Which Instrument to Learn: 5-String Banjo vs. Tenor Banjo

Subject: tenor banjo.
Date: Sun, 2 May 2004 12:47:01 -0700

Is the tenor banjo shorter than the 5 string? is it a good banjo for a beginner? As there is no instructors in my area is instruction book readily available? Is the banjo set up with the strings close to the neck. No technicians in this area.

Thanks for any help
Ken

Greetings Ken,

Yes, the Tenor banjo is great for beginners...it only requires learning to play with a flatpick; whereas, the 5-string is played in a fingerstyle approach and requires more mechanics to learn....only keep in mind, the style of music you hope to play should be the deciding factor in which one to pick up....the tenor banjo is now commonly used in Irish settings; the 5-string is commonly used within bluegrass circles...

Yes, the Tenor banjo neck has a shorter scale length than a 5-string banjo...a 4-string banjo with the same relative scale length as a 5-string would be the Plectrum banjo...

Yes, Tenor banjo instruction can be found by both book and video....instructors for tenor banjo may be rarer than for 5-string banjo.

Yes, we set up every tenor banjo for ease of playability where the strings are located closer to the neck...

Be sure to check out our online lessons posted on the tenor banjo at:

http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm

Hope this helps, Mickey