How to Choose a Banjo Style and a Banjo 

As a longtime bass player who has a sudden yearning to own a banjo, I very much appreciate your explanation. It was exactly what I needed to know in buying my first beginner banjo! Thank you.

I think most folks start out suspecting they'll only play at home. Eventually, though, the banjo winds up going out. Never-the-less either open back or resonator should be just fine if you're undecided. It's much like when I was deciding on a bicycle - MTB or Road bike. A friend told me, "Just buy one". That's my advice here. Buy a banjo in your budget - that you like. Once you start learning you'll have some personal experience to guide you, and you can then buy another banjo. :)

Jim I've played simple guitar since the late 60s when I hurt my hand awhile back I could only move 2 fingers at the time and couldn't fret or bar the guitar so I figured out 2 fingers on 4 string banjo. Toured the Deering factory and bought a goodtime plectrum never regretted it.

Grew up watching hee haw, and im young (18) haha, but roy is one of the best if not the best person to ever pick up a stringed instrument. Wasn't limited to just a banjo either, man could play a fiddle and a guitar too. I imagine he did many hours if practice to get that good

Land of the Lost. Good man. Funny you mention Hee Haw. Grandpa Jones clawhammered and he played on a resonator banjo.

My banjo obsession began in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia listening to Bluegrass Gospel music .

Hey- I am 45, just picked up a banjo last night. Jim wanted to say thanks for making these lessons available on RU-vid for the newbies like me. Any advice to help me get going??

I definitely want to learn to play the 5-string bluegrass banjo. In fact, I've been wanting to for over 20 years, and I'm finally going to bite the bullet this year. I just hope it's not too late, and that I'm not too old. I'm 42 now, will probably be 43 by the time I'm able to take lessons.

Gibson came into the banjo market very late in the four string era. After the war there were two camps. The first four strings were discovered when there were so many mandolin players who liked playing mandolin type instruments with a flat pic. There were many who were used to picking with a plectrum. At first they just removed the fifth string. Aquiring the tecqunique of playing the five string was considered to steep of a learning curve for some. So after playing five strings with the useless tuner someone started making banjos without the fifth string peg and the first four string banjo was invented. After the turn of the century a lot of these mando players started trying different scale lengths using capo on the plectrum banjo tuning to EADG that they were used to playing only with way more volume that you could get from a wood sound board instrument. So as with the five string becoming the plectrum a lot of these guys started having Vega make custom short scale instruments to eliminate the useless capo. In 1908 Vega came out with the Little wonder But they did nit make any Little wonder five strings at that time as the five string was not so popular at that time. Besides there was already a short scale version of the five string.

I didn't even realize it was Jim because he doesn't have the beard

Thanks for explaining the difference in plain English. I just picked up a blue grass style banjo and hoping to start lessons after the new yr.

I've always wanted to learn to play a banjo, and was wondering which one, so this was very helpful, So thank you. ;)

I play the goodtime banjo by Deering. I just use it for flat picking the melodies and throwing in some strumming. It does its job very well. It has a resonator on it and it sounds real good to me. I recommend it.

I took clawhammer lessons once. I like open back banjos. Right now I want to learn melodic banjo.

I thought about mentioning it, but as far as a style or even banjo goes I didn't think it mattered much. However, to answer your question, that area of the fingerboard is scooped out to facilitate playing over that area of the neck. Some folks seem to think it's easier if it's scooped there. Check out my review of the RK-OT25...

