Getting a banjo

[ClockworkSpace]

Anyone here play the banjo? I'm getting one so I can play in my indie rock/folk band, which I also play bass and do backing vocals in.

I'd really appreciate if someone could recommend a decent one, preferably under 250 dollars if possible. I don't want a completely low-end one, I'd like it to be of respectable quality.

[Poniiboi]

At 8/19/12 05:57 PM, ClockworkSpace wrote: Anyone here play the banjo? I'm getting one so I can play in my indie rock/folk band, which I also play bass and do backing vocals in.

I'd really appreciate if someone could recommend a decent one, preferably under 250 dollars if possible. I don't want a completely low-end one, I'd like it to be of respectable quality.

I don't play banjo, but I am from the Southern US and have a LOT of friends that do. A great many of them swear by the same banjo. I looked it up when I saw your post and it was the Epiphone MB-200. Right around ur price range and like I said, I've seen it in more than one place.

[Trampzy]

I personally would only play Gretsch banjos, but the Fender or Gibson ones ain't bad. Ome Banjos are really good too. Just don't ever buy something like a Dean or Rogue..... my god, those things are shit.

[Knoxius]

From my experience, banjo isn't too hard to play. Set it up with an open tuning and you'll already sound good. You should definitely look into the clawhammer technique if you start!

[compl33tbull]

While I don't play banjo, I do play the mandolin, and have worked with several banjo players, including Dave Sear. While Gibsons or Fenders are decent, I recommend Deering. They're not much more expensive, and it's a big name in the banjo/bluegrass community.

Clawhammer is a more old-timey sound than Scruggs picking, which is the stereotypical banjo fingerpicking. Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt, two of the forefathers of Bluegrass, are a great group to listen to to learn about the banjo. Steve Martin's band is a bit more accessible, and features a bit of both clawhammer and Scruggs. I recommend using fingerpicks either way. The guy in Trampled by Turtles uses a flat pick which is just nuts if you ask me. Unless you're just looking to do the Avett Brothers strum....

This is a great community of banjo players, I go to mandolin cafe which is a similar forum and the people there are very very friendly and helpful. Look around a bit.

Hope that helped a bit!
http://www.banjohangout.org/