On the other hand, the four-string banjo didn’t emerge till the late nineteenth century, specifically in the ragtime and early jazz eras. History and Popularityįive-string banjos date back to the seventeenth century, and they showed in America after the arrival of enslaved Africans. Then, once you master the instrument, you can go for five-string and six-string banjos. For instance, you can start with tenor banjos. That said, both instruments are easier to play than the six-string banjo.īut if you’re asking, how many strings should I go for if I’m a beginner? Then I say you should start with four strings and go from there. So, if you decide to play bluegrass, you’ll take a longer time to master the instrument. The clawhammer style is famously easier than the bluegrass style. The playing style you choose also has a huge role in your progress. For instance, if you’re already a uke or a guitar player, you’ll learn either one faster than others who aren’t. The easiness of learning both instruments depends on many factors, so there’s no definite answer to the question of which one is easier to play. But you can tell the difference right away by spotting the fifth string on the five-stringed instrument, famously called the drone string or thumb string. Overall, the two instruments look similar with long necks and rounded sound chambers. However, the 5-string banjo has a shorter scale length that stops at 26 ¼ inches. The standard scale length for a 4-string banjo ranges from 26 to 28 inches.

It’s worth mentioning that the tuning you choose might slightly affect the sound of your instrument, whether you’re using a four-string, five-string, or six-string banjo. That’s why they’re often the favored instruments in bluegrass music. However, there’s a slight difference between the sound of a 4-string and a 5-string banjo.įour-string banjos produce brighter melodies with a vibrating undertone, while five-string banjos produce loud, softer sounds. That’s what gained them a reputable place in folk music and country music. SoundĪll banjos are characterized by their loud sounds and upbeat melodies. Finally, the tuning that you can use for both tenor banjos and plectrum banjos is called the Chicago tuning, and it consists of the following notes, D-G-B-E. The plectrum banjo’s most famous tuning is C-G-B-D, while the banjolele’s standard is G-C-E-A, like the ukelele. This tuning is a favorite for Irish musicians and is named after them. But when used in Irish music, it’s often tuned to G-D-A-E. For example, the tenor banjo is most commonly tuned to C-G-D-A, which is the standard tuning. On the other hand, each 4-string banjo type has its standard tuning. The standard tuning for a five-string banjo is the Open G tuning, and it consists of the notes, G-D-G-B-D. For instance, a 5-string banjo is tuned in fifths, while a 4-string banjo is tuned in fourths. Tuning a five-string banjo is very different from tuning a four-string banjo. It’s called this way because it sounds similar to the fiddle and is often used in traditional Irish music. The third type is the Irish tenor banjo, and it’s probably the most famous. The banjolele is a combination of the ukulele and the banjo, while the plectrum banjo is played with a flat pick and is mainly used in Dixieland music. The 4-string banjo, on the other hand, is available in three different types, banjolele, tenor banjo, and plectrum banjo. The 5-string banjo is considered the classic one that acts as a base for all the other types. Here’s a list of the most important ones. 5-String BanjoĪlthough they’re two types of the same instrument, there are a lot of differences between five-string and four-string banjos. Now, let’s dive into deeper details! The Battle of the Giants: 4-String vs.

On the other hand, the 5-string banjo is tuned in fifths and is often used in classical and folk music. Besides that, the 4-string banjo produces brighter and crispier sounds, is tuned in fourths, and is commonly used in Dixieland jazz and Celtic music. The main difference between the four-string and five-string banjos is the fifth string that only the latter has. But which one of them is easier to learn? And do they sound similar? I’ll tell you the answers and more in this 4-string vs. The two most famous banjos are the four-string and five-string, and they couldn’t be more different. But one thing is for sure the many types helped the musical instrument gain a wider fan base as they satisfied more tastes. When thinking about the banjo’s iconic fame in the musical world, it’s hard to know whether it’s because of the rich history, twangy melodies, or the variety of types.

Five stringed instrument