Learning banjo can be an empowering way to express your musical creativity. From bluegrass and old-time tunes, to Irish jigs or country, banjo’s five string design adds its signature sound to every performance.
Resonator banjos feature an enclosed back with an oval-shaped bowl called a resonator that acts as an amplifier, making the instrument significantly louder than its open-back counterparts.
Picking Style
Learning to finger pick a banjo is fairly straightforward for anyone who already plays guitar or other fretted stringed instruments; basic musical skills translate directly onto this five-stringed banjo as well.
There are various styles of picking banjo that range in difficulty and ease, though most can be learned with time and practice. Bluegrass and old time banjo playing have both long histories dating back to before U.S. Civil War era.
No matter if you prefer bluegrass, old time, or clawhammer music – knowing which style of banjo you wish to purchase is essential for playing successfully. Open-back banjos tend to be less expensive than their resonator counterparts but both types can be used for the same genres; their difference lies in how their sound chamber design impacts tone projection.
Strings
Strings play an instrumental role in creating the sound of a banjo, whether you use your fingernails to play clawhammer style or metal fingerpicks for Scruggs style playing – their tone will impact its sound significantly.
Resonator banjos feature a back cover which amplifies their sound more, producing an engaging and shimmery tone. Open back banjos offer more freedom when it comes to clawhammer (frailing) style playing or strumming-based styles of banjo playing; all it depends on what each individual player desires from their instrument.
Luna offers the Americana Banjo B8, a solid-body, resonator banjo with 25.5-inch scale length and unique mother-of-pearl fret markers that resembles that of a guitar. Furthermore, this banjo features one single humbucker pickup to deliver archetypical banjo sounds. As with all stringed instruments, restringing should occur every three months to avoid snapped strings during gigs.
Tuning
When purchasing a Resophonic Banjo, keep these considerations in mind. First and foremost, tuneability may not be as straightforward due to differing fret spacing; as a guitar tuner would not work on these instruments, so a chromatic tuner is advised for optimal tuning results.
Resonators also make the banjo louder, which can be beneficial when playing bluegrass as its played with three finger picks and you need to be heard when performing in groups or jam sessions. An open back banjo (no resonator) would be quieter as part of its sound leaves through your body before being absorbed by it.
Some players opt to tune their resonator banjos in G tuning (DBGDg; count from toe upward) or standard guitar tuning (DGBE), both of which can easily be learned without any need to relearn chords previously learned – they simply involve changing one note at a time by lower tunings.
Maintenance
Resonators are an accessory to banjos that increase volume. They consist of bowl-like parts attached to the banjo pot that make the sound louder; those looking for quieter sounds may remove this part altogether to get an open-back banjo; however, doing so will significantly dull its tone quality and may alter its overall sound quality.
Your choice of banjo will depend on how it will be used; clawhammer banjo players typically prefer soft tones while bluegrass professionals need an audible instrument.
Finding the ideal banjo can be challenging, so the best way to decide is by trying several out. No matter which you select, changing its strings on a regular basis will reduce risk of string snapping while lengthening its lifespan and giving a fresher sound – the frequency will depend upon how often you play or practice.