6 string banjos may have fallen out of favour over time, but they are making a comeback and offer musicians who wish to incorporate banjo into their music but continue playing guitar an ideal instrument to add banjo into the mix.
Guitar chords can be an ideal way to play bluegrass, Dixieland or ragtime music; in addition, their skinny necks help reduce muscle strain caused by strumming guitar strings.
Double Drop D Tuning
Double Drop D tuning on a 6-string banjo is an attractive choice, providing both a deep sound and more open strings to play chords with. Tuning the instrument requires just plucking together the third fret of B string and open D string together before adjusting pegs until all strings are tuned properly.
Most 6-string banjos utilize special light-gauge guitar strings, although some players have experimented with alternative string types and tunings. Some musicians also prefer physical tuners that attach directly to the headstock with piezo sensors that measure vibrations; these devices tend to be more costly than mic-based tuners but often more convenient.
As with tuning any instrument by ear, tuning a six-string banjo by ear can also be accomplished. First find an object of reference pitch (e.g. piano or tuning fork). Pluck the E string (6th fret) at its 12th fret to compare its pitch against that of your reference object (pluck E string at 12th fret and compare). If its pitch differs significantly from that of its reference pitch then move bridge toward tailpiece; otherwise move toward neck.
Tuning stability of a banjo should also be checked regularly. Over time, tuning pegs may become loose, which will cause it to go out of tune and require string changes. To stop this from occurring, tighten up the screws that secure pegs using wrench or hex screwdriver and keep tuning stability high.
Comfortable Fingerboard
Many guitar players who transition to banjo often opt for 6-string models as their entry point into this musical journey. Not only is this model ideal for beginners and intermediates who may not yet be ready to invest in an expensive instrument, it also provides an expansive harmonic palette ideal for modal harmony and rhythmic articulation that simply isn’t available with 4-string banjos.
A 6-string banjo may not be capable of playing Scruggs style rolls or lightning fast 5-string chording, but it makes for excellent blues, country, dixieland and ragtime styles. Furthermore, it provides crossover guitarist players a convenient option to add banjo playing into their repertoire without needing to relearn fingerings.
Most modern banjos feature a radiused fretboard to make playing more comfortable for guitarists. But it is important to remember that having such an instrument does not automatically make one a better banjo player; still needing to work hard at technique but less fatigue with bar chord formation due to curves on fretboard.
There are some excellent banjos available at an affordable price, such as the Deering Goodtime G-500 6-string banjitar designed by guitarists for guitarists with its maple resonator and neck and its Gold Tone sliding magnetic pickup for powerful plugged-in tone. Both right and left handed models are available.
Convenient Case
If you prefer carrying your 6-string banjo without strap or bag, many come equipped with an included hardshell case to make transport simpler when travelling or attending jam sessions. Furthermore, more costly models often feature straps and additional strings, making them even simpler to take on the road.
Since 6-string banjos are less widely available than other kinds, you will need to do your research when shopping for one. Deering offers some of the finest banjos on the market – their Goodtime series provides great options for beginners.
6-string banjos are versatile instruments, though most commonly associated with bluegrass or dixieland music due to being tuned an octave lower than most other kinds of banjos, making them suitable for chording patterns requiring greater sustain than can be provided by guitar. Therefore, before purchasing one it’s essential that you consider your preferred musical genre when buying your instrument.
Strap
Many banjos leave the factory without having their coordinator rods tightened as much as necessary, as this is an accepted practice. Due to production processes, travel across oceans, train rides to distribution centres and then store locations or your home causing loosening over time and storage conditions (or simply age), some will loosen up over time; even this slight curvature in the neck makes a dramatic difference to its playability!
Curved necks provide additional benefits. Palm mutes allow you to more effectively palm mute the strings, making the instrument more responsive while decreasing overtones and acoustic feedback that are prevalent with all banjo models and especially so on four string models.
The 6-string is well suited to blues, country, dixieland and ragtime music as well as finger picking techniques. While its limited frequency may disappoint those wanting ultra fast Scruggs style rolls, for those seeking an open back banjo that uses guitar chords it offers great potential.
Keep in mind that 6-string banjos tend to have lower sustain than their guitar counterparts, so patterns that depend on notes lasting over half of a beat may not sound strong. While this issue could arise on any banjo, its presence will be especially noticeable on 6-string models.