What Banjo Should I Buy? - Banjo Mountain
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- Опубликовано: 19 авг 2016
- Our teacher John breaks down all the considerations of what banjo a new player should buy? He also talks about pros and cons of buying from a store and things to consider if buying online. You can start learning banjo today in a proven step-by-step method at thebanjomountain.com for only pennies a day.
Additional notes from John:
In my goal to make this video as clear as possible to viewers (specifically with regard to my comments on the 5-string banjo), there are a few additional notes I’d like to add here.
First of all, my apologies to all the clawhammer pickers out there who may have felt that I gave clawhammer playing (also known as frailing) short shrift in this video.
There are a few key moments in my discourse where I mention the 5-string banjo in relation to the styles played on it. In reviewing the video (and the comments from viewers), it is clear to me that I make it appear as if bluegrass banjo is the only style ever played on a 5-string. As most of you may already know, this is obviously not the case. Clawhammer banjo (the type of banjo playing featured in the musical style known as old-time) has been played on 5-string banjos in this country since the 17th century. While bluegrass banjo, clawhammer’s younger cousin, tends to get the lion’s share of attention in pop culture, bluegrass banjo has only been around for a fraction of the time that clawhammer playing has been here (most historians date the birth bluegrass banjo somewhere around the mid-1940s). My hyper-focus on bluegrass picking in this video is likely due to the fact that for the past 40 years the bulk of my professional playing has revolved around bluegrass, not clawhammer/old-time. Again, no offense meant to all the clawhammer players out there. Just a simple oversight on my part. Apologies!
A few other notes I’d like to add:
At 2:37 I say, “There’s no pot on this side”. Just a simple slip of the tongue. I meant to say “resonator”.
At 2:46 I say, “Open-back banjos, unlike banjos with resonators, which would have a wooden pot here...” Again, “resonator” is what I meant, not pot.
In my opinion, the only folks who would benefit from a 5-string banjo with a resonator are those who play in bands, who need the volume to keep up with other instruments. Other than that, I see no advantage to a resonator Banjo. Open-back banjos have a terrific sound and they’re incredibly light.
Those playing Scruggs style would need and use a resonator. Those playing clawhammer style, use an open back, and there are plenty of bands that have those folks in them.
@@dasecretformula6179yup
hey, I am really new at this so sorry if it is kind of a stupid question.. can't you just take out the resonator and play it open back like that?
@@denzoenzo159 Yes, it’s possible, but realistically you wouldn’t. Generally people purchase Banjos with resonators because they need greater volume when playing along with other musicians such as in Bluegrass music.
It has a very different sound that in my opinion, sounds better and is integral for Scruggs style.
Thx that's one of the most useful Banjo videos here on RUclips
Thank you!!
@@thebanjomountain it's nothing dude keep up. you just gained another sub. ;)
No it isn't...i came here to find out a basic Banjo to start with....suddenly i'm 800 bucks down?
@@AlanAttack you dont have to spend a ton i spent $250 on my first one and its great. if you get good you can buy an expensive one for longer lasting and maybe a better sound, but its not necessary.
@@adamjohnson7832 cheers Adam
I'm trying to decide what to get as a gift for someone who wants to learn. This video was immensely helpful. Thank you!
That's a bit of a tough one. You don't want to buy a bad banjo and our recommendation of a Deering Goodtime open back may be a bit out of budget. Not to plug our own services but we do offer an incredible membership that can be purchased for one of the most competitive prices ou there. We have over 200+ lessons that start a beginner on how to hold the banjo. Just a thought. :)
Great info. This has been one of the better videos I've seen. I'm considering getting a banjo and have watched a lot of yt videos. Nicely done! Thank you for putting out this content.
Bradley Gasawski our pleasure! Glad it was helpful
Consider mortgaging your house if you're gonna buy his recommendations....jesus
Very clear information. Thanks!
