A stringed musical instrument of the guitar family with a long fretted neck and a round open-backed body consisting of parchment stretched over a metal hoop, played by plucking or with a plectrum.
Questions tagged [banjo]
24 questions
22
votes
2 answers
Why does the 5th string of a 5 string banjo usually start from the 5th fret?
Why does the 5th string of a 5 string banjo usually start from the 5th fret? From the perspective of a beginning guitar player, it looks rather cumbersome both to play and manufacture. Wouldn't this make some chords impossible, that would be…
Moriarty
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4 answers
What to play instead of chords with an informal group?
I typically play guitar with an informal group and we mostly play traditional and old-timey songs. When I am not soloing I usually just play the chord progression of the song. Recently however I have been playing a 4-string banjo tuned to 5ths…
DQdlM
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7
votes
2 answers
What's the difference between regular guitar and banjo strings?
My father's got an old banjo that he needs re-stringed for him and I've got a set of guitar strings that I think would do the trick...But I'm not sure if these are appropriate for the instrument. I'm afraid I don't have any details on his instrument…
SomethingSomething
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7
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5 answers
Is it a bad idea to attach my strap just above the nut?
This question is mainly for my banjo but it seems to apply to my guitar as well. For me it is most comfortable to have the left end of the strap attached to just above the nut on the neck. Is this a bad idea? I worry that it is putting stress on…
DQdlM
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5
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1 answer
How to improve technique on a C chord for the banjo?
I'm working through a Hal Leonard guide using a rented Aria banjo. Eventually I have in mind to get a Deering Goodtime 2. The neck widths are both 1-1/4, based on measuring the Aria and reading about the Deering. I don't want to tinker with the top…
Don Branson
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4
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3 answers
Should I learn or know guitar in order to learn to play the banjo?
Someone once told me I should know guitar first. Are these instruments different enough that learning banjo is independent of knowing guitar?
zundarz
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4
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What temperament did the akonting players use when they jammed with Béla Fleck?
In the album and film "Throw Down Your Heart", Béla Fleck (banjo) and Jil Ekona Jatta (akonting) jam (video). The banjo is fretted and the akonting is not. How did this work? Here are a few possible answers I can think of:
Akonting is played in…
Max Heiber
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3
votes
2 answers
Practice while traveling
I have been trying to learn the banjo for a couple years. An irregular practice schedule hinders progress, obviously. Unfortunately for me this is unavoidable as I travel frequently...I’m a pilot. I was wondering if anyone knows of a good way to…
Alex
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3
votes
3 answers
Scruggs Banjo Tuners - are they necessary?
How necessary are Scruggs tuners when playing Scruggs-style banjo? They seem like something of a novelty to me, and I'd rather just not install them or learn how to do it, but don't want to leave it out if it's an integral part of a Scruggs-style…
Marty
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3
votes
3 answers
Why is a tenor banjo typically tuned in fifths?
I have two tenor banjos both tuned in "Chicago tuning", DGBE, that is, like the four highest-pitched strings of the guitar. I am told, and I see from research on Teh Internetz that this is unusual. Typically tenor banjos are tuned in fifths.
Why…
empty
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One string on banjo not tuning properly
My Banjo is fair to good quality and strings 1, 2, 3, and 5 all go up 1/2 step per fret as they are supposed to. The 4th string is tuned to D and I tune it quite flat and it doesn't go up 1/2 step, it continually goes sharp as I go higher up the…
Bob Fish
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3
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1 answer
Banjo 5th string as a melody note
I'm looking Wildwood Flower in Wayne Erbsen's Clawhammer Banjo for the Complete Ignoramus.
On line one, he specifies that the G in the first line be played with the thumb on the 5th string. This is what the tablature looks like from the book:
Why…
jmilloy
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3
votes
2 answers
How do you properly read an extended scale chart?
This question is about reading extended scale charts.
Example A: Shows a small segment of notes that are easy to read and practice.
Example B: Shows all possible notes and I don't know where to start or stop the scale.
How do you properly read/parse…
SoundAV
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2
votes
1 answer
Why is a banjo on a lesson book's tracks tuned to 438hz?
I have a Hal Leonard banjo lesson book that includes a series of tracks for downloading, including 5 tracks with tuning notes. I tuned a banjo using an electronic tuner set to 440hz, and noticed the banjo's notes didn't harmonize with the tuning…
Don Branson
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2
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1 answer
How to chose chords on Plectrum Banjo
I'm new on harmonic music world because I play a melodic instrument. Now, I have as a second instrument a Plectrum Banjo (standard tunning CGBD) and I would like to play with friends some Jazz songs. Just for fun.
I have started with 'It had to be…
danihp
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