Resonator banjos tend to be heavier and louder than open back models, making them popular with bluegrass players due to their unique twangy sound.
Tuners are essential tools for beginners as they make tuning the banjo easier. Guitar style tuners may be easier for newcomers to use while planetary tuners require a bit more attention in order to maintain tuning accuracy.
Tuning
There are various factors that contribute to a banjo’s unique sound; many of which do not depend on whether or not its instrument features a resonator. You will quickly become aware of them over time.
Dependent upon your skill and style of banjo playback, removing the resonator may be beneficial in terms of both ease of use and sound reduction – particularly useful if living in an enclosed dorm space!
Clip-on tuners are another convenient solution to ensure that your banjo remains in tune. Musicians use these as their go-to tuning solution; beginners may find them especially helpful as an economical alternative. However, it remains essential to have the skills necessary to tune their banjo by ear.
Fingerpicking
Your musical direction will ultimately decide the type of 5-string banjo best suited for you; open-back models tend to weigh less, cost less and produce sound better suited for folk music while resonator models offer deeper tones and textures.
Clawhammer players require an open back banjo with features tailored to their playing style, such as a scoop in the neck and higher action. You may also add another Mylar head overtop of the resonator in order to reduce its twanginess.
Firsthand experience is the only sure way to gauge whether an instrument suits you or not; reading reviews, learning techniques and theorizing will only serve to waste your time until it comes time to actually pick it up and try it for yourself.
Strumming
Discovering a new instrument can be daunting, with its endless choices when purchasing one, new terminology to learn and an overwhelming amount of work ahead. But it doesn’t need to be this way! With help and advice available online and through professional musicians like ourselves here at Uwemusic Academy it should become less daunting over time!
Strumming involves playing melody lines over chords with finger picks. This style works best with either an open back or resonator banjo.
Beginners often opt for open back banjos as they are cost-effective and simple to play, yet gig worthy right out of the box (exceptions being Deering Goodtime line). There are various ways an open back banjo’s tone can be enhanced depending on its sound requirements and budget; here is one suggestion for improving it:
Bluegrass
Bluegrass banjos typically feature a bowl-shaped resonator to project sound more loudly towards an audience and focus their sound toward specific songs or genres, like bluegrass. They are great choices for faster genres such as bluegrass and can make an excellent first banjo purchase for beginners.
Beginners should begin by practicing on an open back banjo, as these models are cost-effective and straightforward to play. As their skills improve they may decide later to switch over to playing bluegrass music instead.
If bluegrass music isn’t your cup of tea, the clawhammer or frailing banjo may do just as well! Take advantage of Frank Evans’ free clawhammer lessons – they’re perfect for beginners who want to learn its unique rhythms! Plus we offer tons of bluegrass songs as practice material!
Old Time
Resonator banjos make your banjo louder for live performances, especially if you need to compete with fiddles, guitars, tubas and xylophones! A resonator banjo provides extra volume when performing live – ideal if you need to compete against fiddles, guitars, tubas and xylophones!
Also, these strings dampen string sounds during strumming to soften their sound and help beginners avoid disturbing their roommates when practicing. That can be especially important for beginners that may otherwise wake them up during practice sessions.
An additional feature is a 24 hook brass tension hoop that gives players much greater control of their banjo head tension and prevents strings from pulling out of their slots.
When purchasing a banjo from a store, it’s always wise to test out the instrument beforehand. By playing more frequently you will gain more of an idea about its feel and whether or not it suits your needs; that way you won’t waste money returning it later.