Just like guitars, basses, and other string instruments, banjos come built in different models. One way to classify banjos is: 4 strings, 5 strings, and 6 strings. In this post, we’re going to discuss these three types of banjos and what styles of music are best played on them.
Moreover, do banjos have 5 or 6 strings?
Banjos are commonly found with 4, 5, or 6 strings. The 5 string banjo is by far the most common, but the 6 string has been gaining popularity as an alternative to the guitar. The 4 string tenor and plectrum banjos are not as popular, but definitely have their place in music.
In this manner, how long is a normal banjo? The standard 22-fret, 5-string banjo with a scale length of 26 ¼” is one of the most versatile banjos you could ever play.
Likewise, people ask, is banjo harder than guitar?
A guitar has more notes and more complicated fingering than a banjo, which makes it harder than a banjo to play. Both instruments will be hard to learn if you are a beginner and if you are playing the guitar in standard tuning. This is also combined by their variation in the number of strings.
What is a 4 string banjo called?
Tenor banjos are 4 string banjos that have a shorter neck and come in two varieties, the 17 fret and the 19 fret. The name “tenor” has nothing to do with a lower pitch such as a vocalist who is a tenor or a tenor saxophone.
What is a 6-string banjo called?
6-string banjos are tuned just like a guitar and are the perfect crossover instrument for guitarists. Sometimes they are called guitjos, ganjos, banjitars, etc., but we like to just call ours a 6-string banjo.
What is the 5th string on a banjo for?
The short fifth string is what makes the banjo unique. The fifth string is also called the “thumb string” or “drone string” because the early “clawhammer” banjo technique involved the thumb picking the fifth string often creating the syncopated sound that is associated with the banjo.
What’s the difference between a 4 5 and 6-string banjo?
The 4-string comes in various neck lengths, the most common ones being Irish Tenor (17 frets to the banjo pot), Tenor (19 frets) and Plectrum (22 frets, same as a standard 5-string). The 6-string is normally 22 frets and has the same scale as the Plectrum, which normally varies between 26 and 27″.