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| Ukulele --> Banjo - Beginner Questions - Banjo - Banjo - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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General Bloodbath Approved 
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Hi there, Well i've been playing ukulele (Harley Benton??) for a while now, just got one cheap as a progressive hobby i thought id try, but getting into it now and i've heard too many times in the past sounds of banjos to ignore them completely. So as a very early beginner i was wondering what the best direction to go in is. Becuase i've been looking for more banjo-ukes, but me and my dad have both been wondering about just trying out a banjo instead. So what banjo is best to go for? Ie 5-string, tenor, resonating? What i prefer doing is strumming, although picking is something that i could learn with help of beginners booklet, so basically which banjo is best for strumming? Thanks for help!
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Will Approved 
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General Bloodbath wrote: Hi there, If you want to strum the banjo, a 4-string banjo is made for that style; 5-string banjo is designed for picking. The quickest way to go from uke to banjo is to get a 4-string tenor banjo, change out the strings (tuned CGDA - in fifths - you'd have to learn a whole new set of chords otherwise), and retune it to DGBE, using the 4 long strings from from a set for standard 5-string banjo. DGBE is in fourths, like GCEA - it's baritone uke tuning, also known as "Chicago Tuning." You can put a banjo capo at the 5th fret, and you'll get the familiar ukulele tuning, and without fifth string, the capo can be used at nearly any position to play in any key. Hobgoblin is a UK music dealer that may have tenor banjos that are right for you: http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/banjoframeuk.htm This tenor banjo has a resonator back, and costs 149 pounds: http://www.hobgoblin.com/local/bigpic.php?ID=GR3821  Last edited on Thu Jun 5th, 2008 03:28 am by Will ____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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General Bloodbath Approved
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Lovely cheers, looking around no-one seems to be strumming banjos anymore, banjo-ukes only thing i see people strumming nowadays, is it going out of fashion or am i just looking in the wrong places?
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Will Approved
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General Bloodbath wrote: Lovely cheers, looking around no-one seems to be strumming banjos anymore, banjo-ukes only thing i see people strumming nowadays, is it going out of fashion or am i just looking in the wrong places? There was a time when the banjo almost died out in the U.S., until bluegrass and Earl Scruggs came along during the 1940's and revived the 5-string banjo from the hills of Appalachia. I'm sure there are 5-string banjo players in your local area; some of them might even participate in this forum. 5-string banjos certainly seem to be common on this side of the pond; most of them play bluegrass or old timey - and I've heard, but haven't personally seen, that there are still a few 4-string banjo clubs (mostly played by folks who are older than me). Personally, I don't mnd playing an odd instrument like the 4-string "Chicago-tuned" banjo at a jam; all I have to do is remind other players that I got the idea from Bob Shane of the Kingston Trio, who played a 4-string plectrum banjo at the height of the group's fame. 4-string banjo has become popular for playing traditional Irish music, but the instrument (usually a tenor banjo with shorter, 17-fret neck) is retuned to GDAE with thicker strings, to play one octave below a mandolin.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ |
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mark Approved 
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Don't write off the 5 string either though .. There's loads of free instructional material here (thanks Richard!) but also check out Patrick Costello's stuff (google "Tangiersound") if you haven't already. He hosts free video and audio workshops (there are over a hundred so far) on numerous instruments but focuses on "Frailing the 5 string Banjo" and also folk / blues guitar. His Dad also has some input with the Tenor Banjo. Theres also free instructional books & tabs on his site. You might wanna check into "UKFolkies" too if you haven't already done so. Best of luck whatever you decide to do! Mark Last edited on Thu Jun 5th, 2008 03:01 pm by mark |
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| ezFolk Forums > Banjo > Beginner Questions - Banjo > Ukulele --> Banjo | |
