Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 2: Choosing a Banjo
• Method 2 of 2: Playing the banjo
• Tips

Do you like the sound of a traditional banjo? Learning your favorite folk or Celtic music on the banjo can be very fun and easy. Learn to play the banjo and enjoy its tunes whenever you want.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Choosing a Banjo

1. 1 Select the number of strings. You can easily find a banjo of your choice. You can choose a banjo with 4, 5 or 6 strings. Choose how many strings you need depending on the style of music you are going to play or how well you can play.
   • The four-string banjo is considered a classic banjo and suits jazz and Celtic music, but no one forbids you from playing other styles of music as well. This is a great choice for the aspiring musician.
   • The five-string banjo is the most popular of all types of banjo. It is mainly associated with blues and folk music, but any other music can be played on it. The five-string banjo is known for its odd fifth string that starts in the middle of the fretboard. This is the best choice for beginners.
   • The six-string banjo is less popular than its siblings, but is often used by professional banjo players. It has a large number of notes available to play, but it is a rather complex instrument and therefore the worst choice for beginners.
2. 2 Decide which banjo suits you best. There are two main types of banjo: open back or resonator. The first view has nothing on the back, while the second view has a cover that attaches to a wooden rim and increases the volume of the instrument.
   • Before deciding to buy a banjo, you should play both types, as they have different sounds due to their different design.
   • Banjos without a back cover are often used by beginner players due to the fact that they are cheaper and quieter. If you are going to be playing in a group, it is better to choose a banjo with a resonator.
   • It is said that the heavier the banjo, the better the instrument. But don't let that have a big impact on your decision.
3. 3 Find the gap and scale you are comfortable with. Gap is the distance between the strings and the neck. Scale is the length of the string from the nut to the bottom.
   • Choose a tool with a low clearance for simplified play. If the gap is high, you will have to push harder on the strings, which will permanently disable them, and you will feel discomfort in your fingers.
   • The length of the banjo scale is from 58 to 83 centimeters. If you are a beginner, it is better to choose a banjo with a scale of 66 centimeters, which is the average size of a banjo.
4. 4 Don't forget about additional criteria. While all of the above is very important information for choosing a banjo, there are a couple of other things to keep in mind. There is a banjo that uses plectra and there is a banjo with an amplifier. Check with a local banjo fan or your music store salesperson to find the banjo that works best for you.

Method 2 of 2: Playing the banjo

1. 1 Tune the banjo. Before you start playing the banjo, you should set it up. For a beginner, this may not seem like an easy task, but in fact, there is nothing difficult about it. Tuning the banjo is done with the tuning pegs. Depending on which way you twist them, you stretch or relax the string, which changes the sound of the string.
   • Use an electronic tuner. For the banjo, you will need a chromatic tuner, which you can purchase from any music store or online.
   • If you have a piano or keys, you can press the key that produces the note you want and turn the banjo pegs until both instruments sound similar. This may not be an easy task for a novice player, but you can quickly learn to determine when your instrument is out of tune and when it is not.
   • Your banjo should be tuned to the note G. Search the internet for an electronic banjo tuner to know the correct sound.
2. 2 Sit down correctly. It is very important to sit properly when playing the banjo, as improper posture can adversely affect the sound, complicate the game and lead to injuries.
   • Keep your back straight at all times, whether you play standing or sitting.
   • Hold the instrument at a 45-degree angle. The underside should be perpendicular to the ground.
   • Do not grip the fretboard too tightly, otherwise the strings will quickly tune out.
3. 3 Keep your hands right. The right hand should be on the strings near the saddle, and the left hand should be holding the neck.
   • The pinky and ring fingers should rest on the body of the banjo, slightly below the first string. If you're having trouble keeping your fingers there, use some double-sided tape to keep your fingers in place.
   • Your left thumb should be touching the back of the bar. To keep your left hand in the correct position, you must reach with your other four fingers to the first four frets of the fretboard. Try to keep your hand in this position when you play.
4. 4 Learn to play with claws. Play with claws is when you touch a string with your fingernail and pluck it. When playing the banjo, on your right hand, you use only your thumb, forefinger, and ring finger.
   • You can buy plectrons that fit over your fingers and replace your nails. They are like metal guitar picks, with rings for you to slide over your fingers. With these, the banjo will sound louder.
   • You don't need to pull hard on the string, as you just need to lightly hit the string to make it sound.
5. 5 Learn the rolls. Rolls are defined melodies consisting of eight notes.There are many basic rolls for which you just need to repeat the melody with your right hand.
   • Roll forward is the most basic. To play it, you need to hit the strings in the following order: 5-3-1-5-3-1-5-3. The numbers are strings: fifth, third and first. Since the roll consists of eight notes, it just fits into one musical meter.
   • Once you have learned the most basic roll, you can start learning the more complex rolls.
6. 6 Practice playing to the rhythm. Although you have learned a few rolls, it is not an easy task to play them without stopping for a long time. To improve your rhythm, you can use a metronome. A metronome is a device that beats at a rhythm you set.
7. 7 Learn the harder music. Once you've learned a few rolls and improved your rhythm, you can start learning songs. It may take you weeks of practice to play a whole song well, but don't be discouraged by that.
   • Search the internet for famous banjo songs. You can also buy special books that contain song scores.
   • You can find tabs for the banjo. Tabs are a description of the melody by numbering the strings and frets of the banjo. To search simply enter "banjo tabs".
8. 8 Exercise every day. The most important thing in learning a musical instrument is daily practice. To become a good banjo player, you must play at least half an hour every day. It may seem boring and dull at first, but gradually you will become more and more interesting, and you will start to enjoy the daily game.

Tips

• To learn how to play faster, get yourself a banjo tutor.
• There are special left hand movements that can be learned after you have mastered all the basic movements.