairs 3-7 are in Octaves thanks to a .006 High B made by Octave4Plus) will give you a bright Jangle. Why not make a version with a Full Length Drone String? You could bypass the need to get a seperate drone string capo & just capo up and down all 8 Strings, just like on a Banjitar or a Tenor Banjo. Fun fact the Banjitar was used in Jazz because back in the 1920s and 30s before we had Guitar amps, we had Banjitars. The Original 6 String Banjos were really just 5 String Banjos with an added Bass String making them the first extended range Banjo, this takes that deign to a new level.
@@8tomtoms8 What is the date of Robin's death (the guy who made this Banjo)? 7 String Banjos have been around for a long time & they add on a Low C & G (the 9 String Banjo could actually add on a C String between the D & A Strings so that you can do some Harp like stuff etc) to broaden the range.
@@8tomtoms8 Head Diameter? It's larger than a 5 String Banjo body to help the lower pitches resonate better, which reminds me Banjitars should have a bigger body than 5 String Banjos so that the lower pitches sound better.
@UCfFpgnb3fQo46uJD_JkdZug This instrument bypasses the need to tune your Low D down to a C if you're playing a song that's in Drop C. There were 12 String Banjos in the past (Basically 12 String Guitar necks on Banjo bodies tuned like 12 String Guitars), & they're still made today.
I have been thinking about adding another low string, next to the 4th string to give me more lower range, but I never dreamed of adding 3 lower strings. Good idea, we have got to keep pushing the limits. The strings look too close together for me though. Maybe I could just get I extra string to keep the wide spacing.
He actually only added two lower strings. He added one higher string as well. You could add just one or two lower strings and still keep a pretty wide string spacing.
You wouldn't be able to add a lower string onto the short 5th string because of the lower scale length relative to the other 4, to compensate for the higher tension on the string required youd need an even thicker string and compensate your bridge, nut and tuner around it... at that point you may as well buy a guitar banjo lol
@@TheAmazingCobalt I saw a banjo with a thick bass string between the short high string and the 4th string. It may have been a 6 string Guitar/Banjo neck with a nut slotted for it, and tuned like a 5 string banjo.
@@TheAmazingCobalt A 6 String Banjo is tuned the same as a Guitar and unlike a 5 String Banjo you can play in every Key without retuning and you can even use ykur Guitar Capo too. My 16 String Banjo with 8 pairs of strings has a wooden top to withstand all that tension.
Tennessee Crossroads What is the Diameter of the Body? It's larger than a 5 String Banjo body to help the lower pitches sound more Banjoey & Less Toyish. Banjitars are supposed to have bigger bodies than 5 String Banjos.
4 strings , five strings , eight strings , is it still a banjo ? Guitar, traditionally a guitar has six strings, over time others have been developed with 12 and more strings and in some cases two fret boards, the question is , is it still a Guitar, of course it is, the framework has the same approach to the frame designed for a banjo, so. for me anyway, the answer is yes of course it is, have a look at how many variations are available from local music groups to big bands , every type has a different purpose, although they all have a different purpose they are, for the same reason still a banjo . Happy Plucking Best A.
This was amazing and the banjo sounded awesome!
RIP Robin! You built some of the best banjos ever made!
RIP Robin you'll always hear me strumming on a 5 String Banjo
When did you hear about Robin's Death? I love this extended range Banjo too. It makes transposing songs to every key way simpler.
I found a method book for 7 String Banjos which (still made today) are essentially 5 String Open G Tuned Banjos w/ 2 more Bass Strings (C3 & G2) in between the D & High G Strings to broaden the range, plus their body is larger to help the lower pitches resonate better. Lots of people might not have realized the Banjitar body is supposed to be larger than a 5 String Banjo body.
The 8 String Banjo is really a 5 String Banjo with 2 more Bass Strings, & also an additional Treble String so you can play melodies on it.
@UCfFpgnb3fQo46uJD_JkdZug
The 8 String Banjo is great for playing alot of fun music because with the Low G & D Strings you can go down into the Guitar/Banjitar register & with another high G that's full length (The Drone String can be the same length as the Melody string if you wanna use a Guitar capo to eliminate the need to change keys) you can go higher than a Normal Banjo can go too so it's almost 5 Octaves.
Robin built the neck and put my custom banjo together and did, I must say, a fantastic job.
Robin is the best!!!!
@@8tomtoms8 When did you hear about Robin's death.
@@RockStarOscarStern634-- A couple days after he died.. Sunday Mar. 15th.
@@8tomtoms8 I wish Deering & Gold tone made these types of Banjos (even Double strung Models) because they're really cool. 5 String Plectrum Banjos exist & they're really just 4 String Plectrum Banjos with an additional Bass String to extend the lower register.
