Questions tagged [banjo]

A stringed musical instrument of the guitar family with a long fretted neck and a round open-backed body consisting of parchment stretched over a metal hoop, played by plucking or with a plectrum.

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Why does the 5th string of a 5 string banjo usually start from the 5th fret?

Why does the 5th string of a 5 string banjo usually start from the 5th fret? From the perspective of a beginning guitar player, it looks rather cumbersome both to play and manufacture. Wouldn't this make some chords impossible, that would be…
Moriarty
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Scruggs Banjo Tuners - are they necessary?

How necessary are Scruggs tuners when playing Scruggs-style banjo? They seem like something of a novelty to me, and I'd rather just not install them or learn how to do it, but don't want to leave it out if it's an integral part of a Scruggs-style…
Marty
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