Banjo---Beginner

etn

Hi Folks.

Just of thinking of buying a Banjo for my son (24) for Xmas. He is very musical, especially trad music and he sings some old Irish Songs. Any advice on what type etc etc to buy. I have no idea. I play the box myself.

Cheers.

enfeild

Its best to have someone with you that knows what a good banjo feels and plays like. There are lots of banjo shaped instruments you can throw your money away on and he could never play.
If you really want a banjo go for a 17 fret tenor banjo, thats the best for trad. I would ask you to consider a mandoline. They are easier to play, cheaper and if he can play a mandoline he can play a banjo.
Regards.
Tom.

etn

Thanks for your advice Tom, will take it on board. Is there a particular mandoline for Trad Music.
Cheers,
Eileen

enfeild

A flatback mandoline is best, avoid the one that is shaped like half an egg. Mandolines are tuned like a fiddle which is the same as the trad banjo and you can get a great sound out of them. All musical instrument shops have them but, again, bring someone with you that can play so they can check it out. A musical instrument is a precision instrument. If any of the components that go to make the instrument are wrong, it will look like a mandoiline but impossible to play.
Secondhand in the paper you can get a fairly decent one for about 100 and a new one from 200+. Dont forget to get him a few dunlop plectrums as well. A good banjo would cost you a lot more than that....and then he might not bother with it after a while.This way you cut your losses.
Regards.
Tom.

fillmore jive

A mandolin might have the same tuning as an Irish tenor banjo but they're completely different instruments to play. I took up the mandolin first as I thought it would be easier to play the banjo, but the picking patterns are completely different, and I more or less had to start from scratch learning banjo. If you want to get him a banjo, then get him a banjo (an Irish tenor for trad) and don't worry about having to learn the mandolin first.

beardybob

Any idea where i get the scales for my 4 string tuned GDAE.Cant find a website for love nor money.

TheBandit

http://www.banjohangout.org/lessons/browse.asp?m=bytopic&id=16

....i wish I had a banjo

beardybob

Thanks TheBandit. For some reason it keeps coming up as error when i try open a link on the web page you gave me

TheBandit

try the main forum http://www.banjohangout.org and search for scales maybe