Many musicians are turning to 6-string banjos as an integral component of their musical arsenal, whether playing country, blues, folk or dixieland. A 6-string banjo provides musicians with more than just simple chord progressions for more dynamic performances.
These models can also be fitted with electric pickups to enable playing live or recording sessions.
Deering Boston EB-6 Series
The Boston banjo is an ideal option for experienced guitarists looking to transition to 6 string banjo without breaking the bank. Tuned like a guitar, its unique rolled steel rim produces bright powerful banjo tone while being very versatile; flat picking or finger picking work equally well and most string gauges work too!
It boasts an elegant mahogany neck and resonator that visually complement the nickel plated hardware, while its 22 fret ebony fingerboard with Boston Vine inlays makes for easy finger performances. In addition, its Gotoh guitar-style tuning machines and Deering 6-string tailpiece ensure pro-grade tuning stability and intonation accuracy.
Plugged in, the hand-wound Kavanjo pickup produces huge, resonant bass notes and sharp highs that will stand out in any mix. This Deering banjo comes with a lifetime warranty and hardshell case; Deering also provides their Gold Card style ownership/warranty card which serves as proof that you purchased from an authorized dealer.
Gold Tone EB-6 Series
Sweetwater offers several models of 6-string banjos designed to make switching to old-time Americana easy for guitarists without learning an entirely new instrument. Our guitar-friendly models ensure an easy transition from acoustic guitar to banjo.
First and foremost, many of our 6-string banjos feature radiused guitar-style necks which take both metal guitar strings as well as nylon string traditional on old-time banjo models. Although not as loud as an acoustic guitar when plugged into an amp system, 6-string banjos still offer considerable sound power!
EB-6 series’ composite rims also better resist changes in temperature and humidity than traditional wooden rims, leading to less frequent head retensioning sessions – saving both time and money over time. Furthermore, its Terminator tailpiece and Zero Glide nut guarantee you won’t lose your hard-earned tone, while its bridge-mounted SMP pickup provides classic banjo twang without succumbing to feedback.
Dixieland Banjos
People often associate Dixieland jazz with 6-string banjo music. Although this style of jazz can be highly enjoyable, the same instrument can also be used for clawhammer music, Irish folk tunes and classical renditions.
6 string banjos come equipped with extra strings and larger tuning, but also feature an added tone ring and resonator – two brass rings located between the head (drum) and pot (body), providing volume and sustain to the instrument.
Substituting a 5-string banjo for a 6-string one is possible if you possess enough jazz chords on guitar to play them on banjo (but remember not to strum the lowest two strings; they will muddy up the sound), while upgrading a cheap third-world import banjo with tone ring and resonator is also straightforward; just ensure someone with knowledge about banjos looks over it first; many poor reviews on cheap banjos are due to people purchasing damaged instruments that do not function correctly or badly setup instruments being purchased.
Gretsch Dixie 6
This open back guitar banjo is an excellent option for musicians wanting to gain insight into the nuances of six string banjo playing without taking on an entirely new instrument. Boasting an aged look complete with pearloid decoration and country flair, this banjo-guitar resonates faithfully.
This resonator banjo features a maple plywood rim and back, maple plywood resonator back, maple plywood fretboard, maple plywood neck, maple plywood fret ends, solid brackets, no knot tailpiece with frailing scoop, notched tension hoop notches tension hoop notchings, notched tension hoop notches notched tension hoops solid brackets no knot tailpiece frailing scoop and comes equipped with high quality medium gauge strings instead of the cheap strings that usually come standard on other banjos.
But keep this in mind: more bells and whistles do not necessarily equate to better banjo quality; quality can depend on materials used, construction techniques, genre of music played on it and individual limitations of each banjo model – so before deciding which features are worth their additional costs be mindful that having too many bells and whistles could even make an otherwise great instrument sound like junk!
Rogue 6
If you’re on a tight budget but looking for an entry-level banjo that won’t break the bank, the Rogue 6 may be your perfect starter banjo. Lightweight yet easy to play, its lightweight construction allows for effortless handling while traveling and its protective padded gig bag provides added peace of mind when traveling with it. Perfect for busy schedules and limited storage space!
The 18-bracket Nato Resonator Banjo features a chrome-plated armrest and genuine Remo head for optimal playback. Ideal as a beginner banjo, its geared tuning tuners keep it in tune while its impressive sound creates both twangy and full tones.
Some guitar players purchase 6-string banjos to play Dixieland music or other styles requiring open chords, like Dixieland. But strumming all six strings with a flatpick can result in cacophonous noise due to lower strings not resonating as long as higher ones. You should fret or deaden these low strings in order to mitigate this problem; fingerpicked 6-string banjos have less sustain than guitars so patterns which require notes carrying for over half a beat may sound weak.