The banjo has a rich history and shapes an instantly-recognisable sound that can be heard in countless country, bluegrass and folk tunes. Whether you want a banjo to expand your instrument collection or to begin your music-making adventure, Bax Music has you covered.
What's a Banjo?
The banjo as we know it today stems from seventeenth century string instruments, can have four to six strings and can be either fully acoustic or electro-acoustic by design, but all banjos have one thing in common: their signature sound. While most acoustic string instruments have a closed wooden construction, banjos feature a kind of drum with a skin called a banjo head. When the strings are played, the head resonates and shapes that famously fierce banjo-sound. For more detailed info and tips, check out our Banjo Buyer's Guide .
Buying a 5-String Banjo
The most common version of the banjo is the five-string banjo, which is also called the Bluegrass banjo simply due to the fact that it's the preferred model of most bluegrass musicians. That said, a five-string banjo can just as easily serve other styles - even Led Zeppelin and The Eagles share a fondness for the instrument and, believe it or not, the sound of a 5-string banjo can even be heard in punk.
Buying a 4-String Tenor Banjo
Popular in the Dixieland scene, tenor banjos aren't just equipped with fewer strings but are also tuned differently than a standard five-string banjo. Depending on the style of music, the four-string banjo is often tuned like a violin or tenor mandola and has a relatively short neck, resulting in slightly lower string tension and eased string bending.
Buying a 6-String Guitar Banjo
Also called a guitar-banjo, the six-string banjo is the easiest banjo to get to grips with if you're already used to playing a guitar. It's even tuned the same way, so you could say that a guitar-banjo is basically a guitar with the sound and looks of a banjo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Banjos
How hard is it to play the banjo?
For guitarists, a six-string banjo is a great starting point. For anyone who doesn't have any prior experience playing string instruments, it's worth noting that it's easier to start out with a four-string banjo instead of a five-string model - just don't forget to pick the banjo that fits the style of music you want to play.
How old is the banjo?
The earliest versions of what we now call a banjo can be traced back to the 17th century. Nevertheless, the instrument only became well known in the 19th and 20th century.
How much does a banjo cost?
Beginners can pick up a fully-fledged four, five or six-string banjo for around £150. Just note that the number of strings largely determine the styles of music you can play on a banjo. See our Banjo Buyer's Guide for more tips and info.
What's the best banjo?
A decent banjo will set you back around £150. The more expensive a banjo is, the better the materials, finish and overall build quality will be, resulting in an even richer sound and enhanced playing comfort.
Where does the banjo come from?
The oldest examples of banjos can be traced back to the Caribbean. These days, most people think of the southern states of America when they think of the banjo.
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