Simviation Forums

So does anyone here play the banjo? I was just given a six sting banjo. I know it's not the same as a traditional five string, but any advise on learning to play this thing would be appreciated.

What I've done so far is to tune it to open G and learn some basic rolls and chords. After doing that I have to wonder if I would be better of with a five string...

Hi, the biggest bit of advice I can give you is find songs you like and learn them.
I've been playing guitar for over 10 years and that's the advice I give anyone I teach. If your not playing song you enjoy you will get bored.
I decided to take up 5 string Banjo last year mainly because I love the tunes Cripple Creek and John Hardy I learned them both pretty quickly but then ran out of tunes I knew to learn so I quickly got bored of putting in the hours needed to get better.

If you can, get a teacher or at least find a friend who plays banjo to show you some tunes, another reason I don't play as much as I'd like is because it's a lot harder to find online resources with Banjo tabs then it is guitar ones.
There are so many version of the same songs and different ways to play them it can get very complex if your trying to do it on your own. I think so far I know of at least 5 different ways to play Cripple Creek.

Make sure you enjoy what your playing and stick at it and you'll do great!

Hi Dave, thanks for the advice. I've looked at a few banjo tabs and played around with learning those songs, but I'm still just getting the hang of the instrument. As you well know, it's not quite like playing guitar.

If you are getting bored, then check out this site that I found: http://banjochords.net/ That is if you didn't know the chords already. Pick some chords that sound nice and put them together. Write your own song, why not? I've found that trying different chord combinations while practicing my roll patterns helps keep it interesting for now.

The playing chords over rolls idea is great!
I played rolls a lot when I first started banjo but because my left hand wasn't up to speed yet I sort of gave up and started playing claw hammer style.
I learned a lot of the chords from playing claw hammer style but never thought to put chords n rolls together.

Thanks! 

..amongst all my kit listed in my signature below nestles a 5-string Banjo, Mandolin, and a Mandolin Banjo....
..also my home built Appalachian Dulcimer...>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_dulcimer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMs8fhOiEYY

..and also my very nice Autoharp...>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoharp

Making music with your own instruments is fun and relaxing!

Paul...you hum it...I'll play it... ...!

Fender Stratocaster + Acoustic Guitars (6 and 12 string)... ...!

Banjo is always something I've wanted to learn. I have no first hand advice to offer, but you might try what Steve Martin did. It's rumored that he taught himself to play by listening to records (you know, those round plastic things

I'll stick to air guitar.
Have fun with the banjo tho, I envy anyone with musical talent as I have none myself.