That was a good video, you just answered a whole bunch of questions for me as to what kind of banjo I’m trying to find to purchase and learn how to play. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Skoolie gurl Travels Glad it was helpful! We’ve got lots of lessons on our site at the banjomountain.com
make sure you do 200 days overtime to afford the Banjo's he's recommending
Tenor Banjo in GDAE tuning works very well in bluegrass. It’s tuned an octave lower than a mandolin and fiddle/ mandolin tunes transfer directly. Also it has been very cool to show up at a Bluegrass Jam with something a little different!
Agreed! Great info!
If you’re seeing this in 2023 and you’re just starting out the deering is great but pricy get your self a gold tone ac-1 they’re plastic but comin in at $250 and that’s fairly good deal for a pretty good instrument.
That intro alone has convinced me to buy a banjo! Some serious skill there 👏👏👏
Thank you! Happy picking!
I’ve recently got back into picking and I got a killer deal on a 1932 Gibson TB1 converted to a mastertone with a 5 sitting neck and it plays and sounds killer. Nice picking!
Wow! Trying not to be jealous as that's a beautiful banjo and not cheap!
I’ve played banjo for over 3 years and never knew what a TB is for. Thank you
I’ve been playing the five string banjo for a couple of years, and love it, but I never liked the blue grass style of playing which to my ears sounds all the same and to be “‘soulless”. Besides claw hammer, I personally have developed a “four finger” style of picking that I just transferred over from guitar picking. One type of banjo not mentioned in this video is the minstrel or fretless style. Right now, a minstrel banjo I put together a couple months ago from a kit is my favorite.
Very helpful ,thanks!
I don't even have a banjo but I find your videos so relaxing. You're like the bob ross of bluegrass. Great content (honestly I am inclined to learning this instrument, but clawhammer style if possible.)
Haha! Being called the Bob Ross of Bluegrass is a great compliment. Thank you! I'll pass this on to John.
I just received a Washburn B10 from Sweetwater. They gave me a break in price cause it was a demo. Good quality, good playability, and it's easy on the eyes. Pretty cheap too compared to most of my other instruments.
Yassss! Enjoy!
Irish tradition music is also played on a 4 string banjo and btw the intro tune was Shuckin the Corn.
No one cares about Ireland....stop talking about Ireland.....and the intro tune can kiss my ass.
@@AlanAttack somebody’s banjo string snapped, eh?
The open back banjo sure does have a pot - it’s lacking the resonator. Nice playing btw.
I just wanna try one out, I have been playing guitar for two years and just want to try other stringed instruments. Thanks for the tips!!!
i dont need an openback banjo i only remove the resonator on my deering calico or eagle 2 or goldtone ob300 if i feel i wont the open back sound and its great
Those four strings are very prominent in Irish traditional music. Great for jigs and reels. I’ve seen unbelievable four string players.
what are your thoughts on an Ibanez B200??
You mentioned the action is higher, do you know why? I have no banjo, I'm just researching to find out what I might get the best out of, and that threw me.
I want to learn Autumn Beds by modest mouse what kinda banjo should i buy?
Thanks!
I was given an used banjo. It is a Rover. I had it restored. Yes, it has a resonator
Bought a $150 Jameson. Turned it into open back with syngut strings, changed to old time tailpiece. Awesome light banjo with a very cool sound.
Then got a Recording King BGM rkr30, bench model, frigging awesome machine! It's able to be open back, only once, big hassle.
The banjo is designed to take apart and make it your own, watch some vids don't be afraid.
How about a left hand five string banjo 🪕 is there any teachers out there 🙏
That song in the beginning is so awesome. I want to learn that one. Can I ask what that song is called?
It's "Shuckin' the Corn" by Earl Scruggs. Well worth learning!
What banjo do you recommend I buy? I dont listen to blue Grass, I just want to learn this instrument, even though I dont have expirence.
Deering Goodtime is our go to banjo for beginners. You can play any style with it, it's relatively inexpensive and it's excellent quality. If you want to learn to play check us out at thebanjomountain.com
@@thebanjomountain Thanks!
