Some banjos come equipped with features to facilitate changing keys or keep it upright when not being played, such as a capo and stand for ease of storage or even an accompanying tuner for beginners.
Some guitarists purchase 6-string banjos to play Dixieland music, but be warned: this instrument has less sustain than a guitar; as such, patterns that rely on its strings being sustained for over half a beat may sound weak and weakly executed.
Origins
Historely, 6 string banjos have long been utilized as a way of providing Tenor banjo players access to lower notes – an adaptation made necessary by the popularity of acoustic guitar at that time. Tenor banjo players wanted more Guitar-esque music without learning a whole new instrument.
Initial 6-string instruments imported from Europe were known as Zither Banjos and were played fingerpicked with drone strings (like their 5-string Classic Banjo counterparts). Jazz players quickly adopted them too, dropping the drone string for standard tuning similar to Mandolin tuning; thus giving these Zither Banjos greater range than their Classic Banjo counterparts and initiating an important turning point in banjitar history.
Early 1920s music culture saw the advent of ragtime and other dance-oriented forms, leading musicians to search for louder instruments in order to compete with brass and reed music. As a result, four-string plectrum banjos and six-string Zither Banjos with steel strings emerged; although these models weren’t as durable or versatile as their wood counterparts, they could still be played using picks, making them suitable for many different musical genres.
This banjo features dual coordinator rods, considered an upgrade feature but nearly essential on heavy banjos. Furthermore, its tone ring increases volume and sustain. Finally, its flat or radiused fingerboard makes chording simpler, especially for players familiar with guitar or electric banjos.
Styles
The 6 string banjo provides a unique sound, and can be played in various styles and musical settings. However, its primary usage lies within jazz music specifically Dixieland; prominent composers such as King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, and Louis Armstrong all used 6-string banjos on seminal recordings from this genre.
Many 6-string banjos feature radiused necks, but there are also those such as Deering’s Goodtime Solana and Rogue 6-string which do not. Guitarists looking to transition over may find it necessary to learn fingerpicking properly as strumming may muddied the sound; palm muting and picking techniques eliminate this issue though.
Most 6-string banjos will typically be tuned to standard 5-string banjo tuning; however, other tunings can also be accommodated as long as their scale and bridge spacing match up with any new tuning chosen.
Some musicians find that using alternative banjo tunings gives their playing an authentic sound and allows for the use of additional chords – giving your repertoire more versatility. Others, however, may prefer sticking to standard 5-string banjo tuning and honing their fingerpicking skills instead. It is ultimately up to each musician to decide which style of playing they prefer most; experimentation is key here so as not to limit yourself too soon!
Sound
The six string banjo is an instrument with six strings which can be strung like a guitar but sounds much more like a banjo. Historically associated with bluegrass music, its recent revival has inspired players to experiment with various tones and techniques; therefore there is no such thing as a “typical” six string banjo sound.
Banjo strings are tuned higher than guitar, resulting in a deeper, gutsy sound. Tuning can also be altered by adding or removing strings, using various picks, or changing pick types. Furthermore, banjo players have many ways of personalizing their instrument via adding pickups that make playing live easier or in studio environments; Fishman, LR Baggs, and Kavanjo offer numerous solutions for six string banjo players.
Purchase a banjo that has been properly configured before making your purchase decision. Otherwise, playing will become difficult. Before buying one, be sure to test its action by pressing down on one string between the first and second frets; if the string rests easily against its fret without buzzing against any other strings, chances are it has likely been properly set up.
Maintenance
As their strings wear down over time, a 6-string banjo requires frequent replacement to avoid poor sound quality and tone issues. By investing in high quality strings that last longer and ensuring you can play complex strums like bar chords more effortlessly. The tone will improve, as will your ability to play bar chords or other bar chord strums more effectively.
Humidity levels around a banjo’s environment can have an enormous effect on its sound and life span, from skin heads expanding with increased humidity to tightening up when humidity decreases; plastic heads tend to be less affected but become brittle with excessive heat exposure; sudden drops in local humidity levels are particularly detrimental as this forces its wood body to contract rapidly, potentially leading to cracks or open joints on its neck and bridge.
Banjo bridges can also have an effect on tone, and may need to be adjusted from time to time. They should support all strings comfortably without restricting up-down movements of the neck; otherwise they could crack their crown and need loosening up accordingly.
Most banjo nut slots can be tightened to make string passing through easier. Furthermore, adding a drop or two of light machine oil into the slot helps to minimize friction between string and nut and keep tuning accurate.