I've been looking at banjitars beacause I love the banjo but play guitar. A banjitar has 6 or 12 strings and is tuned just like a guitar. Who's got an opinion about these? Would you bring one to a session?
I certainly agree with Bob on that one. I had one many years ago and got so frustrated by the sound. It was neither one thing or the other and certainly sounds nothing like a good tenor banjo. I'd say go with the banjo, in the long run you'll be well paid back for the effort.
Played guitar for many years -and had a guitar banjo. Never reaaly played it much, or liked it much (despite it being a 1930's Gibson). In last few years, started ITM including on tenor banjo. Although only a 'cheap model' I love playing it. Can't walk by it without picking it up for a quick tune !
The guitar , with its 4th interval tuning, and sustained tone suites chordal playing -and picking on chords. Also suits typical blues / rock scales and runs. I was amazed how much easier melody lines are on a banjo (and other instruments with 5th interval tuning). I found it much more intuitive than guitar scales. I think you'll find you pick it up very quickly -and don't have any confusion moving between the different tunings.
I know what an interval is. (number of half-steps above or below a root note) But I'm not sure I understand what you mean by a guitar having 4th interval and a banjo having 5th interval tuning.
Is 4th tuning; 4 half steps before moving to the next string?
Is 5th tuning; 5 half steps before moving to the next string?
re 4th, and 5th intervals - Yes that used to confuse me. And still does really. In harnony a 'perfect fourth' is 5 semitones up, and a perfect fifth is 7 semitones up. Try googling, or Wikapedia for further explanations of musical intervals. The pefect 5th interval is easy to hear - its the first 3 notes of 'twinkle twinkle little star' !
I have a banjitar - I sing as well as play ITM. I did decide to learn tenor banjo afterwords because I had a burning desire to play tunes - but for a bit of fun, I really like it; it's good for singing because (IMHO) it sounds better strummed then a GDAE tenor, but you won't get the same depth and dimension that you will on a tenor for tunes. Be warned, they're bl*ody loud!! When I got mine, it 'blew me out of the kitchen' so to speak. I played a Deering the other day - a top model one and it was beautiful.
Fishmonger - What do you play on the guitar? Do you strum chords or play tunes?
If you are thinking of using a banjitar as a backing instrument for traditional music, I would strongly advise against it. If you already use the guitar as a melody (as opposed to chord) instrument, then the banjitar could be a shortcut to playing banjo - but, as a number of people have already said, it won't sound like a tenor banjo.
If you are new to playing tunes, then your knowledge of guitar chord shapes will only be a small advantage to you in learning tunes on the guitar or banjitar. You will probably find that the tunes fall much more easily under the fingers on the tenor banjo (Many traditional tunes were composed on or have evolved around the fiddle - which uses the same tuning as the tenor banjo).
I think the banjitar is best suited to accompanying singers with loud, raucous voices, with a comic edge - it is not an instrument I can take very seriously.
So, unless you have a particular passion for the banjitar, I say get a tenor banjo.
As a beginner I play whatever I can wrap my brain (and fingers) around. Sometimes it's chords, many times it's melody. Either way, I'm a long ways away from session playing.
I'm not unhappy with guitar. I love it. I've got a beautiful Martin to play. And I'm bound and determined to learn it. But I also want to learn banjo, mandolin & bouzouki as well. I may even buy a few whistles or a flute. I've got "the disease" really bad. lol And all because I wanted to make myself a better bodhran player.
Actually, I don't think I'd ever heard of a 'banjitar' before this thread - I just called it a guitar-banjo.
Fishmonger - if you're interested in learning mandolin as well, then it makes sense to go for a tenor banjo, as you'll have to learn the fingering anyway. But it sounds like you're an instrument addict, so you might as well get a banjitar as well, if it tickles your fancy.
...or should I perhaps not be encouraging you. There are clinics you can go to....
Banjitar opinions
Banjitar opinions
I've been looking at banjitars beacause I love the banjo but play guitar. A banjitar has 6 or 12 strings and is tuned just like a guitar. Who's got an opinion about these? Would you bring one to a session?
Deering 6-String D-6 Banjo #1
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page1599.htm
Deering D-12 Video Sampler #1 http://www.folkofthewood.com/page2926.htm
More samples here - http://www.folkofthewood.com/page2530.htm
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Banjitar opinions
I've played a few. Don't care for 'em. They don't really sound like a banjo. My advice is to just learn banjo. You'll be happier in the long run.
