minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Jan 31, 2022 21:49:37 GMT
Its another instrument I'm curious about. If I was gonna get one it would probably be a 4 string tenor. But what I'm curious about is the shorter 5th string on a 5 string. Is it a drone string? And why does it only go so far up the fretboard? Also what's the cheapest I could get a tenor for?
|
|
|
Post by delb0y on Jan 31, 2022 22:39:38 GMT
I believe the short, but high, string is a high G, meaning when thumb picking (if it's called that on a banjo) your thumb can play that high note and you can get incredibly fast sounding patterns. Also that high note can be added into cross string patterns, again giving the impression that you have faster fingers than any other instrumentalist. It's a great instrument in the right hands, especially if your name is Bela Fleck.
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,859
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Jan 31, 2022 23:03:59 GMT
Yes, it's a drone string in as much as you don't fret it. In old-timey music you catch it with your thumb. You can change the pitch of it to play in different keys, using a special capo or little "spikes" that go on the fretboard
|
|
|
Post by Onechordtrick on Feb 1, 2022 5:58:41 GMT
Its another instrument I'm curious about. If I was gonna get one it would probably be a 4 string tenor. But what I'm curious about is the shorter 5th string on a 5 string. Is it a drone string? And why does it only go so far up the fretboard? Also what's the cheapest I could get a tenor for? Don’t know about the cheapest, my experience with mandolins was that cheap can be an off putting experience, but Ashbury, Hobgoblin’s house brand seem to produce good value for money.
|
|
minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Feb 1, 2022 6:51:10 GMT
Cheers guys.I quite fancy a banjolele too. I'm saying all this being totally skint n all but you know, ya gotta dream...
|
|
|
Post by Matt Milton on Feb 1, 2022 23:09:03 GMT
As a banjo player myself (5 string) I think the open back banjo is one of those instruments where it's hard to go wrong: even the really cheap instruments are pretty good. It's just an inherently simple instrument. I have a Blue Moon 5 string, it's about as cheap you can get, and it's still a very playable instrument - comparable in its own way to the vintage (1890s) 5 string I have which is apparently very collectible and which other banjo players often tell me is an amazing instrument.
One you get onto resonator banjos then it gets a bit more complicated - I can imagine dirt cheap resonator banjos being a bit crap. But as for cheap open back banjos, I'm of the opinion that everyone should have one. 5 string banjos are really good fun once you get the hang of them - there's plenty of youtube videos that can show you the ropes.
4 string banjos are fine if you want to play Irish music, or already play the mandolin or fiddle (same tuning).
|
|
minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Feb 2, 2022 8:07:34 GMT
Hmm open back banjos, 400+ quid, still too steep for me
|
|
|
Post by delb0y on Feb 2, 2022 9:59:34 GMT
Check out Hobgoblin - £209 at a quick glance. Half that on eBay.
|
|
|
Post by Onechordtrick on Feb 2, 2022 11:43:05 GMT
|
|
|
Post by delb0y on Feb 2, 2022 12:02:29 GMT
Yes, or if a 5 string version is preferred there's always: Ozark BanjoI had a very short banjo period - did enjoy it a lot, and through it I discovered The Newgrass Revival. What a band!
|
|
minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Feb 2, 2022 13:24:17 GMT
Not bad. I'd have to go for a 4 string, not a fan of bluegrass. Still skint though, but still looking. Its a disease...
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,859
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Feb 2, 2022 14:00:43 GMT
You don't have to play bluegrass on a 5 string banjo, and if you do it's generally on a closed-back "resonator" banjo. This is completely different from a resonator guitar btw - it just means there a wooden bowl on the back of the banjo which makes it louder. For bluegrass playing you'd use a thumb pick and metal fingerpicks.
Open-backed banjos are more closely associated with "old-timey" music, usually using clawhammer/frailing styles where you play only with your thumb and one finger. For example:
That's the style I attempt to play on the odd occasions that I take the banjo out of its case.
|
|
maninashed
Cheerfully Optimistic
Mad Farmer Liberation Front
Posts: 4,195
|
Post by maninashed on Feb 3, 2022 0:27:38 GMT
Cheers guys.I quite fancy a banjolele too. I'm saying all this being totally skint n all but you know, ya gotta dream... 5-string banjos and ukuleles are both re-entrant tuned, the outer strings are higher pitched than the inner ones. That means that you can play clawhammer style on both. It's a bit tricky to learn the basic 'bum-diddy' stroke but one you do it's great fun!
|
|
minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Feb 3, 2022 1:02:31 GMT
I'm gonna try this tomorrow on my uke, and now I really want a banjo!
|
|
minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Feb 8, 2022 15:46:31 GMT
Anyway, getting back to banjos ...
|
|