Have you ever thought about learning to play the banjo? We all know and love the fun sound it makes. So if you are planning to learn how to play then you are in the right place because here we are going to give you some great tips to get started playing the banjo.
Types of banjo
Unlike other instruments such as the guitar and violin, the banjo comes in different types. The main difference is the number of strings.
The Beginner Banjo version is tuned and played like a guitar and it is called a guitjo.
The four-string is available in two different types which are
- Plectrum banjo
- Tenor banjo
Plectrum banjo is long neck while tenor banjo is short neck. These banjos are tuned like a mandolin, violin or cello, and commonly feature in Irish music and trad jazz. The six-string and four-string banjos are both played with a plectrum.
The 5 string banjo:
This is the most popular type of banjo. It has four long strings and one shorter string attached to a tuning peg on the side of the neck. This is the type of banjo that is used to play traditional American folk music, Bluegrass, and Old-Time music. It is normally tuned to an open G chord which makes it especially easy for a beginner to play.
Because it has the unusual shorter fifth string, the playing style and technique are a lot different from any other stringed instrument. This is what makes the banjo so unique. A beginner can get the unique banjo-picking sound by learning simple techniques, clawhammer, or fingerpicking. We talk about this more further down the page.
How to hold a banjo?
If you are right-handed, you will place the banjo in your lap so the neck is in your left hand. You strike or pluck the strings with the right hand. With the left hand, you will modify the pitch of each string by pressing it against the frets, which are the little pieces of wire on the fingerboard. A left-handed player holds the banjo the other way round -= you will need a special left-handed banjo if you are left-handed.
It’s very important to be comfortable while playing the banjo. Make sure to move the banjo around and try as many different positions as necessary to get a comfortable position. It’s especially important to keep the wrists comfortable, the best way to achieve this is not only to move the position of the banjo but also to move your elbows so the hands and wrists can get access onto the strings at the optimum angle.
Tuning of banjo:
The standard tuning for the five-string banjo is G. The five strings are all tuned to different notes within the G major chord. This is one of the things that makes the five-string banjo easy for a beginner to play.
It’s important to get the banjo in tune before you start playing, this will make you sound better and give you a lot more confidence. You can also ask an experienced musician, including a guitarist, to help you.
How to play the banjo:
There are several ways to play the banjo.
Strumming is a very easy technique for a beginner. You simply brush the right-hand thumb across all the strings and you get a chord straight away! By learning just a few simple left-hand chord shapes you can easily join in with a jam session, or accompany someone singing, using this method.
Clawhammer’s playing style is also called frailing. This is one of the oldest styles of banjo playing and it has a distinctive rhythm. Many people only play banjo using this one technique, which gives you access to a huge tradition of American folk music. The basic stroke may take a while for a beginner to learn, but once you master that one technique, you can play many songs.
Fingerpicking is relatively easy for a newbie banjo player. You will be plucking the five strings with the Thumb, Index, and Middle fingers of the right hand. Normally each right-hand finger does not need to pluck all the different strings, for example, you normally only play the 1st string with the middle finger. This is the technique used to play Bluegrass.
By playing only the simplest picking patterns, or ‘Rolls’ you can learn to play songs on the banjo rapidly. You also only need to learn four simple left-hand fingerings to play thousands of songs.
So now you know enough to get started playing the banjo. Click here for a great beginner banjo guide. We wish you good luck with your first experiences in learning.