Q&A | Steel vs Nylon or Gut Strings

[@goldenbergconstruction1656]

How long do your nylon strings last? Let's assume you play at least and hour a day.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

A good set on the right banjo will go years without breaking. Start sounding like crap after a couple months. I have strings on banjos that are a year or two old. They'll sound much better when I replace the strings.

[@hopefulhyena3400]

honestly, if I ever pick up banjo I am going straight to nylon. That sound is incredible.

[@bushratbeachbum]

Legend. Just got a knackered old 5 string open back, getting strings and hope to achieve even a 10th of your ease with the instrument. Cheers for being honest and easy to follow for us newcomers to playing. Subscribed and will be following closely!!

[@NoahNCopeland]

1:19 nylon 1:58 steel

[@rbloch66]

I appreciate how nylon strings afford a less sharp sound than the steel strings. I've developed the same preference for nylon strings on some of my guitars.

[@leighcecil3322]

Thanks for your post...i like the nylon sound.. it's more warmer ..i play nylon guitar... with steel base strings...im putting nylon on my banjo..🇦🇺🍺

[@OkieRob]

your going to break the internet posting all these videos in one day

[@G3N13_M4N]

can I put nylon strings on my resonator banjo? it came with steel but I like the overhand sound through nylon. Thanks!

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Yes! I recommend trying La Bella No. 17 nylon strings and a solid maple bridge from BanjoThimble.com

[@charlesbrown7579]

my wife bought me the banjo for xmas you are never to old to learn i am 71 now got my pilots license at 65 bought my own microlight flexwing kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6ebYYV6r7WVhZI me and the wife coming into land

[@charlesbrown7579]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo thank you for your advice

[@charlesbrown7579]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo Hi they have no more of them strings left also I can not find the bridge on that site

[@rattyfingers8621]

Hey Georgia boy. I finally signed up. Keep sending your messages out to the masses. Amen.

[@Oneeyedbanjoforever]

I know this is a little late but I got some custom gage strings from Aquila Corde and they were a lot nicer than some other gut strings I’ve had but it’s probably smarter to just stick with nylon or nylgut strings. Keep the rolls rolling! One Eyed Banjo

[@Spludgeroo]

Glad I found this just now. I'm due a string change after 20 years and been pondering nylon since I saw Leather Stockings but nah! I'm staying with steel after this. I like the noise. Money no object since I change them every 20 years.

[@pennsyltuckyreb9800]

Wait....so you mean change the TYPE of strings every 20 years or you are playing on the same single set of strings every 20 years??

[@Spludgeroo]

​@@pennsyltuckyreb9800 The actual same strings have been on for 20 years at least. I do wipe them now and then.

[@pennsyltuckyreb9800]

@@Spludgeroo I guess you don't play often? I go through strings like every few months or even less. I play almost everyday. What strings do you have?

[@Spludgeroo]

@@pennsyltuckyreb9800 I play with it stuffed with socks anyway. If I played for an audience I'd take the socks out and get some new strings. They are good strings. Martin's I think.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Gold Tone now has Nylgut Strings which are actually thinner than most Aquila Banjo Strings so you can use Open G and play any Banjo Music written in Open G.

[@Matersoup]

If I needed to play in D a lot, I'd retune to f#DGAD or if only one or two tunes just keep it in standard G tuning as you suggest. Thanks for your outstanding tutorials and videos!

[@hungadunga523]

I am learning clawhammer and old-time banjo, and I use nylon strings on my practice banjo. I have discovered that when I practice on nylon strings, I have to use more control and be more precise and subtle in my playing, or it really sounds like crap. Then, when I play my steel-string banjo, I sound better than I would otherwise. It's a good learning tool for me.

[@jharsch3453]

I find the same tendency with acoustic and electric guitars. Flat or finger picked, going from one to the other feels so much smoother.

[@joey4809]

great thank for that i will ask enjoying your work very much

[@stanncat4344]

There are synthetic gut strings made of nylon. I have some on my Ukulele that have lasted a long time, Uke can play renaissance guitar tabs and music so I put the fake gut on them for a warmer sound. The one company I know for sure that makes this is Aquila and on their site they actually have a Banjo set of Nylgut (synthetic gut). They also sell early instrument synthetics and I believe they also do real gut for early instruments. You may also be able to order nylgut strings by diameter, but I'm not sure I know there are some early music string makers where you can order single strings by diameter to be more specific to a particular players ear and wants for their instruments. That could be mainly in the Carbon Fiber strings which is another Nylon alternative, what I use on my classical guitar because they are louder and more resonant for a modern classical guitar.