It is also worth mentioning that, aside from differing kinds of banjos; there are also many variations in: (1) the length of the banjo neck; (2) the diameter of the banjo pot; (3) the differing ways to capo the 5th string; and, *4) the softness, or hardness, of the strings chosen to play on the banjo; among a myriad of other customizable features. Owning a banjo; or two; as the author of this video seems to have acquired; is, in many ways, like owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Banjo players, it has been found, are not "herd" animals; and, are quite imaginative; which remarkably, is, no doubt, why they have chosen to play the banjo in the first place. There are also a seemingly unlimited number of ways to tune the strings of a banjo; and, more ways are always being experimented with by some backwoodsman (or, backwoodswoman). When all the dust has settled, what is probably important to most folks is that when they open the case of their banjo to take it out and play it; that they like what they see; and, what they hear. If a person purchases a banjo with cold, hard cash; and then, doesn't like what he or she sees or hears whenever that person saddles up the banjo on his or her knee; it won't be long before it is never played; as, in this day and age, there are many, many ways to enjoyably spend one's time; and, it don't have to be on some banjo. There is also a lot said about not spending much money for a banjo; as, a plain, workingman's banjo will sound just as good as an ornate piece of genuine art. But, what's wrong with buying a banjo from an independent banjo maker here in the US; and, paying him fairly for the time and effort he put in to make it? He's just trying to make a living with his calling; just like everyone else. If a guy spends his time ornately decorating a crafted banjo masterpiece; why not support that particularly wholesome activity? Wouldn't it be better if people, world-wide, were making instruments of music; rather than instruments of destruction? It never hurts to support craftsmen and woodworkers of all stripes so that a person can hand down an heirloom piece to his kids and his grandkids. People take pride in masterful craftsmanship; and, rightfully so. If a person gets a good banjo that he or she likes looking at; and, likes to hear when he or she sits alone in the evening and plays it; that person will end up being a grand banjo player just because of the time that banjo spends in his or her hands for the pure love of what they are playing. Happiness doesn't come from having things; happiness comes to men and women when they accomplish something worthwhile; when they accomplish something that they are proud of; and, that benefits society objectively. A good banjo player can do much for charitable organization fund-raising throughout his or her lifetime. Interestingly, a person playing the banjo well does not offend any political group; nor, does a person playing the banjo well ever offend any religious affiliation. Good banjo playing opens many doors; and, brings men and women; young and old; together in hand clapping and foot tapping. Look at the smiles you see when a person is playing the banjo well. It has been tried to think of something else that does that when done in public; but remarkably, so far, that something else can't be thought of.

I wanted to learn banjo because i saw/heard Bela Fleck and Steve Martin they are amazing at banjo. Just purchased my first banjo closed back resonator

Hi I am 57 years old. Have never been able to read music and have no idea about how to form "keys" whilst playing. I have recently bought a banjo and am wondering how do I form keys and how do I remember which key to play in each song. I have started to learn rolls but that is all I have learned and I am still slow. Thanks in advance

although i loved listening to grandpa jones, and BTW, your openback has an incredible sound also, what really got me into banjo big time was the old bonnie & clyde movie which had the great earl scruggs playin' "foggy mountain breakdown"! it don't get no better than that!

Thanks. It's a pretty good banjo for sure!

open back is also lighter i like it for traveling and i love clwa hammer style and old timey sound

Thanks. Very informative. I'm a big fan of dock boggs, gus cannon and papa charlie jackson so I'm thinking of starting to learn to play. Leaning more towards the open back.

This was a fantastic video. Very concise.

Honestly I'm finding a lot of these things out after the fact of buying my banjo. Bought a used one with a resonator - its great - but I'm most accustomed to punk rock and folk, so I'd figure the frailing style works. Man is it heavy..

The Songcatcher movie did it for me. Appalachian style really moves me

Thank you it was exactly what I needed to know and at the right time . Thank you for taking the time to know that people like me had these questions very thoughtful 👍

So if I'm inspired by Earl Scruggs song of the south ,I should get one with a resonator?

Thanks for putting up a clear and concise explanation, I really enjoyed listing

This clears up a lot of questions I had.

