5-String Banjo: On Learning to Play

Subject: Banjo questions from a newcomer
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 11:36:40 -0500

Hi Mickey, I want to tell you that your website is great and much appreciated! I just discovered it this week and I've spent far too much time on it at work already.

Greetings Chris,

I'm a big music fan and have always wanted to learn to play an instrument other than the air-guitar, but never have :)

I'd really like to try the banjo or mandolin. From what I've read it seems that the mandolin might be easier to start with, but I really like the sound of the banjo. A few questions.. sorry if I'm duplicating questions that have already been answered on the site:

Not a problem...I'd be glad to assist...

1. Will I be in way over my head? Is it unrealistic to think I could pick up the banjo without ever playing any other instrument (like the guitar) before?

Well...the banjo is quite difficult to learn. However, most of the battle of learning is having the passion to learn a particular instrument. In your case, it sounds like you might be fired up just enough to accelerate the learning process. No doubt, it's quite a bit easier to take up mandolin...or even dobro as a first instrument...even so, if you're this inspired to pursue one particular instrument, and you don't mind the intensive mechanics necessary before playing a song on a banjo, then, I'd say go for it!!!

2. I assume the Deering open-back Goodtimes would be a good starter banjo? I don't want to spend a lot of money on an instrument at this point. I've been pulled towards the banjo by hearing some "jam-band" type bluegrass-ish bands like Yonder Mountain String Band. Is the Goodtimes appropriate for learning that type of banjo? I guess something with a resonator would be better, but I don't plan on playing in public any time soon..

The Goodtime is fine to learn on...in fact, because of its woodiness in tone, and with the quieter open-back version, you may find the process more pleasant to the ears...after you've learned the mechanics of playing 5-string bluegrass style, you may have more of a discerning ear to determine which other banjo you'd like to upgrade to...Nice thing about a Goodtime, it will always make a great kick-around banjo...and due to its lightweight, especially the open-back version, it makes a great travel instrument.

3. I've read that the banjo is a hard instrument to tune/keep in tune. Is that true? Beyond the difficulty of just learning to play, is the banjo also a more complicated instrument to maintain?

Nope...as long as you're not playing next to a campfire, and your banjo is set up with a nice tight head, and the new strings have settled in, you should have no problem whatsoever with your banjo holding tune. There may be a few imports, with cheaper keys, that do not hold tune very well...fortunately, for the most part, most banjos do hold tune very well.

A banjo is really quite easy to maintain...a banjo only requests that you keep it in a harmonious environment...anything you can withstand, a banjo can withstand...you wouldn't want to leave a banjo in the trunk in the middle of the summer...or for that matter, you wouldn't leave it in a car with all the windows rolled up...a banjo is just like any other instrument when it comes to caring for it...

4. If I pick up a banjo, I will try some intial self-teaching with books, videos etc, but I'll eventually seek out lessons too. Without lessons, is it conceivable one could advance very far in the bluegrass style?

I taught myself to play bluegrass banjo from Pete Wernick's book: "Bluegrass Banjo"...I already had a background in fingerstyle guitar...so, it wasn't but a few days before I was playing "Ballad of Jed Clampett"...the learning process was great fun to me...yes, it is possible to teach yourself effectively...notwithstanding, it's even better to learn correct habits from a qualified teacher...at the very least, before starting with books, make sure you start with a video that teaches correct positioning...

5. What type of accessories should I purchase right off the bat that would make learning intially easier/more enjoyable?

A Korg Chromatic Tuner...
Dunlop Metal Fingerpicks... (.018 gauge)
Dunlop Plastic Thumbpick...
An extra set of light gauge strings...
A banjo strap...this helps keep the banjo stable even when sitting down...many times a neck can be top-heavy...and the strap will support this for you freeing up your fretting hand to focus on playing.
A Beginning Instructional Video (make sure it's a methodology video...not a songbook video)
Bracket at least 1/2-hour daily...

Mickey