Banjo

A banjo is a musical instrument most popular in country music and bluegrass. Consisting at its core of a metal or wood rim, open- or closed-back wooden body, tensioned membrane head, and wooden neck, the banjo's tone possesses a crisp, resonant character that sits easily above other instruments in a mix.

Banjo prices range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Like any instrument, banjo prices depend on several factors, including country of manufacture, age of the instrument (i.e., is it a vintage banjo?), general quality, and condition.

While a banjo isn’t necessarily harder than a guitar, it is a little different than playing the guitar. For example, banjos are often tuned differently than guitars -- typically in open G. Additionally, banjo players usually play with fingerpicks whereas guitar players usually play with a single pick or their fingers (sometimes with a thumb pick). Also, banjo players often rely on different styles of playing their instrument -- most famously clawhammer or rolls rather than strumming.

A good first banjo is likely a lower price-point open back acoustic banjo. A few examples include a Recording King RKO-3S, a Deering Goodtime, or a Washburn Americana B10. Since 5-string banjos are the most common type of banjo, we recommend beginners start with a 5-string banjo over a 6-string or tenor banjo.

However, if you’re transitioning from guitar and simply want a banjo sound without learning a new tuning, a 6-string banjo is a good choice.

The banjo history is surprising to many. Though it was popularized in appalachian America, the banjo originated from a variety of African instruments like the gourd-based kora. The banjo in its current incarnation came into existence in the early Nineteenth Century in four- and five-string versions.

The different types of banjos include:

• 5-string banjo
• 6-string banjo (tuned and played like a guitar)
• Tenor banjo
• Resonator banjo
• Acoustic banjo
• Electric banjo

To exclusively browse banjos near you, reference the list of top cities and countries available on Reverb to search within a desired location. You also can review shipping details within an item’s “Shop Policies” section.