[@davetoepfer]

The best capo I have for my banjo is a kyser acoustic guitar drop d capo, so it skips over the low E string and allows you to capo at 2 and play drop d tunes in drop e. It's also not quite as wide and awkward as a full acoustic guitar capo. Also, if you want to get crazy you can capo at 5 (on an angle) or above and it skips over the high g string to mimic shorter scale instruments like a ukulele.

[@swamperdog4558]

Cheap spring loaded guitar capos are the best. They work on guitars, banjos and on a bag of chips to keep them fresh! Keep on keepin' on...

[@reggiejayne]

This was the video I needed today. Thanks!

[@DanDDirges]

Amen to not killing Animals to make gut strings! Big thumbs up!

[@Vigilante311]

We should use people instead

[@brumm3653]

Animals are not killed for gut specifically. They are killed mainly for food. Strings are just byproducts.

[@owenhenderson3143]

I know this video is rather old, and I can't remember what the name for the type of capo is, however I know it is the type that a lot of bluegrass guitar and banjo players prefer. They more or less stay on the instrument as they aren't made to be taken off the neck quickly. However there are some models that have a spring tensioned clamp feature making it easier to move it up and down the neck, as well as rest on the nut so you can play without having to take it off. I got one for pretty cheap at an antique shop, but modern ones aren't super expensive, the last time I checked. I think they are generally a couple dollars more than the price of Kyser's Quick Change Capos.

[@marygrimes5807]

Check out strings.com for the steel strings. I buy there now. I still buy the guts from Elderly.

[@old4727]

É possível usar cordas de nylon de violão no banjo? Aqui no Brasil não encontro cordas de nylon próprias para banjo.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Sim! Use a 1ª, 2ª, 3ª e 4ª cordas como de costume, depois use uma 1ª corda antiga para a corda curta do polegar. ¡Sí! Use la 1.ª, 2.ª, 3.ª y 4.ª cuerda como de costumbre, luego use una 1.ª cuerda antigua para la cuerda corta del pulgar.

[@old4727]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo Farei isso, muito obrigado

[@xZombee]

Your noodlin' in the end there just ruined me, that was great. Haha, there's a long way for me to be able to just noodle something that kick ass! Thank you for sharing!

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Luka! Stick with us and we'll get you straightened out. If you have any specific subjects to discuss share them here or on our Patreon.com/cliftonhicks group and I will try to help out. - Clif Hicks

[@aniquinstark4347]

My ears favor gut strings. Sorta a happy medium between nylon and steel tone-wise.

[@joey4809]

i have a question do you use fishing line for banjos and if so what sizes to the set of 5 ,i had heard this was an old way and cheaper joey uk

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Fishing line works OK. I don't know what weights translate to which diameters. If you ask this question in the Collectors Corner forum at banjohangout.org somebody will tell you.

[@slowe7662]

I've got an A-Scale Mountain Banjo I string with 35, 45 , 55, and 80 lbs line. They sound pretty good, although my banjo is is pretty muted with them (but I think that's head tension, not the strings fault). It's worth noting fishing wire takes a bit to set in like all nylon strings, but they're really durable once their on. Paying for all the line is still the cost of several purpose-made sets, but a hundred yards strings a lot of banjos.

[@gertmana1789]

Hey man, i'm a beginner old time fiddler and my daughter is a beginner classical guitar player (10 yo) now i have this old 6 string banjo laying around and i'm going to try to set it up to keep her interested in music by playing together. Do you have any advice for wich nylon strings i could use for it? Thanks.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

I would use some kind of nylon classical guitar strings from La Bella. I recommend _avoiding_ Aquila, as the strings are not as high-quality.

[@gertmana1789]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo ok, thank you

[@alanstarbuck5203]

I have a 4 string 17 fret tenor banjo, I have re strung it to the same as a ukulele/banjolele Gcea but its using steel strings. Do you think it will work with nylon strings and if so which ones?

[@mrgildons]

Very interesting video! About railroad spikes, can be a hindrance when playing?

