Considerations should be given when purchasing a 6-string banjo, such as its costs and whether the additional expenditure would justify your decision.
Banjos can be costly instruments to build. Craftsmanship and quality control must go into crafting an exceptional neck, while even if everything was set up perfectly upon shipping it may still need tweaking during its journey home; that is why knowing how to adjust it yourself is so essential.
Scale length
Six-string banjos feature shorter scale lengths than 5-string models, enabling higher string tuning without increasing neck tension and thus benefiting bluegrass players when it comes to playing scalar chords and bar chords. This advantage also makes playing bar chords much simpler on this type of instrument.
Many modern 6-string banjos feature radiused fingerboards to help guitarists transition easily from acoustic guitars. This feature can especially benefit beginners just starting out. Radiused fingerboards may also make playing bar chords on a banjo simpler.
Considerations should also be given when buying a 6-string banjo to whether its neck has any bowing. Although slight bowing of the neck is normal for any instrument, excessive or severe bowing could require replacing coordinator rods; but only do so with adequate knowledge and safety precautions in mind.
To tune a 6-string banjo, establish an E string reference pitch using any method possible (piano, tuning fork or any other instrument will suffice), plunk and adjust its peg until its pitch matches that reference, repeat until all A and D strings are tuned and you have found their pitch matches exactly with all references – or use an electronic tuner if available for more convenience and accuracy.
Fingerboard width
Many banjos in the lower price range feature flat fingerboards, making it difficult for guitarists who are used to playing radiused fingerboards to play them effectively. Recently however, some manufacturers have begun providing radiused fret boards on low-end models; this can help beginners learn faster.
One important consideration for the neck profile is thickness. To maximize gripping strength for thumb and fingers at this area of the instrument, the middle must be thicker than either end; additionally, this is where its back curves most rapidly toward its fingerboard so this part should not be rough or rough-textured.
A quality neck is also critical in creating the tone of a banjo. One with quality materials will produce a rich, clear sound that stands out against other instruments in a mix; on the other hand, one made from inferior materials will produce thin and dull tones which won’t stand out against its peers as easily.
Even though many consider 5-string banjos the “real” banjo, that doesn’t mean a 6-string is any less playable compared to them; King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton played them extensively during jazz performances of their time in the 1920s!
Bridge height
Your banjo’s bridge is one of the key factors in its tone and playability, as it determines string length (action). Adjusting it can have dramatic impacts on its sound and playability – for instance a low bridge will reduce string volume while higher ones increase them; these different effects vary between types; for instance low bridges tend to reduce it while high ones increase it; most common materials for bridge construction include ebony which will not bend under pressure from strings as quickly.
If you own a new banjo, it’s essential that you understand how to set up the bridge and other parts of the instrument correctly. Unfortunately, many banjos ship without all parts tightened down properly; even if they were initially tightened correctly upon shipping across the Pacific or taking a train ride before reaching their distribution center and truck drive to your home will most likely loosen over time.
First, tune the high D string until it’s in perfect intonation with all other strings, then tune the lower strings until all strings are properly intonated. Next, fine-tune the bridge placement by holding your finger against the nut just above the 12th fret and plucking. If any string sounds “muddy” or has additional bass frequencies then move the bridge closer to the nut to improve string spacing.
String spacing
A 6-string banjo’s string spacing can vary widely. When choosing an ideal spacing that suits your playing style and other instruments, calipers can be invaluable tools in measuring string spacing accurately.
Six-string banjos are perfect for guitarists who wish to use guitar chords, as well as fingerstyle and plectrum players. Their versatile nature means they can also be played in bluegrass, ragtime, country and Dixieland music as well as jazz (Jennifer “Django” Reinhardt even began his career playing one!). Some even use them for jazz soloing!
One advantage of a 6-string banjo over its 5-string counterpart is that it can be tuned an octave higher, making it easier to play songs featuring many high notes without strain. On 5-string instruments this could prove challenging – particularly when fingerpicking these high notes!
One disadvantage of 6-string banjos is their inability to produce melodies similar to what can be heard on a tenor banjo, limiting your playback when trying to perform songs such as “Brother Can You Spare a Dime” and other 5-string tunes that require multiple chords. Furthermore, their thicker necks create tension issues that limit playability.