Can you still tune the tenor banjo to sound like a bluegrass
Not really....the 5th string makes the sound of Bluegrass (or old time). The ROLLS developed by the greats (Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, etc, etc) make the sound of bluegrass. Without the 5th string you loose that "sound".... You can have fun with any banjo...but if your seeking a style to emulate...pick an instrument that aids you, not hinders you. Jim Mills sells every expensive pre war banjos...many of which were converted from 4 string to five string....you should watch his video and ...drool!
I love that thin sound. What kind of banjo/strings are you using?
Thanks! Deering Medium and Deering Light, typically. Happy pickin'!
Im thinking about learning to play, but i am left handed. So, I would buy a left-handed banjo? And how would learning from a right-handed player translate to my left-handed playing?
Hey Leah. From our teacher John: You can always special order a left-handed banjo. As they are harder to come by (and with the current state of the US mail service), you may have to wait some time before receiving it. Having said that, I’ve taught many lefties over the years on right-handed banjos. And it’s never been a problem. Not once. If you (a lefty) are learning bluegrass banjo on a right-handed banjo, your picking (right) hand is doing far less work than your fretting (left) hand, which will usually be moving up and down the neck constantly. Your fretting hand will also involve a lot of arm movement. Conversely, the movement of your picking hand will be confined pretty much to your fingertips.
My banjo teacher as a kid (a pro by the name of Pat Cloud) was a lefty and played on a right-handed banjo. And this I didn’t stop him from becoming an absolute virtuoso on the instrument. (He was Béla Fleck before there was a Béla Fleck.)
@@thebanjomountain thank you! I will probably go ahead and do it right-handed.
Repeating the same point for an entire video? And no mention of Old Time music....from a banjo video?
He knows how to play, but doesnt know very much about the subject
He does talk a little about old time banjo music at the end, but definitely not as for as long as he talks about bluegrass
Stressing the need for a resonator to play in a bluegrass band, without giving the why?
Thanks for the comment Robert. I believe John talks about needing the resonator for volume and to be heard if you are playing with others.
@@thebanjomountain I heard him say several times that you need a banjo with a resonator to play with a group, but didn't hear it was a volume issue. How about an open back with piezo pickup through an amplifier?
I was afraid he meant the others in the group might poke fun at your naked banjo😂
@@robertlussier2944 Ha! Naked banjos are the best. I love my open-back Deering Goodtime and take it camping to play around the fire with friends all the time. A pickup/amplifier definitely handles being heard in a band/performance.
What’s a good price to pay for a banjo? I want to get one to start learning but don’t have a lot of money
I looked at the good time, but 500 is a little out of my price range
If you want to buy a banjo but don’t wanna break the bank, there are plenty of used banjos out there anywhere between, say, $200-$400. Most of those you’ll find online. You can also buy a new Deering Goodtime banjo (great starter banjo and great banjo in general) anywhere from $400 to about $600.
Hope that helps!
The other people in the house REALLY don't need to endure amplified, tortured twanging of a resonator-boosted banjo while I'm learning to pluck, so I just got the quieter open-backed. It's fine!
Open backs are great!! If a person does get a resonator to play in more jams you can always use a mute like Mikes Banjo Mute.
Im 61, fairly smart still. I want to try to play the banjo. What would be a decent banjo for a beginner.
Deering Goodtime is a great and affordable banjo regardless of whether you will play Bluegrass of Clawhammer. You can't go wrong with one of those!
@@thebanjomountain thank you so very much
@@billcoley8520 Our pleasure! Check out our website and blog for both free banjo lessons as well as a full curriculum.
touching the bridge with your ring or pinky will deaden the sound. js
Confusing. At 2:50 you imply the resonator is also called a pot. Now I'm still learning (my first instrument arrives today) but from what I've already read and seen, the resonator and the pot are entirely different parts, the pot being the actual round body of the instrument to which a resonator can be fixed.
