Basic Setup of Your Bluegrass Banjo with Jim Pankey

[@leonieblaire]

Your videos are awesome, purchased a second hand 5-string banjo yesterday and now learning to string and tune from you. Thanks.

[@KitsFishing]

My banjo sounded dead so I took it apart and re built it using this guide. Now it's louder and the notes last longer and it is in tune all down the neck now. So glad I watch ur videos

[@jaredcurtis5652]

Thank you so much for this video! My father got a banjo a few years ago and never learned how to play it. So I’m learning how to play so I can lay some banjo tracks on his recordings. I had no idea how to set the banjo up. I do all the set ups on my own guitars, but this was a whole new world and this video was perfect! Thank you again!

[@totolamenace]

thanks from France, coming from guitar, I had no clue how to set up the bridge, I'm avoiding a lot of headaches thanks to your video.

[@lix7698]

Yours is literally the best video for absolute beginners

[@EmCeeBee43]

Great video. Lots of valuable points. One 15¢ hint on tightening the head that I learned a few months ago. Lay a 6" ruler on edge on the banjo head along the 1st string with the bridge at the 2" mark. Tighten (or loosen) the head until a dime will pass under the ruler next to the bridge on the neck side of the ruler and a nickel won't. This will be very close to a drum dial setting ~90. All it takes is a dime, a nickel and a 6" ruler in addition to the equipment already demonstrated. Note the ruler can only be 6" long.

[@FM-tx5es]

Jim, you’re a one stop shop here. Thanks for enlightening us. So helpful!

[@astony7054]

Thanks very much Jim you are definitely a good teacher for us beginners this is my first banjo and I needed this kind of help. Great 👍 video.

[@PaulSmith-v1n]

Hi Jim, Thank you for your excellent video. I have recently picked up a second hand banjo which came in need of repair and set up. After following your video for the setup It is now sounding pretty good. Best regards, Paul.

[@1337million]

I can vouch for how hard it is to ruin a truss rod. I tried my hand at a DIY guitar kit when I was 17, I didn't read up on anything about truss rod adjustment and went ham on it, a good four FULL turns. I was awoken by a loud bang one night and that was the truss rod saying goodbye. A 1/8 or 1/4 turn and waiting a bit won't destroy your instrument!

[@murray7618]

Very helpful video, as a complete beginner transitioning from guitar, thank you very much, excited for my banjo to arrive now!

[@philipmaguire9209]

Brilliant Jim

[@ivanmarkovic8499]

Thanks Jim, the video is a great help and beginner friendly. To tighten the banjo head, I use an automatic electric screwdriver. Watching your video I know that I can be a good banjo player too, it's a big help to me, that I can do it! Friendly greetings from Croatia,EU .

[@fretfix1]

Tip: Don't set intonation off the harmonic. Use the played note at the 12 fret. Bigger tip. Set intonation in the playing position. Setting a banjo down will change the pitch slight, and enough throw off the intonation a bit. Thanks for the video!

[@AGuyThatMakesStuff]

omg is that why it was out of tune slightly everytime i picked it up to check? I thought I was going crazy

[@ambermorena1696]

Really interesting and well presented. I felt like I was sitting on the floor , right in front and learning so much. Thank you. BTW, I'm waiting for my new banjo to arrive, first one, (I'm a 77yo) and I always wanted to play one...

[@rainerrain9689]

How's it going with your new Banjo?

[@ambermorena1696]

@@rainerrain9689 Well, truthfully, just not getting into it. I was a right handed guitar player (LH making the cords) for a long time. LF got damaged quite a while back (but I can still do a finger flick / wrist move with the LH so I thought I'd try a LF banjo - less strings and make cords with RH. Yeh, you get the idea. Well the learning curve was straight up and seems like my RH fingers are FAT or the strings are too close together... Anyway, haven't thrown the banjo into the garbage out of frustration. Maybe I'll give it a go sometimes in the future - and maube not.. Thanks for asking...

[@rainerrain9689]

@@ambermorena1696 I hope you feel up to it soon,maybe just play some Banjo rolls,don't have to play cords all the time. Goodluck and stay Healthy and Happy.

[@haroldschroeder6466]

The best instructions I've seen o far.thankyou

[@davyhendrix]

I got my first banjo and it was ready to go but it needed the truss rod adjusted to eliminate fret buzz sounds great now thanks for your videos

[@michaelmiller9552]

Thanks for sharing brother!

