A six-string banjo can sound very much like a guitar when strumming all six strings simultaneously; however, fingerpicked versions sound beautiful as well.
Fingerpicking should avoid strumming all open strings simultaneously at full volume; this muddies the overall tone. Instead, fret or deaden two lower strings to achieve better tone quality.
Strings
6-string banjos differ from 5-string ones in that they can be strung with nylon strings to avoid string breakage under more intense playing styles such as clawhammer. Furthermore, this eliminates overly-tight strings which can produce dull sounds. Most 6-string models also come equipped with an internal piezo-electric pickup and 1/4″ jack for easier amplified playing in noisy environments.
Another advantage of the 6-string banjo is its versatility: it can be tuned an octave higher, making it easier to play songs that require high notes. This feature makes the instrument more accessible for guitarists looking to use chords in their playing as well as fingerstyle and plectrum players – including jazz stars like Django Reinhardt who even started his career on one!
One drawback of a 6-string banjo is its difficulty in playing melodies; you don’t have the same access to all six strings simultaneously as with 5-string instruments, making it more challenging for beginners as well as restricting your ability to perform tunes such as “Brother Can You Spare A Dime” that require multiple chords.
Additionally, you will require a capo to help quickly change keys, and a stand to raise it off the floor when not playing. Tuners may also come included with your banjo from its manufacturer; but keep in mind that its bridge can have an enormous effect on tone and playability – low bridges reduce string volume while high ones increase it.
Tuning
Many banjos come equipped with tuning pegs that are either too loose or too tight, which can throw off their pitch. Too-loose tuning pegs will detune slightly when strumming chords or moving your body – usually not a major issue; but too-tight ones make tuning difficult, and may even break strings over time.
To properly check a tuning peg, use a tuner on another instrument to observe how its string sounds, then make necessary adjustments until the tuning peg resembles its target instrument almost exactly.
Banjos can be tuned in a variety of ways, and it can be fun to experiment with different tunings. Double drop D tuning features a low first string to produce an original sound from your banjo.
Professional advice should be sought to make sure a new banjo is set up correctly. An expert can advise which type of banjo would best meet your needs, as well as tell if the neck has any issues.
Fingerpicking
As with any instrument, playing a 6-string banjo differs significantly from its 5-string counterpart and should be approached differently. The extra two low strings may add distracting overtones that must be controlled carefully to maintain an enjoyable listening experience; palm mutes and good pick control techniques may be helpful here.
Many guitar players who buy a six string banjo think that they can play it just like they play their instrument; this assumption is incorrect. First off, 6-string banjos have different tuning and chord structures than their guitar counterparts; secondly fingerpicking on 6-string banjos is significantly harder; it takes time and practice before getting an even sound across all six strings.
Unlearn fingerpicking on a 6-string banjo to achieve that coveted “banjo sound.” One approach for accomplishing this goal would be learning open G chords on your banjo with both thumb picking the melody note and fingers playing bass notes simultaneously.
An alternative way of creating the classic “banjo sound” is by replacing a 6-string banjo’s drone string with a fifth string and playing chords in Dixieland style – this creates a fuller and gutsier sounding banjo sound!
Setup
Once you purchase a 6-string banjo that hasn’t been set up by a professional, it may require some minor work in order to return it to good working order. Unfortunately, many new buyers don’t realise this and end up with one that’s unplayable; though fixing this shouldn’t be hard; but some knowledge about how a 6-string works may be required as well as some familiarity with its parts.
Positioning the bridge correctly on a banjo is of vital importance. To do this, observe how the strings sound when fretted and then when playing open (root position) chords; an ideal bridge will create full, bright sounding chords when played unfretted that sound octaves higher when strung with a flatpick than when fretted with fretted strings.
As part of your general inspection, it’s also important to ensure the neck is straight. A small curve in the neck should be acceptable, but too much curvature could result in issues with high action or fret buzz. To measure neck bow, place the banjo on its back and stretch a strip of paper or light cardboard across its top of “nut,” leaving enough length between front edge of “nut” and bridge to create a straight line from “nut” all the way to bridge – creating an accurate measurement.