Banjos

Funkstard

I want to start learning the banjo, but am confused as to whether buy a 4 or 5 string variant.

I want to play both Irish trad & bluegrass/blues. Now, I know 4 strings are suited to the former whilst 5 strings are used in the latter, and I was wondering what my best bet would be.

If I were to buy a 5 string, are the 4 strings tuned the same as the regular tuning on a 4 string? Can I play 4 string trad just using 4 of the 5 strings?

If I had to pick I'd obviously choose trad over bluegrass, so am I looking up the wrong avenue and should I just buy a 4 string and learn that first?

Thank you,

Confused

billy the squid

hmmm best bet is to buy both, it would save you hastle.

As for tuning a 5 string banjo to give the sound of a 4 string one I suppose it could be done. i've seen it done with a guitar. but it would be a bit awkward tuning it back to five string configuration and i imagine it wouldnt be good for either the tuning pegs or the strings.

Im not very familiar with tuning a five string banjo so i had to google, there are 125 acceptable ways to tune a five string. the internet said so, so it must be true

http://zeppmusic.com/banjo/

A four string banjo is tuned the same way as a fiddle is G,D,A,E

Funkstard

Yeh, I'm leaning towards buying a 4 string tenor first and progressing from there

EDIT: Actually you've got me thinking, how do I tune my guitar strings to a banjo tuning?

billy the squid

just tune the four lowenst strings to that of a banjo. G, D, A,E it doesnt sound right at all but it will get a tune out of it.