My banjo, purchased in Taiwan, is called "Rally". The same banjo sold in USA would be called "Fender", and probably cost a lot more. A Korean company supplies "Fender" with musical instruments, and they're now made in China, as the sticker on the back of the neck of my banjo states. I guess they chose the name "Rally" as not to offend the "Fender" name, and since the Asian market for these things is so small, they don't have to make different banjos for different places. Mine cost about US$200, but I imagine under the Fender name, it must cost more. I don't have any complaints about it except that one of the planetary tuners is loose, and I need to manage a network of rubber bands to keep it in tune. Once I get it stable, then I enjoy playing. Earl Scruggs is my hero. I love the 3-finger picking sound. I've even expanded this to my mandolin and my friend's ukelele. I started improvising with his ukelele and he was surprised that he'd never heard this kind of music from his own instrument. So, as Jim (the OP) says, research a little bit about what you want in a banjo before you buy one. Simple, and good advice.

You play both well. I am partial to the frailing style.

1:31 4:14

Thank you for a charming and informative video.

...and many players played clawhammer style using a finger pick on resonator banjos. I play several different banjo styles, but I only picked two of the more prominent styles that someone interested in learning might have heard. Like I said, "Yes, you can play any style of banjo on any style of banjo." The intent of the video was to give a starting point, and not give hard and fast rules about how things have to be done.

Whoa! Beardless Jim is freaking me out. Love what you do brother.

I really like the sound of mumford and sons banjo. What kind of banjo would you recomend

what banjo would creep tourists out most if i sit on the front of my boat playing whale my brother is fishing (thinking about songs like dueling banjos)

Good video. Very informative - Thanks. I'm intrigued by your use of the words 'Style' and 'Banjo' in the same sentence.

Very helpful, thanks for taking the time.

Resonator 1:31,open-back 4:14

Jim I had to double take. I thought you had a guest speaker on at first 😂

Great advice for a new guy like me, about to buy his first! Thanks!

Hello, Great informative video thank you.. I just wondered (new to banjo) whether getting a 5 string banjo with removable resonator would be the best of both worlds? Then both styles and sounds could come from the one instrument. Apologies if this sounds silly :)

I'm guitarist and I want to start playing a trad jazz, New Orleans style banjo. So I'm thinking about buying a six string banjo. Yes I would like to tune it like a guitar and I've some questions. First of all I'm thinking about buying another set of strings and put a thinner strings for the LOW E-A-D to avoid the bass strings and tune it for the same notes E-A-D but one octave higher to get more like traditional banjo sound. I don't like the bass strings on banjo (especially E-A) because it just doesn't sound like traditional banjo and I'm playing mostly on jams with other people which are playing bass notes. Is it possible to tune low strings one octave higher with your six string banjo? The second question is: what kind of strings will be better for trad jazz? Nylon or Steel? I think I like more steel string and I guess it will be louder so It can be helpful during the jam sessions to mic it up or just to play unplugged.

Calvin, good to see you here!

Wow. This was super helpful, thanks!

A couple of comments. The tenor banjo (four string) is usually associated with dixieland style bands. The five string is associated with Bluegrass and the the three finger picking style is also accurately referred to as Scruggs style - for Earl Scruggs the man who perfected and popularized this method. It isn't easy to learn. It takes practice. If you want the key - learn to play slow, very slow - if you can have the patience to get the timing perfect when playing slow it becomes easy to speed it up. If you get impatient and try to impress people by blazing away you will end up with a sloppy train wreck and you will never achieve your potential. If you can't play slow well you can't play fast well either. Just sayin'...

I bought a resonator banjo and I can use it without a resonator just shows how flexible the instrument is

One point is weight. My Fender FB-58, a resonator banjo, is bloody heavy because of the bronze tone ring. Standing with it for any length of time will wear you out and send you to the chiropractor. An open back is probably half, maybe even a third of the weight.

Thanks for the videos,really informative and helpful. Going to collect my first ever banjo tomorrow,it’s a Deering good time open back. Really excited, thank you once again

What size ukulele banjos are available. I am buying a Christmas gift , in expensive starter, for college senior who expressed interest. Have no idea about size. If he likes it he can get a better ukulele banjo later.

