Based on your budget and musical goals, resonator banjos may be worthwhile investments as they produce louder tones than open-back models and are the preferred choice among bluegrass musicians.
Tone rings and heads make an enormous impactful difference to the sound – wood tone rings such as those found on Goodtime Hartford models offer more rounded tones, while when making your decision be sure that it feels comfortable when playing.
Beginner’s Guide
Resonator banjos (also referred to as gitjos, guit banjos and 6 string banjos) resemble guitars more closely than traditional banjos in terms of tuning and playing style, making them an excellent way for guitarists to experience banjo sound without learning an entirely new instrument. This makes resonator banjos an excellent choice for exploring this aspect of banjo culture without learning an entirely different instrument!
Common belief holds that open-back banjos are only suitable for clawhammer and old time music, yet this is far from accurate. Many top clawhammer and old time banjoists today also opt to play resonator banjos as part of their repertoire.
Open-back banjos can also be modified to produce louder tones for bluegrass and other genres when coupled with resonators, making it an excellent way for beginners to reduce noise at home while practicing. A resonator-equipped banjo would be best for playing bluegrass music.
Choosing a Banjo
Many banjo beginners often lack any idea as to why some 5-string banjos feature “resonators”, while others don’t, or what resonators exactly do; further, many might assume that choosing either clawhammer or bluegrass styles limits the playing styles available to them.
However, any 5-string banjo can play a wide range of music – clawhammer and Scruggs styles alike – successfully. All it takes to play this music successfully is choosing the appropriate banjo that meets your musical preferences and goals over time; to do this best practice means understanding open-back vs resonator banjo differences to help inform which type is the right match for your needs by first considering your budget and musical taste before selecting an open or resonator banjo type.
Strings
No matter whether you’re playing bluegrass songs or Irish reels, having the proper strings makes all the difference in sound quality and reliability. Nylon strings tend to produce smoother tones while decreasing chances of string snapping; nylon string replacement should occur every three months depending on how often and hard you hit your strings.
Choose wood carefully when choosing the rim and tone ring material; maple offers crisp articulation while mahogany provides warmth and depth of tone. Resonator banjos with detachable or integral resonators offer additional versatility and tonal possibilities.
Some resonator banjos come equipped with an internal mute built into the bridge that further dampens sound, which is helpful when living in dorms or around loud noises. Unfortunately, however, mutes may alter your tone significantly so if you plan on playing publicly it would be wise to learn how to take them off first.
Tuning
Resonators can increase banjo volume for live performances and are generally recommended for bluegrass banjos; however, they aren’t necessary: an open back banjo may sound just as good and may even be better for beginners because its quieter nature doesn’t absorb string sounds into its body as much.
To check whether or not your banjo is in tune, place the index finger of one hand behind the twelfth fret of string four and strum without pressing finger onto fret; they should produce a G chord; otherwise it is out of tune and requires adjustment.
Some banjos feature an adjustable bridge screw, usually accessible by unscrewing a triangular piece of plastic on the head. When tightening it down, be sure to use a screwdriver that fits its end so as not to break off inside the head.