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by Bob himself
Re: Banjitar opinions
I certainly agree with Bob on that one. I had one many years ago and got so frustrated by the sound. It was neither one thing or the other and certainly sounds nothing like a good tenor banjo. I'd say go with the banjo, in the long run you'll be well paid back for the effort.
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by tctelboy
Re: Banjitar opinions
Played guitar for many years -and had a guitar banjo. Never reaaly played it much, or liked it much (despite it being a 1930's Gibson). In last few years, started ITM including on tenor banjo. Although only a 'cheap model' I love playing it. Can't walk by it without picking it up for a quick tune !
The guitar , with its 4th interval tuning, and sustained tone suites chordal playing -and picking on chords. Also suits typical blues / rock scales and runs. I was amazed how much easier melody lines are on a banjo (and other instruments with 5th interval tuning). I found it much more intuitive than guitar scales. I think you'll find you pick it up very quickly -and don't have any confusion moving between the different tunings.
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by Col Arco
4th interval - 5th interval ???
I know what an interval is. (number of half-steps above or below a root note) But I'm not sure I understand what you mean by a guitar having 4th interval and a banjo having 5th interval tuning.
Is 4th tuning; 4 half steps before moving to the next string?
Is 5th tuning; 5 half steps before moving to the next string?
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Banjitar opinions
re 4th, and 5th intervals - Yes that used to confuse me. And still does really. In harnony a 'perfect fourth' is 5 semitones up, and a perfect fifth is 7 semitones up. Try googling, or Wikapedia for further explanations of musical intervals. The pefect 5th interval is easy to hear - its the first 3 notes of 'twinkle twinkle little star' !
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by Col Arco
Re: Banjitar opinions
I have a banjitar - I sing as well as play ITM. I did decide to learn tenor banjo afterwords because I had a burning desire to play tunes - but for a bit of fun, I really like it; it's good for singing because (IMHO) it sounds better strummed then a GDAE tenor, but you won't get the same depth and dimension that you will on a tenor for tunes. Be warned, they're bl*ody loud!! When I got mine, it 'blew me out of the kitchen' so to speak. I played a Deering the other day - a top model one and it was beautiful.
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by camwebby
Re: Banjitar opinions
oh an 12 string ones are too clicky IMHO
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by camwebby
Re: Banjitar opinions
Sanctus Dominus.
I'd rather a Lambeg than one of those.
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by Hugo Chavez
Re: Banjitar opinions
If you're used to the finger stretch of guitar, banjo will be no problem
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by rob_handel
Re: Banjitar opinions
Fishmonger - What do you play on the guitar? Do you strum chords or play tunes?
If you are thinking of using a banjitar as a backing instrument for traditional music, I would strongly advise against it. If you already use the guitar as a melody (as opposed to chord) instrument, then the banjitar could be a shortcut to playing banjo - but, as a number of people have already said, it won't sound like a tenor banjo.
If you are new to playing tunes, then your knowledge of guitar chord shapes will only be a small advantage to you in learning tunes on the guitar or banjitar. You will probably find that the tunes fall much more easily under the fingers on the tenor banjo (Many traditional tunes were composed on or have evolved around the fiddle - which uses the same tuning as the tenor banjo).
I think the banjitar is best suited to accompanying singers with loud, raucous voices, with a comic edge - it is not an instrument I can take very seriously.
So, unless you have a particular passion for the banjitar, I say get a tenor banjo.
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by ragaman
Re: Banjitar opinions
As a beginner I play whatever I can wrap my brain (and fingers) around. Sometimes it's chords, many times it's melody. Either way, I'm a long ways away from session playing.
I'm not unhappy with guitar. I love it. I've got a beautiful Martin to play. And I'm bound and determined to learn it. But I also want to learn banjo, mandolin & bouzouki as well. I may even buy a few whistles or a flute. I've got "the disease" really bad. lol And all because I wanted to make myself a better bodhran player.
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Banjitar opinions
I always kinda thought that a banjitar was a banjo with 8 (4 double) strings, and twelve/six string banjo was a guitar banjo.
So, learned something new toady :D
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by Dark Raven
Re: Banjitar opinions
Actually, I don't think I'd ever heard of a 'banjitar' before this thread - I just called it a guitar-banjo.
Fishmonger - if you're interested in learning mandolin as well, then it makes sense to go for a tenor banjo, as you'll have to learn the fingering anyway. But it sounds like you're an instrument addict, so you might as well get a banjitar as well, if it tickles your fancy.
...or should I perhaps not be encouraging you. There are clinics you can go to....
# Posted on February 5th 2008 by ragaman