[@childrenofscarlet6164]

Hey Clifton, i’m a guy from outside of the US and i’ve been preparing materials to build a mountain banjo. Banjos are quite rare where i’m from so finding nylon banjo strings (outside of straight up importing from the US) is pretty much impossible. Do you think regular nylon guitar strings would work? I’m thinking those probably cannot be tuned really high but it is what available to me.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Yes. The first four strings of the guitar are the same as the first four of the banjo. Just use another guitar 1st string for your banjo's thumb string.

[@tiernandevine2849]

I do not like using real road spikes either I would have my carpool on the second or third or possibly for breath but then I would tune the fifth string to it but yeah

[@tleek]

I have an goodtime Americana and I think it would sound great with nylon. Does anyone know if I need a bridge or nut replacement to try Aguila nylagut or similar?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Yes, you'll need a bridge from www.BanjoThimble.com

[@tleek]

@@CliftonHicksbanjoa new nut as well? Is there a specific bridge?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

As long as you stick with La Bella No. 17 or Aquila _New_ Nylgut the factory bridge is OK. I suggest the _Converse_ bridge from BanjoThimble.com

[@tleek]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo kzbin.info2SoBYtB7t4Q?si=w74PfBIYyJA_UjMX Went ahead and installed some New Nylguts. Sounds good but a little more bass heavy and dead in real life than the recording. I’m sure a new bridge would liven it up again, but overall I’m happy. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@elbbob]

Hi I have nylgut strings they sound scratchy or is it my picking making them sound that way Not a nice clean sound like your playing thanks bob

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Lots of factors at play. Could be your bridge, or the strings could be old.

[@elbbob]

Thanks could it be coming from the way I use my bare thumb and finger 2 finger thumb lead ? I’m now only trying to learn from your videos

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

It's probably an issue with the bridge. If you're using a modern banjo bridge with three legs and black ebony along the top, those will muffle nylon strings. I recommend ordering a traditional maple banjo bridge from Joel Hooks at banjothimble.com

[@elbbob]

G’day mate I’m wondering what bridge you use , I have an old snuffy smith bridge on mine and I have nylgut strings Thanks Bob

[@JayHova4x4]

okay but how are we amplifying nylguts if we want to play electric ? i do not want to alter the head or bridge

[@hankfava]

Any fretless banjos for sale

[@veroldaley1]

Hi, Clifton ,looking for advice regarding the 5th G string,when I thumb 5th the sound is very very quiet especially when I am up to speed.would a nylon string work better,best regards mike

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

A muffled 5th isn't necessarily a problem--most are too loud! Don't know what to tell you other than try changing the strings or bridge if it's really too quiet.

[@jeetray11]

StringsByMail.com I think is the best for strings. Huge collection. If they don't have it nobody has it. I get my guitar strings from there. Now I am into banjo. They have all kinds of banjo strings. Give that a try Clifton.

[@mintonmiller]

somewhat helpful but this did not rezally answer the question of nylon vs steel. I have always used metal strings on my banjo but I am thinging of trying nylon. My hope is to get a more mellow sound and easier in the fingers. Can one put nylon on any banjo, and is there any disadvantage to doing so? I would like to try flat picking but the sound is just too harsh for me on metal strings.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

All these pre-WW1 banjos were set up for relatively thick gut strings, so nylon is good for them. So long as the nut has not been replaced and you have a bridge with wide slots cut in to accept nylon or gut diameter strings.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Any banjo may use nylons, it just have to have wide diameter slots cut into the nut and bridge.

[@Wolfythereviewer]

Depending in the nut you could also get a very small file and increase the diameter yourself.

[@ElijahCalhounBanjo-m6c]

Can I use nylon strings for playing bluegrass?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Yes.

[@ElijahCalhounBanjo-m6c]

Okay I was just wondering because I don't want to keep ordering metal strings if theyre just gonna break over and over again. There a bit expensive. Thank you

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Try La Bella no. 17 nylon strings first.

[@davidsims1329]

Hay Clifton how much of a sagg in the goat skin banjo head is acceptable?

[@JohnWilson-bn1xs]

Yeah...don't like to think about killing animals...for strings, or skins, or anything. Also, RE: capos--as you suggest...when you play with other people, they're a big help. But even more important...I've found a capo to be invaluable when I need TO FIND A KEY I CAN SING IN. One last thought--it'd be easy enough to craft a home-made, old-school capo..that would be more appropriate for you, instead of a super-slick chrome and plastic job, made in California.. There are even some more basic wood and elastic jobs available on-line. Just curious I've been in Georgia all my life. Mind sharing where you are?

