New to banjo and saw mixed messages on how picks should fit. Does this look right? If not, what should I change?

So I am a guitarist that was gifted a banjo. My minimal research tells me to do replace the strings, the head and maybe the bridge? I just want it to sound nice and look decent.

Any thoughts or advice?

Also am I stupid or is that a capo on the wrong side of the strings?

I picked up a 1980 Dearing basic And it needed a new crown. I did put on a high crown. Once restrung, I’m getting buzzing from the 15th through 24th fret, and it is apparently strings hitting the pot rim. I can adjust the lower rod. and there’s just a nut above that.

Is there a specified level these should be? The closest I could find was a during Boston, which states the neck should be slightly above the pot ring.

Any help would be appreciated

TL;DR: My dad (a self-taught musician) wants to start playing country banjo. Is the Gold Tone AC-5 (~€450) the best entry point for a solid, reliable 5-string that stays in tune, or is there a cheaper option that isn't junk? (I play guitar, so I can handle the setup).

My dad wants to pick up country banjo. He’s self-taught on other instruments, but a complete beginner to banjo.

I’m looking for a solid starter instrument that won't turn him off—something with decent playability and tuning stability, without breaking the bank.

My research keeps pointing to the Gold Tone AC-5 around €450 as a great starter with room to grow.

• Is the AC-5 the ideal entry point to aim for, or is there a cheaper model worth looking at (like the open-back AC-1, or brands like Recording King)?
• I'm a guitarist, so doing a bridge/truss rod setup myself won't be an issue if a cheaper option just needs a bit of dialing in.

Appreciate any advice from 5-string/country players!

( Post written by me, using AI to reduce waffle and improve clarity)

Ive been looking to get this banjo but i don’t know if it’s a good instrument for the price. does anybody have any experience on banjo?

A newer banjo player and have been enjoying my AC1 Gold Tone open back banjo so far. I am looking into purchasing a banjo with a resonator. A shop near me carries both a Washburn B8KA Americana banjo and Deering Goodtime Resonator banjo.

Is it worth spending the extra money on the Deering? Or are there any other resonator banjos anyone would recommend???

I’m pretty sure it hasn’t had a string change in 17 years. So filthy I think it just sat on a stand most of the time not in a case.

Took apart my banjo for a thorough clean and this fell out somewhere? Can't for the life of me see where it came from.

Any ideas?

Funny little thing that was my grandfather's. Interested in trying to get the resonator off to see if there's any more details inside.

How good is this considered? I don’t really have a reference point

I have a few mountain and old time banjos to put on my wall. All tuning pegs are out the back to headstock rather than at the side.

Are there any wall mounted hangers UK wide you guys can recommend?

Hey all! First time post here, made this account specifically to post this lol.

I’m Chilean, I recently got myself this 6-string Banjo on Marketplace for about 40 bucks, gave it a good clean and restrung it and it plays pretty good (Image 1 is how I received it). I’ve got it tuned DgDGBD right now.

There’s no markings or logos on the headstock or on the inside, all I know is that it was owned by the seller’s dad from new since the 1950’s or so. Do any of y’all recognize this style or know who might’ve made it? Any thoughts? Thank y’all kindly!

I posted earlier about a line on this banjo. Thought I may be able to get it for $2600. Ended up they just let me have it for $2300. Wealthy older gentleman that just didn’t want it. Story is he bought in 2004 from the original owner who never learned to play it. The Gentleman took lesson for first 5 years but never could get the hang of it and it’s been sitting for the last 17 years or so. This I what he gave me with it. He changed the turned as some point but gave me the originals. It needs a good cleaning and set up. I don’t know anything about banjos but play guitar. There is some tarnishing but I think it’s probably still fine. If anyone knows someone in the Houston area I can take it to let me know.

I’m thinking of buying a tenor banjo for trad jazz I’m a complete music beginner (this will be my first instrument) and I have quite small hands. Would it be better to buy an in store 17 fret banjo to order a 19 fret online?

For me the most important thing is keeping up with the hobby rather than aiming to be a professional player

Any advice would be appreciated !!

Not a whole lot of versions out there of this piece bluegrass style. I'm still a little rough at some of the rolls in it. Let me know what you think.

Here same song just a little slower .

Hello. I was hoping someone in this community might be interested in, or have a suggestion for giving this banjo a home and a hopefully a second life. My father dabbled with learning and playing banjo in the late 60s. It has gone mostly untouched in the last 30 years. It stayed in it's case all that time so hopefully that protected it. He can't play anymore and we are having to clear out his home. He'd love to know it might be used and appreciated again.

I don't know how old it is, but I'd guess 50-60 years. Hopefully these pictures give you some sense of it's condition and if it is restorable. The strings make noise when plucked is about the extent of the information my knowledge of the banjo can offer. It feels pretty study. I think the piece on the back says Vega Banjo Company but it is hard to read.

Free to a good home if you would like to pay for the shipping or maybe we could split it. If you live in Maryland, DC or Northern Virginia in the US, perhaps we could even meet up to give it to you. Or if anyone knows a music school or banjo teacher that could use it, that'd be a great option as well. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or might be interested. Thanks!

I’ve just received a banjo as a birthday present.. I already play blues guitar and have wanted a banjo since childhood. Anywah all I want to know is are those finger picks REALLY necessary ? The banjo still sound pretty awesome without them in my opinion. I have seen people play with and without em, anyway what are your thoughts?

Working on cleaning up my right hand. Also if anyone has tips for getting a better sound out of hammer-ons please share.

Still learning to sing and play at the same time. Wrote the changed lyrics to Guy Clark’s song.

I have been working on timing. Still improving. Banjo in the Hollow

Stilk figuring it out cause there's no tabs or anything for it and is based on ear, guitar chords for the song in internet, and video

Been trying to learn “complete” songs and making my own arrangements. Starting with the chords, find all the melody notes, then improvise off those.

For my third song I’m working on Mole in the Ground. Researching the chords to start with I have found them to vary greatly from version to version but all versions still sound pretty similar. How is that possible?

I’ve always thought a chord progression was what really made a song and you could almost play any notes inside that progression to make the song, at least for backing. Is that not true?

Do the melody notes change too? I can sing the song in my head. How do I know what chords I am singing?

Obviously, I know I can learn any version I prefer but how the heck am I ever going to be able to play with other people when we might all have learn different versions of the same songs?

Worth noting that all versions appear to be in the key of C, so it’s not just a key issue. I understand how that works.