Good job shedding light on different styles of playing, and the banjos associated with.

i sure do enjoy your vids Mr. panky

Why do people dislike it. Wonderfully informative. =)

Awesome sound!... strikes me in my heart .. great video+ info .. thank you!

do banjo's have chords like a guitar

Hey Jim! Great to have found you on youtube. I've been enjoying your videos very much.

Very diplomatic over view! Good job.

Been playing the one string banjo for 30 years. Time for an upgrade.

Excellent idea, and demonstrations! Thank you!

Great vid! Thanks for posting.

Hi Jim, hood to see you teaching...I'm a 63 years old novice player im Brazil, trying with a Stagg resonator, and days ago I've decided buying a Rover open back...being a brand new instrument, mesured the suitable position for the bridge, mounted it, and tuned the instrument, but, sometimes the strings vibrate when I play...then I've noticed It doesn't have a tailpiece like the resonator, over the strings right before the bridge...can you help me with this issue? Should I do something else?

Hi Jim! I am looking forward to start playing the banjo, however I'm not quite sure if I should get a hollow one or one with resonator, I'm into Caribbean music, and I'd specially like to learn to play Calypso; What would you recommend me to get? And do you think I should start w/ a 4-string or a 5string banjo? Thank you for your time and your music, blessings from Costa Rica

Would it be weird if I played 3 finger Scruggs style with finger picks on a Vega Old Tyme Wonder Openback 5 String Banjo?

That was great as a beginner who plays guitar I’d like to learn bluegrass what brand of beginners banjo would be good for that?

Now a want two banjos! But I’ll learn one at a time.

Thanks! This was an informative video!

Hey! Thank you so much this is great! I am wanting to learn how to play the banjo and this is a great videos

Hi Jim, You play well, I notice that you are only covering the 5 string style of playing, both Scruggs style and clawhammer/frailing/wrapping. DO you know much about 4 string banjos? These would be the ones that you would here in the old Jazz band(think Louis Armstrong and his hot 5 or hot 7) or those played by Harry Reser or Eddie Peabody. I think that is the Style played by the Mummers. I think Mumford and Son play a version of 5 string and also a banolin(cross between banjo and mandolin). I play tenor Banjo as well as 5 string but was wondering if there were any other recommendations on other types of Banjo's ( including Plectrums and foreign derivatives such as the turkish one

Who is this guy impersonating Jim 😜. Wow! What a transformation!

Jim, great video. Very informative.

I have 7 banjos 5 are 5 string and two are 4 string I play clawhammer and two finger on my 5 strings and classical on the 4 strings all but one of my banjos are open back

They're both good ! I bought both.

Just wondering what the name of the opens back banjo is because I'm really liking the look and sound of it?

Thanks Jim, that was really useful advice.

Verg helpful! Thanks for taking the time to make this video!

HI JIm.. thanks for a very informative Vid. I've played guitar for around 20 years or so in a range of styles (acoustic, electric, 6 string, 12 string, Uke, fingerpicking, thumb picking and with a plectrum too) and I've recently been trying to teach myself Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, Tommy Emmanuel style 'boom chick' picking (which I'm slowly getting the hang of). I want to buy a banjo and I've been looking at a few for around the $350 AUD price bracket. If I want to do both clawhammer and three finger method and play accompaniment with other instruments am I best to go with the resonator? Is the trade off greater volume but increased weight? Can you play clawhammer on a resi banjo or do you have to play with picks?

great tone on that RK

Thanks for this film. Can you learn to play pluctrum banjo on a 5 sting? I've been trying to find a 4 string to start learning on. Or is it a good idea to start with a banjolele? Appreciate your a advice.

Great info thank you! Even after your video, I'm struggling with the decision about open back vs resonator. I'm basically interested in learning both styles, but the catch is I will most likely only ever play at home alone, much to the chagrin of my wife haha. Anyway, considering I don't need loud, I'm leaning towards the open back. Can you easily do 3 finger picking on an open back just the same as resonator? Any other thoughts?

