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Getting Started On Your Banjo

My biggest problem starting out on banjo was trying to bite off too much at once without learning the basics of playing first. That's a common problem I see — people trying to go straight to "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" without ever getting good at tuning, basic rolls, proper hand position and other basics.

 One advantage I had was that I already had played guitar for several years, so I wasn't afraid to experiment with different strings, tightening and loosening the head, and other setup adjustments.

Both issues need to be tackled when you're learning banjo. You need to have a playable instrument that stays in tune and sounds decent, and you need to learn the steps to help you walk before you run.

Here are some basics for banjo setup:

— The banjo itself needs to be decently put together. If it's a newer cheap instrument, chances are it's playable enough. If it's an older cheap instrument, time, abuse or neglect might have rendered it unplayable. A warped or out-of-adjustment neck, broken head, missing tuners, and other repair issues can be expensive. If you have a cheap banjo with such problems, be prepared to hear a professional tell you it's not worth fixing.

— Give the banjo a new set of strings. I use Vega light gauge strings which can be purchased a just about any music store. Other brands include Gibson, Ernie Ball, GHS, etc.

— Get the banjo in tune using a pitch pipe, electronic tuner, piano, or some websites that offer MIDI files to help you tune. If you have a friend who plays guitar or another musical instrument, get them to help you tune it.

— Make sure the head is the proper tightness. Many banjo makers supply a head tightening key with the banjo. I usually start on one side and work my way around a quarter-turn at a time (see upper right photo). The head can be broken if you tighten it too much, so keep that in mind. You want to make sure it's a uniform tightness all the way round.

Many of these issues can be taken care of by a sales clerk at the local music store. Chances are, that same clerk knows someone nearby who repairs musical instruments and can handle the more complicated stuff. One of my favorite websites, Angie's Banjo, has listings of banjo teachers in your area (of the U.S.). These teachers may know of nearby, qualified banjo repairmen.
Putting on your fingerpicks for the first time will probably be a weird experience. I remember putting mine on backwards at first. My thinking was, they're just extensions of my fingernails, so they would go out from my fingertips the same way, right? Then I tried actually playing that way, and it wasn't long before I was turning them around.

The picture at right is me wearing my favorite fingerpicks — a plastic National thumbpick, large size, bent around to fit my thumb pretty tightly. I bend the pick (very carefully — I take no responsibility if you scald off your fingerprints or something) by placing it in a shallow pan of boiling water for a few seconds to soften the plastic. Then I take a pair of needle-nose pliers to remove it and hold it, then use another pair to bend around the curvy part and hold it in place while it cools. It may take several tries and a bit of patience, but it can be done.

The fingerpicks are also Nationals. I've used the heaviest gauge Dunlops before, and they are more comfortable, but I think these sound better, and they're not hard to get used to. Again, notice how they fit on my fingers, with the extensions coming off the pads of my fingers, not my fingernails. I wear these pretty tightly as well, again bending them around with needle-nose pliers. I don't bend the tips over as much as some, so they stick out quite a bit (see photo at right). Earl Scruggs, though, bends his over more so that they don't stick out far at all. A lot of that depends on your right hand position.

Speaking of right hand (I'll say "picking hand" for all you lefties), notice the three photos at left. I'm not as dogmatic as some about your picking hand position. The top photo is as close as I can get to having both the ring finger and the pinky on the head of the banjo. Again, Scruggs curled his fingers further around and rested both fingers on the head. I can't do that, because when I move my middle finger in to strike the string, my ring finger wants to move with it. Still, I think this is the preferred position if you can do it. Maybe it's a genetic thing — some can, some can't. I can't, and if you can't, I wouldn't try to force you.

The middle photo shows a position I've seen where the ring finger rests on the head and the pinky sticks out. I've seen some very good banjoists use this position. May work for you, just not for me.

The bottom photo shows the way I hold my right hand, with only the pinky resting on the head and the ring finger allowed to "float." Here again, I know some excellent banjoists who use this position.

Most players I've talked to don't really worry about how many fingers rest on the head of the banjo. They just do what works best for them. I do think it's important to brace at least one finger on the head in order to get the stability necessary for even, precise picking. Some claim it also dampens the head vibration just a bit so as to reduce overtones.

My advice would be to find what works best for you, then practice using only that position. Key word: practice.