[@tateharmann5864]

Great info Clifton! I live up in Minnesota and there's a string maker who makes wonderful gut strings up north. He doesn't specifically mention banjo but he does make them for guitar so you should be able to match the diameters. The last set from him that I had on my guitar lasted well over a year, here's a sound sample: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJOwg4uBacZ5htU I think the durability could have a lot to do with how hard you play, if you play with nails or not, and the local climate...but I'd give them a try.

[@SheThe1Who]

Would be great to get the string makers contact info!

[@seantynan109]

Hey, do you have the name or contact info for this MN string maker? Been here for a few years and have gotten into banjo playing. I'd love to buy local if possible. Thanks!

[@tateharmann5864]

@@seantynan109 Hey Sean - sure thing. His name is Dan Larson and the company is called Gamut Strings: www.gamutmusic.com/ FWIW he makes gut strings for violin, viola, lute, guitar etc. Since banjo isn't specifically mentioned on the site, you'd have to investigate the diameters that you'd want and then order those from him.

[@robertjohnson5795]

Hey Clifton, thanks for all the great stuff you share. Was wondering, do your medium string sets have a wound 4th string? Looks like it on vid but it's a little hard to see. Any chance of posting the diameters on your steel set? I've got lights on my Americana and it sounds like garbage. Thanks.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Yes, I am using LA Bella No. 17 nylons here with nickel wound 4th. They're _pretty_ close to what was commonly available circa 1900.

[@robertjohnson5795]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo Thanks for the reply. I need to check out some nylon type strings. Maybe some Nylgut? Not sure if they have loops ends or not. Thanks again.

[@jmullens90]

Could you make gut strings deer or hog? If you can how would you make them?

[@rattyfingers8621]

That's quite an order. Cliff here he decries using animals for musical applications, but some of his banjos have skin heads on...which sound the best I'd venture. Well I'll get back on this subject, but I do know that sinew from along the backbone of a big cat was prized for the power bow of tribes where I grew up.

[@jmullens90]

@@rattyfingers8621 I was thinking it might be a way to use some of the waste parts from hunting season, I always try to use as much of the kill as possible.

[@z_dog7739]

I am in dire need of nylon strings

[@1860CarolinaRebel]

What about a 1900-1910 banjo? Originally designed for gut. But seems some guys have used steel with good luck and some have had bad luck. I recently purchased a S.S. Stewart Monogram it was strung with light gauge steel but came with extra set of nylgut.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

If your banjo's nut + bridge have slots cut wide enough to accept nylon strings I would try it. Usually an old banjo like that will sound better with nylons.

[@1860CarolinaRebel]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo I'll definitely do that. If not I'll run it by my Luthier and have him set it up for the nylgut. Last thing I want to do is ruin a 120 year old banjo.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Good thinking. Often the nuts on pre-WW2 banjos are still original (i.e. cut wider for gut strings) so you may only need to replace the bridge. I have learned that for a nylon-strung banjo a solid, one-piece "uncapped" bridge (with slots cut for wide diameter strings) sounds best.

[@1860CarolinaRebel]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo Thanks for the advice!

[@TimDonk]

Rest easy brother, no one is killing animals just to make gut strings.

[@rufustempleorchestra8875]

Hi! What size is the head of your Luscomb? Thank you!

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

That is a 12 inch pot.

[@hal-c]

Do you use nylgut at all?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Currently using their NEW Nylgut strings.

[@charlesbrown7579]

is it best not to wear pricks to play banjo

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

I would say it is best to play with bare fingers. I have always found finger picks too limiting--and what happens if you lose one while travelling, and have no way to find a quick replacement? I would rather rely on as few things as possible to get my music out, hence I threw away my finger picks when I was 13.

[@charlesbrown7579]

what is the best song to learn first

[@heymrguitarman7637]

The idea of animal product strings freaks me out a little to be honest. For the same reason i don't wear leather shoes or belts. Each to their own, i dont judge anyone but for me it just feels weird using parts of an animal to decorate my clothes or guitars/banjos

[@charlesbrown7579]

why dont you wear picks on your fingers

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

One of several reasons is that finger picks were not used to play the banjo until the 1940s. The first banjo sightings in mainland North America were during the 1740s. That means that for over 200 years, people did not play the banjo with fingerpicks. I find them to be an unnecessary crutch.