Six String Banjos are versatile instruments suitable for bluegrass, ragtime, country and other genres of music. Additionally, an electric pickup may be added for playing out or busking purposes.
Notes on cello have less sustain than guitar and therefore any patterns relying on the string ringing for longer than half of a beat can appear weak. Also, cello is typically played using a radiused fingerboard similar to an acoustic guitar.
Moon & Stars 6 String Banjo
Deering banjos boast powerful sounds with their 6-string models. Crafted of rolled steel rims that produce an intimate yet distinct tone, their design stands out among competitors due to an elegant Vega dragon inlayed in its peghead and black stained maple headstock complete with nickel hoop and brass hardware – an easy choice for beginners as tuning becomes much simpler with this banjo!
This 5-string banjo was built to produce more powerful and clear sounds than its 5-string counterparts. Crafted of mahogany for the resonator and neck, and featuring a steel rim with nickel plating for an incredible bright tone – its high notes are powerful and clear, making this instrument an excellent choice for bluegrass or other genres of music.
Although regular guitar strings may work on a six string banjo, doing so may result in incorrect tuning and altered tonal characteristics. For the best tone accuracy and consistency it’s recommended using either 6 string banjo strings or light gauge guitar strings combined with wound 4th string – for optimal results use 6 string banjo strings with light gauge gauge and wound 4th strings as this provides accurate tonality across all strings.
Learning to play a 6-string banjo may prove to be challenging for beginners, but the reward more than makes up for any initial difficulty. Once you master the fundamentals, you can explore alternate tunings that open up new avenues of musical expression – whether double drop D tuning for powerful and distinct tones or open tuning with punctuated drones.
The Best 6 String Banjo for Sale
Deering’s GT-500 6-String Banjo offers excellent sound, quality materials, and an excellent price point – making it the ideal option for beginners as well as experienced players looking for additional strings on their instrument. Crafted of mahogany for both the resonator and neck parts with steel rims for delivering crisp tones with plenty of banjo twang.
Geared tuners make tuning this banjo easy, while its truss rod provides you with the versatility to adjust its tone as your skill level improves. Jumbo frets provide comfortable playing experience. Plus, its solid mahogany body gives this 6-string banjo an exceptional sound that easily rivals more expensive models!
One important feature to look for when searching for the ideal 6-string banjo is whether or not it includes an inbuilt piezoelectric pickup, which is essential if you intend on playing your banjo through an amplifier or at loud venues. Furthermore, having this built-in pickup will simplify recording as it won’t require an external microphone for sound capture – and some models even come equipped with radiused fingerboards – something guitar players used to flat-tuned fretboards may find helpful!
Closed-Back 6 String Banjo
The closed back six string banjo (commonly referred to as a guitjo or banjitar) features a solid maple rim with removable resonators that makes it ideal for beginners who don’t wish to invest in professional models. Furthermore, its full and rich tone make it suitable for bluegrass music, country tunes, ragtime, and beyond!
A bass guitar’s neck is slightly shorter than that of its counterparts, making it easier for fingerstyle players and singer-songwriters to access higher frets. Double drop D tuning is particularly favored by fingerstyle players and singer-songwriters for its rich sound and unique chord voicing; additionally, using it with a capo allows users to switch keys quickly without retuning.
Although purists might view the 6-string banjo as not being authentic to its name, it has been around for over 100 years and offers its own distinct sound and feel than 4- or 5-string instruments. Although not ideal for playing traditional bluegrass with ultrafast Scruggs-style rolls, the 6-string can work very well for other genres such as country music, dixieland or ragtime; additionally experimenting can be great fun as you create authentic banjo sounds without trying to emulate authentic sounds!
Best 6 String Banjo with Gig Bag
The Jameson banjo is handcrafted of premium materials to produce a gorgeous tone. Featuring a Remo Weatherking drum head, maple ebony bridge, chrome armrest, adjustable tailpiece and truss rod; plus it comes complete with its own 15mm gig bag for convenient carrying and storage!
This 6-string banjo is an excellent addition to any guitarist’s music. Easy to tune, its neck is designed for optimal playing experience that’s similar to that of playing guitar; plus, its various tuning options and other modal styles of play make this banjo an excellent addition.
This banjo differs from others on this list in that it doesn’t come equipped with a headstock strap; however, its built-in hook allows it to easily be attached. Furthermore, its price may be slightly more than other models on this list but still provides a lot for its price point.
Many of the banjos on this list come with either a gig bag or hardshell case for convenient travel use, while hardshell cases provide greater protection when taking your instrument on tour. Some even come equipped with electric pickups so you can connect and perform with bands.