No matter if it’s your first banjo experience or not, purchasing the highest quality banjo within your budget will ensure you make the most out of playing it.
Many new banjo players become confused when trying to distinguish the differences between open-back and resonator banjos, however. Your choice should depend upon what style of music you plan to perform with it.
How to Play
Begin by getting acquainted with your banjo. Begin with simple tunes you already know and move onto more difficult songs as time progresses. Practice regularly and record yourself playing; this will enable you to identify where improvements need to be made.
Switching from guitar to banjo should take no more than a few weeks; just adapt to its different tuning and learn fingerstyle picking techniques.
One of the best banjos to start out with is a Goodtime banjo from American maker Greg Deering – they offer great value at their entry-level price point and come complete with premium features such as resonator backs on Goodtime Two for enhanced sound projection and interactive games that help develop pitch recognition skills. To tune your banjo by ear more efficiently try playing this simple interactive game!
Scruggs Style
Few stringed instruments have the unique sound or timbre of the banjo, making its unique sound signature all its own when played either bluegrass style, clawhammer style or melodically. No other instrument quite matches its unique characteristics like this stringed instrument does.
Even complete beginners can learn to play on a backless banjo as long as the tone ring remains intact, though adding a resonator will improve sound quality and help stand out in groups, especially bluegrass players. We suggest Deering Goodtime 2 Banjo as it features a sliding resonator for instant open-back vibe or increasing on-stage volume; plus it comes with 5-string long neck option perfect for more experienced banjoists.
Bluegrass Style
Bluegrass music originated in the United States after World War II. Although closely related to old-time string band music popularized by groups like The Carter Family in the 1920s, bluegrass stands apart as it features more syncopated rhythms and gives prominence to banjo playing using Scruggs style techniques.
Bluegrass musicians generally prefer resonator banjos due to its fuller and louder tone; this instrument’s distinctive fingerpicking styles suit it well as well.
Beginners looking to start strumming patterns like Clawhammer or Frailing would benefit from choosing a banjo with a resonator; however, any starting player can use one without either and still achieve excellent sound.
Clawhammer Style
Experienced five-string banjo players will often use a quick method for tuning their instrument: gently brushing their thumb across all strings to check that their banjo is in tune. This quick technique gives an immediate way of understanding which key the song you are playing is in, or whether any chords need to be added; both Clawhammer and Fingerpicking players utilize this strategy.
Clawhammer style fingerpicking involves positioning one thumb as a “claw” near strings while index and middle fingers tend toward each other in an “S” pattern, striking strings with their nails striking back against strings (hence its name). Clawhammer stands out in that it seamlessly combines melody and rhythm – many top clawhammer players also perform bluegrass or old-time music – and some have even combined several styles into one!
No matter what genre you decide on, whether clawhammer or bluegrass, resonator banjo is essential for playing music. One great choice is the Deering Goodtime openback banjo.