Finally Today

What Banjo should I buy? - Multiple-part Question?

I'm interested in attempting to learn the banjo, though I don't know if I want to learn clawhammer/frailing or bluegrass-style. Not wanting to spend too much $$, I went to a local pawn shop where they had one banjo (a Chinese-made Madrain, that had a resonator attached. It came w/ a hard case, a pitch pipe, new GHS strings, and a few picks. The guy said he 'could let it go for $250' - (down from $275). The instrument was obviously used, but frets, head, neck, etc. all checked out visually (no cracks, no warping). 5th string tuner was friction, so I might have an issue there. I've heard that clawhammer is a bit easier to master than Scruggs-style, but does that require an open-back banjo? I'm primarily going to be teaching myself, so if I lose interest, I don't want to be out too much. Any thoughts on this 'smokin' deal'? Any ideas as to music to listen to to compare the two playing styles? Finally, any recommended books/DVD's to purchase to aid this flight of fantasy? I also went to a music store where they had an open-back Epiphone w/ a geared 5th string tuner. It was a nice little banjo for the money. I know open-backs are a bit quieter than those w/ resonators, as well as being lighter. This one only comes with a gigbag. How would this compare to the above? If I do decide to try learning, I'm leaning a bit more towards the new Epiphone. Further thoughts?

Public Comments

1. the price the guy quoted you wasn' too bad, but only considering all of the perks that came with the banjo, such as the hard case, new strings, and etc.. just so you know you tried all you could offer ' $225 and see what you can do from there...even if you only haggle him down to $235, that still saves you $15 (just in case you lose interest)... as far as claw hammer to Scruggs-styles clawhammer is much easier as it is plucking instead of using rolls...the open back will only effect the sound of your banjo, and by "sound", I mean volume the resonator only makes the banjo sound louder and more resonant... as far as teachig yourself check out Jeff Hohwald and his series of banjo books accompanied by a CD to play along with, contact yer local music store or call 800-416-7088... good luck to ya
2. Yes, as KENMAN said above, Jeff Hohwald is an excellent resource, though I think he looks like the banjo-playing nerd you see depicted in all of the Far Side cartoons. I would also recommend Bill Keith. I don't know about Hohwald, but Keith's instructional videos really break down theory, such as chord formations and timing. I also was a self-learner and used the Keith method. I don't think your deal was smoking, but you probably did not overpay too much. Pawn shops have a hard time selling banjos, so they have to mark up quite a bit to recover what they paid out for it. The open back gives the banjo more of a tinny, old-time sound. It reminds me of the sound you would hear on an old record. The resonator will give the banjo more of a full-bodied sound. Also, you can adjust the intonation based on where you play the strings. The closer to the bridge, the more tinny it will sound. The further away, the more full-bodied the sound. If you like the old-timey sound, remove the resonator and play about an inch off the bridge. I implore you to not expect too much of yourself right off. Just be content learning basic chords, timing, and simple tunes. You can play some cool tunes just by strumming. Don't try playing with speed until you can master the above. Speed will come naturally. If you set the bar too high, you will become frustrated and give up. If you set small goals, then they will become acheivable and you will find playing the banjo enjoyable. It took me several years before I could actually play a tune without having a trainwreck.