Expert: Jim Ryan - 6/27/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi Jim,
Just have a quick question and would be very grateful if you could help me out. I decided that I would like to learn to play the banjo and recently purchased a new instrument. I was wondering if you could give me some advice or suggestions on tuning it. I have tried to match the tones from various online banjo tuning sites (e.g. http://www.get-tuned.com/online_banjo_tuner.php) but whatever I do I feel as if the banjo sounds more like a guitar than a banjo. Are strings on a banjo generally very tight? I am worried I will snap a string if I over tighten them.
Thanks very much,
David

ANSWER: Hello David,

Very sorry for the delay in my response, but I've been traveling for a few days without convenient e-mail access.  

What you need to do is purchase a small, clip-on electronic tuner for your banjo, rather than trying to tune using on-line tones.  I'm partial to the "TuneTech" brand, but there are others around that will serve just as well.  Price will be around $25.00 USD for one of these.  They work by picking up the vibrations from the headstock of the banjo, which is an excellent way to go, especially if you end up playing music with other people.  It can be very difficult to hear one's banjo for tuning if you've got a bunch of fiddle, guitar, and mandolin players having a session around you.  The other advantage is that they're very precise, and so everyone you play with, if they have an electronic tuner, will be at just the right pitch.  Be sure to pick an electronic tuner that is back-lit so that you can use it in dark settings or at night.

These are especially helpful devices for banjo players, in my experience, because banjo players --- especially clawhammer-style players like myself --- tend to change tunings quite frequently.  In my own repertoire, I probably use about 10 or 12 different tunings, and there are at least 4 that I use in every practice session.  Having an electronic tuner makes life a lot easier and lets you spend more time playing and less time tuning.

And no, the strings should not be super tight on the banjo.  You might want to compare your string set up to that of a fellow banjo player or that of a banjo in a music store, just for comparison.  Keep in mind that one of the advantages of having banjo is the opportunity of getting to know other players, and so don't keep entirely to yourself with your music, even if you're a beginner.  You'll have a lot more fun this way, and your music will benefit from being with experienced pickers.

If you're breaking strings during tuning, there's likely a problem somewhere with the set up of the instrument (sharp edge on a tuner, for example), and so if this happens more than occasionally, it might be best to have your local music shop have a look at it.

Best of luck.  You'll have a great time learning the banjo.

Jim

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Jim,
Thanks very much for your detailed answer. An electronic tuner is something I will definitely invest in. For the time being I have downloaded an app for my iPhone which claims to be tuner. I have tuned the banjo according to that and it seems to be sounding much more banjo-like so it must have worked somewhat!

Regarding the electronic tuners, they all seem to be for a variety of stringed instuments. Should I be looking for a tuner that is specifically designed for the banjo or will a tuner that is designed for stringed instuments in general suffice? Often the tuners I am looking at will list a number of instruments such as "Guitar, Bass, Violin, Cello, Ukulele", etc. but usually no mention of a banjo!  

Thanks again,
David

Answer
David,

There are probably some tuners out there that are designed for guitar only, but in general electronic tuners will work with all stringed instruments.  For example, the TuneTech unit that I use works on my guitars, banjos, mandolin, and upright bass with no problems.  The vibration-sensitive tuner doesn't identify the instrument, of course, but only the frequency of the vibration made by the string (and conducted through the body of the instrument).  A friend of mine has the iPhone tuner app, and it works, but is a bit of a pain compared to the clip-on variety.  Also keep in mind the need to be able to tune when others are making noise around you (like in the middle of a tune!  Eventually, you'll be in that situation.  Clip-on electronic tuners are the best for the aspiring banjoist, believe me.

I'll try to attach a photo of the tuner I currently use.

Best regards,

Jim