I taught myself to play guitar, so why not teach myself to play banjo?
does anybody know how hard banjo is to learn?
How do you play in general?
And what kind of banjo is best?

Thanks!
Tessa♥

_________________
"He who hates me hates my Father as well."
John 15:23

Talman Ibanez Inner City-Suizy Q
2002 American-Made Fender Telecaster-Vengence
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III

Although I don't play banjo,I've heard that the hardest part of learning is the different picking, Claw and Hammer is one (I believe that's what it's called)and there are others as well,I think that the Peidmont style of guitar picking is also used in banjo.Banjos are usually tuned to an open tuning and the 5 string seems to be the most popular because the 4 string is more along the lines of a ukulele.That's about all of my limited knowledge of them,no doubt there are peope on the forum who are full fledged banjo players.Banjo is a cool sounding instrument when played well by someone like Steve Martin.BTW I played a 6 string banjo once but that was tuned the same as a guitar.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

It has strings and frets so it's not all that different. If you have any experience at all with open tunings on guitar, or with fingerpicking then the transition will be easier. My brother got a banjo for his birthday several months ago and he's been playing his tail off ever since. I really thought he would've given it up by now, or that I would get a chance to use it myself but he's literally always playing it when we're home. From the half hour to an hour I've spent on it, I can tell it would be something not so difficult to get the hang of after playing six years of guitar. Having a blues background helps too, since I have a basic working knowledge of open tunings because of it. It's fun, I wish that he would let me touch it more often. Sometimes he won't let me look at it.

_________________
Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalairdmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckslaird
Instagram: http://instagram.com/beckslaird

I was working on learning. The hardest thing to get down are the finger rolls and that high string on top for five stringers. Once you get the hang of the picking the rest just falls into place.

_________________
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore, trust the physician and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility.-Khalil Gibran

I think that instrument is called a Ganjo. Seriously. Rogue makes one.

_________________
Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

The banjo is the uniquely American instrument. The right hand clawhammer is one technique, the Scruggs Roll another and there are more. I'm originally from North Georgia and this video was shot about 3 miles from the home where I grew up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tqxzWdKKu8

I don't mess with a banjo anymore as I never was much good at it and I never really did anything but fool around with one.

Quality ones are the vintage Bacon ones, plus vintage and contemporary models by Deering, Gibson, Fender and Recording King. The Fender Banjos have been around for over 40 years and actually are pretty good banjos. At one time I think Bacon was making at least some of the Fender models in the 60's and 70's. Those were some really good banjos.

Cheap banjos (under $300) can be very hard to play and just as discouraging to a beginner as a cheap hard to play guitar can be. Even the el-cheapo banjos are pretty loud though.

I'm always amazed whenever Steve Martin plays banjo for real. That man is a born banjo picker and there are few I've seen much more skilled. I respect a real banjo player no less than a skilled player of any other instrument. They require lots of practice and when you mess up you can usually hear it stick out like a sore thumb.

I play both 6 sting and 5 string banjo, If your used to playing guitar in open G tuning it helps. The hardest thing for me to get used to was a technique called frailing. Have fun and enjoy...the blues sound great on a banjo

_________________
Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancin'

I've messed around with a banjo before, and I agree with the others. Out of all the stringed instruments out there, banjo has to be the hardest.

- It defies all logic as far as tuning, chord progressions and fingerings, etc...
- That high "G" string on the bottom really messes with you.

But with all that said... A standard 5 string banjo is tuned in open "G". Pick it up and start finger picking it. You will naturally be in G major. No fingerings needed. Make a weird, stretched out, D7th guitar chord, and you will play a "C" chord on banjo.

...that's about all I know on banjo.

Guitjo or Bantar are the names I have heard.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals

Thanks guys!
I think I have a while before I get one, but I hope to learn though,

_________________
"He who hates me hates my Father as well."
John 15:23

Talman Ibanez Inner City-Suizy Q
2002 American-Made Fender Telecaster-Vengence
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III

My girlfriend got me a Fender 5 string banjo for Christmas, it is a blast to play! Like all these other guys say, "if you know open chords, you'll be comfortable", well, it's true. You can get lost in your own little ho-down! The High G at the top takes some getting used to, but all in all, such a blast to play.