That's a great clarifying point! Sometimes the resonator is referred to as a bowl as it is in the shape of a bowl (or pot), but in this context referring to it as a pot could be confusing and is not accurate. Thanks for pointing that out!
why does no one talk about banjo size? 11", 12" 13" etc.........
yeah, that's more what i was looking for, too
Much of the sound from an Open Back vs Resonated Banjo is muffled in your clothes & body. Resonated banjo has a pot that is designed to "reflect" the sound forward & toward the audience (before the age of amplification.)
Great additional information! Thanks for adding!
Banjo Mountain Thank YOU. Haven't played my 5 string in 20+ years but looking for new strings. When I bought them last my choices were name brands, no "choose your gauge", I'm having to learn all over. Hope my Scruggs Tuners are still OK. 🪕
But, it is cool though. The answer to that question is a resounding "Yes!". If you have a tenor and you're only interested in bluegrass and just want to do bluegrass because you're a bluegrass guy, (or gal) than you can give me your tenor. Just don't get rid of it because they are quite rare and as I said, very cool.
Is an $100 banjo good enough for starting out
Hey Ian! The key here is reputable brands. As mentioned in the video, Deering Banjos (as well as the others mentioned) are companies who make great banjos. They typically start around $500. That isn't to say you can't find a deal from someone selling their banjo. But we'd be very cautious of buying online at that price or an unknown brand. A music store is a great way to go as well as the staff will be very knowledgeable.
Ok thank you
Sir you mispronounced the name of my mountains. Appalachian
“What banjo should I buy?” The answer is very simple…. A right hand if you are right handed and a left hand if you are left handed. If you are left handed don’t get talked into buying a right handed banjo. You will struggle for years and finally be disappointed. I’m sure that this guy would have sooner or later told you this correct? Watched the whole video and he never got around around to it.
5*****'s, thank you.
I made the mistake of not doing my homework. Didn’t want to play Bluegrass. So what did I buy? A 5 string. Not thinking.
5-String is what you need for Clawhammer as well. What style were you planning on playing?
Gibson Mastertone? Stelling ? Nechville? Not even mentioned? Whaaaaa.
The question addresses the issue of was what kind of banjo should one buy as a starter banjo. The banjo brands that you mentioned are great. However, if you’re starting out, I would dissuade you from investing in something as pricey as those, especially if you’re brand new to the banjo. But, ultimately, the decision is yours. If you’ve got the money to spend on something like a Mastertone or a Stelling, go for it.
Started with a Morgan Monroe Lefty...then a recording king rk80 lefty...then a 2005 Gibson mastertone lefty..which is rare..I wish I had got quality from the start other wise that isn’t going to give you what you need..you can get used righty’s for the $2000..be like playing golf with bad clubs. To me personally. And those banjos you showed are a $1000 these days new. Show a video about quality ..weight..why it’s worth getting a tone ring banjo that’s heavy..why you need the strap even when sitting..you are a good player I’m sure..
you are banjo jesus
You are too kind but we think John is pretty great as well! :)
very overwhelmed
The open back has a pot, it has no RESONATOR. In fact the pot is three ply violin grade maple.
You mean you are not supposed to pick a banjolele❓🤦🏼♀️
Too opinionated for my liking. You don't gett more professional than Rhiannon Giddens and she plays open back. Admittedly not bluegrass. And there was no mention of 6 string banjos which have been around since the early 1800s. Okay this video is 7 years old, but there are other options for those who want A Banjo, which may or may not be ideal for bluegrass.
Thanks for your feedback. This video is really meant for beginners and they definitely want a 5 string to play Bluegrass OR Clawhammer. Love Rhiannon! She’d be mic’d at any performance so that doesn’t really apply here given we are saying a resonator helps if you want to play in a group. That being said we love open back and the Deering Goodtime open back is our number one recommendation for beginners. 😀
@thebanjomountain good to hear. It just didn't come across that way in the video. Don't get me wrong I love bluegrass, but its not the only use of a banjo. Keith Urban amongst others plays a six string. Irish tenor is hugely popular. Cheers and good luck with your channel.