{"id":110874,"date":"2018-04-09T18:28:30","date_gmt":"2018-04-09T16:28:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/?p=110874"},"modified":"2018-04-09T11:56:39","modified_gmt":"2018-04-09T09:56:39","slug":"my-first-banjo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thomann.de\/blog\/en\/gear\/my-first-banjo\/","title":{"rendered":"My First Banjo"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have ever had the temptation to delve into the world of the banjo you will first have a few questions: Five-string or four-string? Tenor? 6-string? Or some other model? Relax, we will explain the different types of banjos and their particularities.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A banjo<\/strong> consists of, among other parts, a pot\/flange\/resonator\u00a0<\/strong>made of wood<\/strong> and \/ or metal<\/strong>, covered with a head\u00a0<\/strong>(traditionally, animal skin<\/strong> was used), like a drum. At one end of this drum we find the heel<\/strong> of the neck, and on the other the tailpiece<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/strong>which holds the strings. In the centre of the head, closer to the tailpiece, there is a wooden bridge<\/strong> that is held in place by the pressure of the strings and through which the vibration of the strings is transmitted to the head. As a result, a lot of energy<\/strong> is transferred quickly to the head therefore we lose “sustain” but gain a lot of volume<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Warning! Banjos can be very loud<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It seems that the instruments they had in the past were too quiet and that is why they invented two components to make it sound louder<\/strong>: the resonator<\/strong> and the tonal ring<\/strong>. The resonator<\/strong> is like a bowl attached to the back of the body (on a banjo that is not “open back”<\/strong>). It reflects the sound it receives from the front and returns it again. The tonal ring<\/strong> is a large metal ring mounted between the wooden structure of the body and the head<\/strong>. Whenever a banjo has these two parts it will sound stronger than an open back banjo. But they can also weigh up to 6 kilos or even more<\/strong> (in fact for that reason there are still banjos without resonators or tonal rings). They do not have to be very expensive, there are some for small budgets like this Harley Benton HBJ-25<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n


\nFive-string: The Traditional<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although there are different variants of banjo, this is the model considered by many musicians as unique<\/strong> and genuine<\/strong>. And in fact it is the first modern<\/strong> banjo model. Almost 200 years ago<\/strong> they had no frets<\/strong> and the strings were made of catgut<\/strong>\u00a0(dried twisted intestines of sheep or horses, not cats). In fact, today there are still experts who play these types of banjos.<\/p>\n

The fifth string<\/strong> is the highest<\/strong> in pitch (although it goes right after the lowest<\/strong>), is\u00a0shorter<\/strong> than the rest and starts at the fifth fret<\/strong>. It is almost always played open<\/strong>, although sometimes the thumb is used to change its pitch.<\/p>\n

You will notice that as soon as you step up in level the prices of the banjos rises significantly. But there are also simple and economical models such as the Recording King Dirty 30s Open Back Banjo<\/strong><\/a> or the Epiphone MB-100<\/strong><\/a>. Also worth checking out is the Deering Goodtime Banjo Starter Package<\/strong><\/a>: an ideal option for beginners that includes a Made in USA<\/strong> instrument<\/strong>, a carrying bag<\/strong>, strap<\/strong>, finger picks<\/strong>, tuner<\/strong> and a DVD<\/strong> to learn banjo techniques.<\/p>\n\n\t\t