[@c7b5b9]

Hello Jim what's you're opinion of B5 Washburn 5 string for a beginner like me I just turned 68 my main instruments are keyboards for the last 50 years Thamks God bless Great video for setting the banjo.

[@timvagg4416]

Great video. Clear and helpful thanks

[@anyoldorion]

Great video. I understood the instructions and explanations. This will be my go to video for awhile. Thank you.

[@guitarpolish7]

Thank you for the really simple way to set the bridge with a digital tuner. I am setting up a 6 string.

[@ianbellshaw4883]

Glad I found this video. I was impressed by your other videos, so much so that my first ever banjo arrives tomorrow. Thanks for your tutorials....I'm looking forward to the journey.

[@MrChris1978moleman]

Thanks again Jim 😊 Excellent info

[@inthemaze7441]

Sweet tutorial! I've been wanting to see a video like this that goes from A to Z on proper setup of a five string. Thanks much.

[@AnaPoetelea]

Thank you very much Jim!

[@TheGreyGhost_of43rd]

Ur a real life saver mr banjo whisperer guy

[@TradeDirectTools]

Awesome advice and instruction. Thanks b uddy

[@abemillettmusic]

“This isn’t rocket surgery here folks!” Awesome. Thanks for a great video.... would be cool to see you make a video about adjusting the neck when the action is outta whack. I just got a banjo where the string height is in the stratosphere....Thanks!

[@finkthreely7089]

Thank you so much. I just got my hands on a cheap old neglected banjo and its not like setting up a stratocaster

[@kiivje]

Great video. Thanks!

[@Knappist]

Jim Many thanks very helpful 👍

[@pennicontreras2128]

Thank you. Just what I needed. Theres not a banjo player within 100 miles of me so I had no one to ask. :-)

[@HeeHawActivist]

Thanks for the info. My strings are buzzing everywhere. Hopefully I can correct some of it. Another picker told me the nut could b es too low, but I hate to make a new one.

[@dianaandrus7901]

Thanks

[@MMorgan834]

Thank you sir!

[@this_kendra4596]

Jim! This video is SO SO helpful for beginners! Thank you so much for this important and very useful information!

[@gelflingmusic9428]

Glad I found your video on this. Just got my Oscar Schmidt Banjo. That a good one ja?

[@CAVERN1234]

Hi Jim fantastic video and information. i have been a musician for nearly 50 years and play multiple instrument. at the moment im in the middle of recording a new Cd and one of the songs i have written is a country song so i decided to buy a banjo and learn to play it. i decided to buy a budget banjo and bought a Harley Benton pro55 5 string , i dont think ill have any problem learning to play it as i play classical guitar so finger style will be easy for me. my problem is ? and hoping you can help is setting the banjo up as im not sure what im doing as i would be with a guitar. it has a truss rod adjustment at the headstock but not sure if i need to open the resonator and adjust anything there ? also im not sure what to do with the tail piece ?i know there is a rod that goes through the banjo under the resonator that has a nut but once again not sure what to do. if it was a guitar id have no problem as iv dealt with them most of my life but with a banjo im out of my depth . i need a a to know how to set up a brand new banjo from the start if possible and a harley benton pro 55 any help you can give would really help me on my way to banjo playing. i know you have a video on changing strings etc but its parts of the banjo i need to learn about. thank you once again and best wishes from Liverpool UK Cheers Dave

[@MsWorkboots21]

I notice your cat (22:40) Jim. By the time I got my action set, mine had taken up residence in the upturned resonator and took great exception to being moved off. Never attempt any instrument setup in the presence of cats.

[@kitcarson9047]

Thank you very much my bluegrass brother from another mother... Great vid. Another question...if I may.... How to do a capo on banjo....I was told there are special hooks to get...and install.. Again many thanks!!! 'If you've ever paid $15 to go see someone on stage at a festival..that was in your living room on Wednesday night, you may be a bluegrasser"

[@bobfife9071]

Jim what should the distance be between top of frets and the string, I play guitar and I feel the gap is much greater on my banjo, is that correct. Bob UK

[@AnnLippert1]

I NEVER KNEW THIS!!? !!

