3 Quick Tips To Improve Your Banjo Tone

[@brianschwellinger7851]

I don’t play the banjo but am learning a lot and enjoying your videos. Very interesting to learn about how your instrument works and how much effect picks, position and grip have on what is produced. The concepts apply to the mandolin and have helped me to work out a few things that were nagging me. Thank you for posting and making me laugh at the “heavy metal” demonstration. 😮

[@IrishTenorBanjo]

Thank you Brian! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and THANK YOU for the SuperThanks too. Very kind

[@colindagnall4704]

In a world where tenor banjo resources are incredibly scarce, your channel provides a beacon of light for people learning the instrument. Thank you for your continued effort, time and willingness to share your expertise.I for one would be a far worse player with out your teachings and for that i am truly grateful.

[@IrishTenorBanjo]

thank you!

[@brianschwellinger7851]

Thanks!

[@scottishforrester]

Thank you for sharing your expertise with us Enda. It is extremely helpful and appreciated!

[@IrishTenorBanjo]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ericlong9085]

Thanks a mil for sharing enda, definitely my fault is when picking i go in that backward ark getting closer to the bridge so that's something to practice and the plectrum squeeze is something i need to work on, the five out of ten, super

[@jimnicholson4242]

Great stuff as usual Enda, Thanks ,

[@joandmichael]

Interesting to hear your thoughts about resting you fingers on the head of the banjo. Always wondered why Barney McKenna did that and what advantage he got out if it - but then again, he was Barney McKenna!

[@IrishTenorBanjo]

it has a place for certain types of picking such as cross picking or playing up near the neck, but for general real/jig picking any heavy panting of the fingers is a distinct disadvantage

[@zachalleran9694]

Hi Enda, great video! What head do you use on your vintage banjos? I hear a very tight renaissance head is standard but curious what your thoughts are.

[@IrishTenorBanjo]

I like the Renaissance heads a lot and a probably go a tiny bit slacker than normal just for some warmth to the tone

[@aleanto3553]

Hi Enda, I'm a beginner, could you recommend a suitable bridge height for an old Framus tenor banjo? It has a factory bridge and it's about 1.2 cm high and I don't know if this is suitable for playing triplets. Thank you very much, I really enjoy your videos!!! Greetings from Spain.

[@IrishTenorBanjo]

very simple answer - get a Scorpion bridge from Silvio Ferretti. He'll ask you for some measurements and make you a custom bridge. scorpionmusic.com/contenuti/contact.html

[@Daniel-dw9xt]

Odd thing with the picks. I use a 1.25 mm music maker pick and I get to to sound the same as the thinner picks to my ear

[@IrishTenorBanjo]

Must try that pick, haven’t tried those ones

[@Daniel-dw9xt]

@@IrishTenorBanjo they're very nice picks. I play guitar aswell so I've quite the collection of them. The music maker is just ny. Favourite of the lot, perfect for strumming and picking, I also prefere the thicker picks as you have more control.

[@hendrixplek]

Great stuff! I have to take a break from the pipes, because I developed a focal hand dystonia. I still wanna play trad and I'm already a guitarist. I wanna start with the banjo. Are those 250 quid Koda Banjos good enough for a beginner?

[@IrishTenorBanjo]

They’re probably fine to get the ball rolling. Certainly will do the job for learning the basic techniques but as you improve you’ll tire of them quickly. But that’s a good thing! Sorry about the dystonia, that definitely is a challenge

[@hendrixplek]

@@IrishTenorBanjo ah well, it is what it is. I'll take a break from now and then I'll probably have to retrain with a plastic chanter and different bag size. It's the ring fingers on both hands. A real fucker. Thanks for the advice. How much would you recommend spending on a beginner banjo that'll last me a few years to come? I don't have the cash for one of Tom's beautiful beasts...

[@hendrixplek]

I was anyway always interested in the banjo, it's also good as a backup for those days you don't wanna deal with gobshite reeds because the sun shines at the wrong angle 😂

[@IrishTenorBanjo]

@@hendrixplekreeds are a dark art I hear!!

[@IrishTenorBanjo]

@@hendrixplektry McNeela music or Eagle Music they’ll have beginner series banjos that’ll get ya going

[@nine9to]

Oh no, I am totally guilty of striking those strings hard, especially when I feel like I'm too quiet to lead a tune. I try to not do that too iften because as you point out, after a certain point the strings' magnitude of interaction causes undesirable noises.

[@billmacaulay]

Ive tried all your tips - still dont sound like you - any ideas ?

[@IrishTenorBanjo]

😂😂 keep going