No matter your level of skill or experience with banjo playing, a 6-string banjo provides creatively rewarding musical playback with extra strings offering wider tonal range and making for many different genres of music to enjoy.
Folk music and the 6-string banjo go hand-in-hand. The instrument creates an authentic mountain sound that is both captivating and emotionally moving.
Strings
Many beginning banjo players begin with lighter gauge strings until their skills mature, then switch to heavier gauges. It is wise to get several sets and experiment until finding your ideal set; when this occurs, note it on its packaging for future reference and write the date on it for future use.
Note that 6 string banjos require different tuning than guitars, meaning a capo can have dramatic reverberations on tone when playing power chords. Furthermore, patterns requiring strumming multiple open strings at full volume will sound cacophonous on this instrument.
The latest 6-string banjos are based on 5-string models but feature metal guitar strings instead. Easily played fingerstyle or with plectrum, they feature radiused necks similar to an acoustic guitar to make playing easier for guitarists coming from guitar backgrounds. Some models even take an additional fifth string tuned an octave higher than the fourth string to give more guitar-like sound – these models are used by jazz and dixieland musicians who need low bass notes without their sound becoming overshadowed.
Picks
Six string banjos can be played like guitars with either fingers or pick. Fingerboards are frequently radiused like those found on an acoustic guitar to make playing easier for guitarists and some models come equipped with steel strings (phosphor bronze or nickel wound) that mimic the sound of standard acoustic instruments. Some banjos even come equipped with pickups; great choices include Fishman, LR Baggs and Kavanjo models for this purpose.
Be mindful that the sound of a Six String Banjo may vary dramatically depending on its strings, setup, and music genre you play. Finding an instrument with just the right tone takes some experimentation before finding its ideal sound for your songs.
Bluegrass music is an ideal genre to utilize the 6-string banjo in. This fast-paced genre demands an instrument capable of keeping up with its fast beat while adding melodies for an engaging ensemble performance.
A 6-string banjo provides another benefit in its ability to play acoustic versions of traditional songs written for Tenor banjos such as “Brother Can You Spare a Dime?, which cannot be produced using 4-string guitars alone. This gives these songs more authentic sounding performances.
Setup
Your playing style (fingerstyle or strummer) will have an effect on how a six string banjo sounds; set-up work may need to be performed initially before using it properly. Many new banjos come without all the essential parts needed for optimal sound production; these may need some initial setup work before they sound their best.
Before tightening down the bridge to get optimal banjo tone, first make sure that the bridge is placed properly – this involves determining how far back the bridge should go and tightening it to keep its position. Next up is checking the neck’s bow (curvature). You can do this by holding down one string at the twelfth fret with your left forefinger and viewing from above the neck to determine whether its curve forms a straight line across its strings when seen from above the neck; otherwise adjust by turning the truss rod nut located under an access cover at the top side of peghead – turning clockwise will tightening, while turning counterclockwise will loosen it further.
Last but not least, you should inspect both the nut and frets to make sure they’re in proper working condition. A loose nut could cause the strings to buzz against the frets when playing; similarly, flat nuts tend to work better with Dixieland-inspired styles that use bar chords.
Sound
Kacey Musgraves used a Deering Boston 6-string banjo on her 2013 album Same Trailer Different Park that won her the Grammy Award for Best Country Album, as well as live performances.
Although 6-string banjos may not sound quite the same as 5-string versions for traditional bluegrass rolls, they still make for great music-making tools in many other genres and will sound better if strung with heavy gauge strings that create deeper and resonant tones.
Fingerpicked music on a 6-string banjo can sound wonderful; however, its limited sustain means patterns requiring notes to carry for more than about half beat may sound weaker.
Flatpickers who desire more bass-heavy banjos should strongly consider purchasing the 6-string model. Some versions feature resonator versions to give greater projection so you can play with other musicians without fear of your banjo being drowned out by other instruments in a band setting. This option can also come in handy for studio work as it will help set you apart from the crowd.