[@petebony4664]

Hey Jim, My banjo arrived yesterday evening, it's only a cheap one made under the name of "Kmise" in China but good enough for me to learn on. After unboxing I checked it all out I then set the bridge and tuned it. It didn't sound too bad, maybe just a little "tinny"! This morning however I have spent time setting it up (as per this video) and what a difference it has made, it sounds quite good now! Thanks for the tutorial, you've helped me out no end. Now all I have to do is an awful lot of practice on rolls and chords - I will be following your videos for that. Can I ask a question please - In your opinion how long does it normally take for new strings to settle in as I have to check and do a slight retune every half hour or so? (I think it is just the strings stretching and settling)

[@inthemaze7441]

Not that I know banjo, but with a guitar, we tune one note above for approximately 1 day then set to your selected tuning my friend. They still may have some stretching to do, but that's what we do the day before a show.

[@kellymccance1962]

Hey Jim! 440 or 432mhz? I think I like 432 best. Great lesson sir!

[@kensharpe5545]

Thanks Jim for the informative video. I’m a beginner and had no idea how to even begin doing set ups. My banjo fell forward off its stand, but I was able to stop its fall by catching the neck. Afterwards I noticed the strings were raise off the fretboard a ways. Your truss rod and interior body adjustment rod should help fix my issue.

[@lavadamullins2954]

Hey Jim, my new RK20 Songster sounds great, but I've noticed the strings are further away from the neck than they're suppose to be. Can I adjust this myself, or do I need to take it somewhere and let them adjust it?

[@craigjacob3704]

Hello I hope you are doing good and are in good health. I am setting up my banjo and needed to ask you a question. I have a Washburn B-17 I'm trying to set up. I have the new strings on it and almost have the intonation zeroed in. My question is about neck relief. I pressed the strings down at the first and last fret and the strings are touching all the way down the neck. Do you thing it needs a neck adjustment or would you say a higher bridge? I have the stock bridge on it now and am pretty sure it's a 5/8 I have a snuffy smith peg head bridge for it but it's a 5/8" as well. Do you think I should try a 11/16 bridge or that one they make in-between the two? Thanks for any help.. God bless and looking forward to start taking your courses

[@ambu6478]

Hey Jim, I just replaced the tailpiece on my banjo, and now the strings are running towards the treble side of the neck as they get closer to the head. I can't seem to correct this issue with any adjustments that I've tried. Would you have any thoughts on the problem? Thank you so much for any input!!

[@WorshipGuitarist4life17]

1:17 to my eyes, the bridge looks like it's leaning towards the tailpice. Could just be me

[@EmCeeBee43]

It's supposed to.

[@davidcudlip6587]

Is it the camera lens or do you live in a doll house?

[@garyward2598]

Does the 12th fret trick also work on a Irish tenor?

[@I_Really_Enjoy_Not_Seeing_You]

Yes. It also works on mandolins and anything else with frets.

[@leftycut1]

Quick question. My recording King dirty thirty 06 comes with a no knot tail piece. The bridge isn’t straight up The feet are cut at a angle. It works fine but I’m wondering if this is normal for a no knot

[@RecordingKingOfficial]

Hi! Many (but not all) banjo bridges are cut at an angle, with a flat side and an angled side. It comes from violin makers' bridge traditions. The flat side is intended to face the tailpiece direction, and the angled side faces the fretboard direction. All our banjos use this bridge, it's not specific to the tailpiece on your RKOH-06. Hope that helps put your mind at ease!

[@leftycut1]

@@RecordingKingOfficial Thanks for your prompt response. I appreciate your help!!!

[@leftycut1]

Oh yeah and my and my recording king sounds great even though my bridge was backwards 🤣🤣🤣

[@bzzzvanok6218]

All my string instruments are tuned to 432Hz for past 15 years. 440Hz is too harsh.

[@scaredycat8685]

I ply the guitar. What exactly does this mean?

[@inthemaze7441]

@@scaredycat8685 - savants only know. (Lol) no, I think if you have an electronic tuner, you may be able to check the Hz your tuned at.

[@scaredycat8685]

@@inthemaze7441 ohh okay

[@inthemaze7441]

@@scaredycat8685 , no. no. I was kidding on that first part, truly sorry. 🙃

[@kellymccance1962]

ABSOLUTELY! Actually it's kind of a strange thing how the International tuning pitch was at 432 in the beginning but was changed. I watched a video showing designs generated by sound in sand. 440 was erratic and messy and 432 made semetric orderly designs. Quite interesting.

[@katBerk]

I know nothing . I bought a banjo and I’m way over my head