Hello, I come from the future and as soon as he said "Hey Jim Pankey here", I was like WHAT! But truly this i s a good video. just surprised how much a person can change visually over the years. Also I should consider my resonator maybe.

As far as brands and prices what are the best options

You play very well, nice overview !

would you say that clawhammer is easier to learn than bluegrass for a complete novice who has never played a string instrument?

Nice job, Jim.

Helpful thank you! Off to buy one now

How long do you believe it would it take for a new player with no stringed instrument experience to learn the Banjo?

I had heard it said that mandolin banjo's have the worst characteristics of both instruments. Of course I had to find out for myself so after having two different ones I had to agree. I have no interest in playing any of the fife string styles which combine the melody line with some cords. Kind of like the one man band style that was so popular in the early days. I never liked playing the finger style of playing as I am constantly breaking off finger nails as soon as they get a little long and the finger picks always hurt my fingers.So I like to play with a flat pic. I have found the short neck tenor banjo's have terrable intonation unless you use nylon strings.So I used nylon strings which work really good only if you have a powerfull tone ring like a mastertone. Even so the left hand requires considerable stretch. So I finally ended up with the ukulele banjo , concert scale (15") to be perfect for me. I use a chirango high E and a fiber core classical guitar E string for the A string then a baritone uke A string for my D and the guitar D string for my low G which is commonly used with standard uke tuning. All strung tensions are within one pound of being ten pounds.

I can’t believe I watched everyone of those television shows

Thank you Jim, very helpful.

how about getting a banjo with a resonator and taking the resonator of for times when one wants to play clawhammer style?

Hi Jim! I am thankful (it is nearly Thanksgiving after all :D) for your video! I want to play Irish music (take a look at double dollars playing the Tamlin) on it and I am a total noob, I am thinking that a resonator banjo is what I need but I wanted to ask your opinion about that. Thanks :D

Late to the party but, that video helped me. Thanks

nice video, short and to the point.

if i like the sounds of open-back and resonator, but can't quite decide, could I just buy one with a resonator and take it off later? this seems to keep options open but I don't hear people mentioning this...thanks!

Great stuff!!

I just started playing the banjo and I have a goodtimes banjo without a resonator. I watched u-tube videos and practiced clawhammer style. I then started lessons with a teacher that teaches exclusively bluegrass banjo. I like both. Do you think that it would be confusing to work on both styles? Seems like you do both.

He mentions peer pressure. There’s a lot of peer pressure in the banjo community. Way more than guitar. I’m still learning both styles of banjo playing but prefer claw hammer over Scruggs or bluegrass style. Claw hammer to me is easier to play in time. Also claw hammer style you can play and sing by yourself. Bluegrass style you’d supporting instruments. As far as peer pressure goes the bluegrass community is way more particular than the folk community. I’ll give a couple examples: 1) If you showed up to a folk jam with a resonator banjo (aka bluegrass banjo) no one cares. However, if you show up to a bluegrass jam with an open back (folk banjo) you’ll get some stares. 2) The bluegrass community is way more particular on how you play too. This is a good video that goes into it more: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gCLYWAi3q1k.html I think if you play the banjo long enough you’ll learn both styles or least be interested in them. There’s also jazz and Irish styles where you play with a flat pick, but these are usually 4 string or tenor banjo, but I’ve seen people play 5 string with a guitar pick and sounded great too.

Hi JIm. I am a novice player. Concerning the frailing style, on some videos the players have no armrest fitted and one instructional video advises you to remove this if one is fitted on your banjo. I have one on my banjo and find it comfortable for learning bluegrass style. I see that you have an armrest on both your banjos. What is your advice please concerning armrests?

hi Jim I play some cords on my guitar not good I never could use a pick. keep losing them in hole I just strum it do you think a claw hammer would be a better bet for me.