6-String Banjos

A 6-string banjo, also called a banjo guitar, has six strings and is tuned just like a regular guitar. Guitarists can use familiar chords and chord shapes, but the instrument sounds like a banjo: bright and percussive, with a short sustain. Here you'll find models from SX, Pasadena, Stagg and Ortega, most with a Remo head, as well as a left-handed model with a pickup. Most come with a gig bag included.

How do you play a 6-string banjo?

You play a 6-string banjo just as you would a guitar. The strings use standard guitar tuning, so chords, scales and fingering all stay the same. The sound comes from a head stretched over a round body rather than a wooden soundboard, giving each note a sharp attack and a quick decay. A banjo guitar is a good fit when you want to add a banjo sound to folk, country, bluegrass or acoustic rock without learning a new tuning. You can play it with a pick or with your fingers.

A 6-string or a 5-string banjo?

The 5-string banjo is a traditional bluegrass instrument. It has a short fifth string, is usually tuned to an open G chord and uses different chord shapes and playing techniques from a guitar. A 6-string banjo is for guitarists who want a banjo sound straight away, without learning a new tuning. If traditional bluegrass appeals to you, choose a 5-string model. If you want to play banjo alongside guitar in a band or on a recording, go for a 6-string model.

What should you look for when choosing a 6-string banjo?

• Resonator – the wooden bowl on the back of the body directs the sound forwards, making the banjo louder. The Stagg BJM30 G has a mahogany resonator, while the SX BJ556 and BJ566 models have okoume resonators.
• Head – the 11" synthetic Remo Fiberskyn head on SX 500 Series models mimics the warm sound of natural skin and copes better with changes in humidity. The Pasadena 01BJ006, Stagg BJM30 G and both Ortega banjos also have Remo heads.
• Scale length – SX banjos have a scale length of 670 mm, while the Ortega OBJ350/6 has a shorter scale of 628 mm.
• For left-handed players and the stage – the Ortega OBJE356-SBK-L is built for left-handed players and has a built-in pickup with a volume control, so you can connect it to an amplifier.
• Gig bag – the SX BJ406, BJ456, SX 500 Series models and both Ortega banjos come with a gig bag included. For the other models, choose from the range of gig bags for banjo.