Six String Banjos are perfect for anyone seeking a classic Dixieland sound and don’t mind strumming with just the top strings. Their lower strings will ring freely unless fretted or deadened; you may experience additional resonance if fretted strings remain unstrung.
Many instruments feature one or more long bolt-looking coordinator rods beneath their heads. These help to keep the neck straight.
Scale Length
One of the key distinctions between 6-string and 5-string banjos is their respective bass strings, which allows fingerpicking of low strings without distorting or clouding their sound with other strings.
Some players employ the bass string to add an additional note to certain chords; this approach is particularly popular among bluegrass musicians. Due to this practice, many 6-string banjos have higher tones than their 5-string counterparts.
The standard 6-string banjo tuning is EADGBE, mirroring that of the guitar. This makes it simple for guitarists to transition seamlessly onto six-string banjo and play their favorite songs like Keith Urban’s “Somebody Like You” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” making for easy transition.
Additionally to the standard 6-string banjo, there are also alternative tunings of this instrument available that can be used for different genres of music. Although these tunings may require more practice to master, they will give your music its own distinctive sound and set you apart from competitors.
Some banjos feature resonators attached to the back of their heads for increased volume and easier hearing of your playing. Although some instruments can still be played while having these attached, most people who do so usually end up taking them off later.
Neck Material
A six string banjo’s neck is typically constructed from mahogany or another wood that provides great resonance, such as pine. Additionally, some models feature a flange to increase sustain of sound. Mahogany makes an excellent choice since it produces both bright and lively tones as well as warmth in its tone quality.
Maple, renowned for its stiffness and durability, is often utilized for banjo necks. Some more expensive models of six string banjos feature solid maple necks which increase value but may prove challenging to play due to being so rigid.
When shopping for a six string banjo, opt for either rosewood or maple for the neck material. Both materials produce full and rich sounds while rosewood typically offers more delicate tones.
Once you have a banjo with the correct neck, it is time to tune it. Use a guitar tuner or get assistance from someone who plays guitar; tuning will be much harder if your banjo is loose or even slightly out of tune.
Many banjos do not arrive properly assembled before being shipped out for sale, even though they have been checked to make sure everything is present and accounted for. To ensure you purchase one that meets all these criteria, or locate a nearby music store that can do this service, consider purchasing it from someone who provides this service or visit one themselves to purchase a banjo from them.
Head Style
Many six string banjos feature resonators with slotted heads as an homage to how early 6-string banjos were strung more than 100 years ago. Although these models might not suit every musician, their unique sound may attract some players. Many models also come equipped with built-in piezoelectric pickups and 1/4″ jacks for convenient live performance and recording at home.
Other features found on certain models include the double drop D tuning, which adds another low string for symmetrical tuning and allows more chords to be played while providing its own distinct tone. It is especially popular among fingerstyle players and singer-songwriters.
Many cheap banjos on the market ship without their bridge properly set up. While this might work if you only plan on buying one banjo, for long term playability it’s wiser to learn how to adjust it yourself so it stays in tune and plays well over time. To do this, ensure the nut and tailpiece are tight before moving the bridge toward or away from it by skootingching string between them.
Though many banjo players might frown upon using a capo on a 6-string banjo, it’s certainly doable and can help simplify changing keys without needing to retune. A capo is simply a device which shortens the vibrating part of the fifth string thereby raising its pitch; there are specific capos designed specifically for banjos as well as regular guitar capos that work just as effectively.
Sound
Six string banjos can make an attractive sound when played using fingerstyle patterns that pick each string individually, particularly when played fingerstyle. Their warmer tone tends to outshone that of 5-string banjos while their lower strings may even produce gutsy plunks like those found on an acoustic dobro. Unfortunately, 6-strings may become noisy if strumming with flatpick and playing open (root position) chords is all you know how to do; in order to prevent this happening fret or deaden the low strings while strumming high strings in patterns that hit them occasionally as opposed to flatpick strumming flatpick/root position chord chord strumming or strumming with flatpick/flatpick chords/root position chords/open chords/chords… To prevent cacophony you must fret or deaden low strings while strumming/struming high strings in an occasional manner that only hits occasionally (such as “Brother Can You Spare a Dime?”). While this won’t turn you into Dixieland players (or Dixieland players!), but can help with songs like “Brother Can You Spare a Dime?.”
Many 6-string banjos feature fiberskyn heads that produce similar sounds to an acoustic guitar’s black head but with warmer and longer-sustained vibrations. If you want something with even better tone, renaissance, Kevlar or Wild Prism heads might offer better options; but these tend to cost more.
If you’re an existing 5-string banjo player looking to add low strings, a six string banjo may be worth testing out first, just to make sure it works for you. Bluegrass picking patterns should still work similarly but with more of a “gutsy plunk.” They’re also great tools for guitarists whose parts require them to double on banjo briefly (provided their musical context doesn’t call for 5-string rolls!).