@@8tomtoms8 My name is Oscar Stern BTW & I was thinking of a 16 String Version with 8 pairs of Strings (pairs 3-7 are tuned in Octaves thanks to an Octave4Plus .006 High B String) because I love the 12 String Jangle & Banjo Twang so much that I wanna put them both together. The larger body not only helps the lower pitches resonate better, but it also supports more tension. For the 16 String Version, we'd have to use a wooden top because it's much much stronger than a drum head, & it'll also have EMG 8 String Guitar Pickups plus an intonatable 8 String Bridge.
You know how some people who have a Banjitar say that Low notes on Banjitars sound Toy-ish to them? The Low notes on this 8 String Banjo sound great because the body is a bit larger than a Standard 5 String Banjo body (the 8 String Banjo is a bit hit, next up a 16 String version with 8 pairs of Strings & a big ol neck with an ideal spacing). What's the diameter of the Plastic Drumhead on the Banjo?
Interesting concept! Pick away!
Awesome !!!
This 5 Octave Banjo has a larger body to help the lower notes resonate better, & to suppourt more tension.
Tennessee Crossroads What would be cool is if this Banjo had a full length drone string so you can use a Guitar capo.
I use a guitar capo for the 7 long strings and I capo the drone string separately..
@@8tomtoms8 Cool idea. A 16 String Banjo (with 8 pairs of Strings, pairs 3-7 are in Octaves thanks to a .006 High B made by Octave4Plus) will give you a bright Jangle. Why not make a version with a Full Length Drone String? You could bypass the need to get a seperate drone string capo & just capo up and down all 8 Strings, just like on a Banjitar or a Tenor Banjo. Fun fact the Banjitar was used in Jazz because back in the 1920s and 30s before we had Guitar amps, we had Banjitars. The Original 6 String Banjos were really just 5 String Banjos with an added Bass String making them the first extended range Banjo, this takes that deign to a new level.
@@8tomtoms8 What is the date of Robin's death (the guy who made this Banjo)? 7 String Banjos have been around for a long time & they add on a Low C & G (the 9 String Banjo could actually add on a C String between the D & A Strings so that you can do some Harp like stuff etc) to broaden the range.
@@8tomtoms8 Head Diameter? It's larger than a 5 String Banjo body to help the lower pitches resonate better, which reminds me Banjitars should have a bigger body than 5 String Banjos so that the lower pitches sound better.
@UCfFpgnb3fQo46uJD_JkdZug
The Body of the 8 String Banjo is a little bit bigger than a 5 String Banjo to help those lower notes resonate.
@UCfFpgnb3fQo46uJD_JkdZug
This instrument bypasses the need to tune your Low D down to a C if you're playing a song that's in Drop C. There were 12 String Banjos in the past (Basically 12 String Guitar necks on Banjo bodies tuned like 12 String Guitars), & they're still made today.
I have been thinking about adding another low string, next to the 4th string to give me more lower range, but I never dreamed of adding 3 lower strings. Good idea, we have got to keep pushing the limits. The strings look too close together for me though. Maybe I could just get I extra string to keep the wide spacing.
He actually only added two lower strings. He added one higher string as well. You could add just one or two lower strings and still keep a pretty wide string spacing.
You wouldn't be able to add a lower string onto the short 5th string because of the lower scale length relative to the other 4, to compensate for the higher tension on the string required youd need an even thicker string and compensate your bridge, nut and tuner around it... at that point you may as well buy a guitar banjo lol
@@TheAmazingCobalt I saw a banjo with a thick bass string between the short high string and the 4th string. It may have been a 6 string Guitar/Banjo neck with a nut slotted for it, and tuned like a 5 string banjo.
@@Celticman197 Oh yeah 6 string banjos have been around a while, they're really cool.
@@TheAmazingCobalt A 6 String Banjo is tuned the same as a Guitar and unlike a 5 String Banjo you can play in every Key without retuning and you can even use ykur Guitar Capo too. My 16 String Banjo with 8 pairs of strings has a wooden top to withstand all that tension.
Tennessee Crossroads What is the Diameter of the Body? It's larger than a 5 String Banjo body to help the lower pitches sound more Banjoey & Less Toyish. Banjitars are supposed to have bigger bodies than 5 String Banjos.
Very interesting !
What is the actuel tuning (and gauges) please ?
Regards,
String Gauges?
4 strings , five strings , eight strings , is it still a banjo ?
Guitar, traditionally a guitar has six strings, over time others have been developed with 12 and more strings and in some cases two fret boards, the question is , is it still a Guitar, of course it is, the framework has the same approach to the frame designed for a banjo, so. for me anyway, the answer is yes of course it is, have a look at how many variations are available from local music groups to big bands , every type has a different purpose, although they all have a different purpose they are, for the same reason still a banjo .
Happy Plucking
Best A.
But does it djent?
It might for some song covers