No matter your experience level or playing style, an open back banjo provides a vibrant tonal canvas upon which to express yourself musically. This type of banjo is particularly suited for genres such as folk, clawhammer and old-time music.
Resonatorless banjos produce a softer and quieter tone compared to their counterparts, allowing for greater clarity and definition in sound production.
Lightweight
Open back banjos are lighter and less costly than their resonator counterparts, offering beginners more volume control at reduced volume levels. Many open back models even come equipped with an easily detachable tone ring to deaden sounds considerably.
However, they will not produce as loud a sound as a resonator banjo without its ring, so when making your decision it is essential to consider this when making your selection. If you plan to play bluegrass at an advanced level it would probably be wiser to invest in a resonator banjo so other players can hear your remarkable skills more easily.
Open-back banjos are typically associated with folk, Old Time, frailing and clawhammer styles of music; however, they can work perfectly well for bluegrass when played using mutes such as hands or noise reducers to muffle their sound. Although not recommended as it will produce harsh and unpleasant sounds due to no resonator present on the instrument.
Easy to play
Open back banjos produce softer and quieter sounds than their resonator counterparts, which make them suitable for playing bluegrass or any style played with three fingerpicks. Open backs also make great practice tools for beginning players looking to try clawhammer (frailing) style playing or strumming, without altering its tone dramatically. Many new Deering Goodtime banjos feature removable resonatorss – this makes experimenting with various open back sounds simple!
Before beginning to play, fine-tune the bridge placement by comparing an octave overtone of fretted strings at the twelfth fret to their sound unfretted – this adjustment can be accomplished by shifting the bridge back and forth.
Great for beginners
No matter if you’re new to playing banjo or have been practicing for some time, the options available to beginners vary considerably. When making a choice for yourself as a novice banjoist or veteran open back player, make sure your musical preferences and genre of choice is taken into account when selecting the ideal instrument for yourself.
Your next decision should involve selecting whether you need a resonator. A resonator helps your banjo sound louder, which makes it perfect for bluegrass and other styles where you must be heard clearly.
No matter what banjo you prefer, it is vital that its tuning pegs be constructed of maple. Not only are they stronger and more durable than the plastic ones used on other banjos; additionally they should feature a flat head to enable easy in and out movement – this will ensure the strings remain properly spaced without hitting one another, thus eliminating buzzing and potentially leading to string breakage.
Affordable
For an economical banjo without breaking the bank, an open back model could be just what you need. These banjos make a perfect starter instrument and are significantly cheaper than their resonator counterparts; however, additional accessories such as cases and strings may need to be purchased separately.
Open back banjos have another distinct advantage over their resonator counterparts in that they’re generally lighter due to the removal of weight from the instrument via its resonator. Keep in mind when selecting your banjo which style of music it will best complement.
Experienced banjo players often prefer resonator banjos because their deeper sound makes them suitable for bluegrass music. But an open-back banjo may suffice just as easily; additionally, its worth noting that you can remove its resonator to change its sound; doing so won’t affect its quality, just make it less loud.