The orchestra is composed of string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments.

String instruments make up a large number of instruments typically found in the standard orchestra lineup.

Here are a few ones that are not typically found in an orchestra and why.

Banjo

A string instrument with a round body and a long neck is commonly used in folk, bluegrass, and country music. It is often played in smaller ensembles or as a solo instrument.

With its bright sound, it is percussive and distinctive. However, in an orchestral setting, the banjo’s volume and tonal characteristics may not blend well with the other instruments.

Orchestras typically aim for a balanced sound across the different sections. The banjo’s unique timbre might not easily fit into that landscape.

Although the banjo is not a typical instrument in orchestras, there have been instances where composers have included it in specific orchestral compositions.

This could be in more contemporary or crossover works that blend different musical styles.

Mandolin

The mandolin is a small, pear-shaped instrument with a fretted neck and typically four pairs of strings. It is commonly used in folk, bluegrass, and classical music.

The mandolin is played by plucking or strumming the strings with a pick. It is a relatively small instrument with limited volume and projection capabilities.

This is why it is not used in the orchestra. Orchestras typically consist of a large number of musicians playing a wide range of instruments.

The soft and delicate sound of the mandolin may not be projected well over the rest of the orchestra.

Ukulele

A small, four-stringed instrument with a sound resembling a classical guitar. It is commonly associated with Hawaiian music but is also used in various genres.

The ukulele is played by strumming or plucking the strings. The ukulele is a small instrument with relatively limited volume and projection capabilities.

Its soft and delicate sound may struggle to be heard over the larger and louder instruments.

Thus, it is commonly seen as more of a solo or accompanying instrument rather than part of an orchestral ensemble.

Dobro

This is also known as a resonator guitar. The dobro is a type of acoustic guitar with a metal resonator cone built into the body.

It is played horizontally and is often used in blues, bluegrass, and country music.

The dobro’s playing style often involves slide techniques, open tunings, and bluesy phrasing. This may not easily blend with the traditional orchestral sound.

Saxophone

Originally, saxophones were not in the orchestra. This was due to the belief that they did not integrate with the other instruments.

However, saxophones are now frequently used in contemporary compositions. Notably, the saxophone still has a selective usage in the orchestra.

The saxophone’s distinctive timbre and being a member of the woodwind family can be both an advantage and a challenge

Sitar

The sitar is a long-necked, stringed instrument with a gourd-shaped body. It has a unique sound and is used in classical Indian music.

The sitar is played by plucking the strings and using various techniques, including sliding and bending the strings.

It would not be easy to adapt the sitar’s playing style, tuning, and techniques to fit within an orchestral context.

This would require special arrangements or compositions specifically tailored for the instrument.

Bouzouki

A Greek string instrument with a long neck and a pear-shaped body.

It has either three or four pairs of metal strings and is played by plucking or strumming. The bouzouki is commonly used in Greek folk music.

Cittern

An instrument from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The cittern has a flat, pear-shaped body and wire strings.

It is played by plucking or strumming and was popular in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Electric and Bass Guitar

A modern variation of the guitar that uses electronic pickups to convert the vibration of its steel strings into electrical signals.

It is widely used in various genres such as rock, blues, jazz, and pop. The bass guitar is also similar in appearance to an electric guitar but with a longer neck and thicker strings.

It provides the low-end foundation in many genres of music, including rock, funk, jazz, and reggae.

Oud

A pear-shaped, fretless instrument commonly used in Middle Eastern and North African music. The oud has a deep, resonant sound and is played by plucking the strings with a pick or fingers.

There have been cross-cultural collaborations featuring the oud in Western orchestras or orchestral settings influenced by Middle Eastern music.

In such cases, the oud may be featured as a solo instrument. It may be used in ensemble settings that combine elements of these musical traditions.

Chapman Stick

The Chapman stick is a  unique instrument with a long fretboard and multiple strings. It is typically played by tapping or using a combination of tapping and strumming.

It is known for its versatility and is used in various genres, including progressive rock and jazz.

Chapman’s design and playing technique is distinct from the instruments typically found in traditional orchestras.

These are just a few examples of string instruments that are not typically found in the standard orchestra.

Each instrument brings its distinct sound and style to the music it is used in.

However, they are widely used in various musical genres and have their own unique characteristics and playing techniques.

Why Are These Instruments Not Played in the Orchestra?

The selection of instruments in an orchestra is based on various factors: historical tradition, musical requirements, and the specific sound palette desired by the composer.

While there is some flexibility in the choice of instruments, certain instruments may not be included in the standard orchestra.

Historical Tradition

The standard orchestra, as we know it today, has evolved over several centuries. Its instrumental line-up has been largely shaped by the classical music tradition.

Instruments like the violin, cello, flute, oboe, clarinet, trumpet, and timpani have a long-standing history in orchestral music.

Hence, they have become the foundation of the ensemble.

Musical Requirements

Orchestral compositions often have specific musical demands. This includes a wide range of tonal colors, dynamics, and textures.

The standard orchestra is designed to cover a broad spectrum of musical expression.

Therefore, the chosen instruments are selected to achieve this range effectively.

Other instruments, while valuable in their own right, may not offer the same versatility or blend with the existing ensemble.

Balance and Music Blending

Orchestral music relies on achieving a balanced and cohesive sound across different sections and instrumental families. The standard orchestra is carefully curated.

A combination of instruments that complement each other in terms of timbre, volume, and projection.

Adding new or unconventional instruments may disrupt the established balance and could make it challenging to achieve the desired blend.

Practical Considerations

The standard orchestra is already a sizable ensemble. Adding more instruments may present logistical challenges in terms of stage space, seating, and organization.

Additionally, including less common instruments would require additional resources for acquiring, maintaining, and rehearsing those instruments. This may not be feasible for all orchestras.

Occasionally, orchestras incorporate non-standard instruments or guest musicians to perform specific pieces or genres.

Composers may also write pieces that call for non-traditional instruments, expanding the possibilities of orchestral instrumentation.

Ultimately, the choice of instruments in an orchestra is determined by the musical needs and artistic vision of the composers.

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It’s no secret that string family instruments are some of the most popular out there. This goes for both absolute beginners and those who are looking to start playing a second instrument. And, most importantly, they seem to be really appealing to plenty of music lovers these days.

However, string instruments are a very wide category. In fact, they include plenty of different variants, most of which are the result of centuries-long development in many different parts of the world. This is exactly what we’ll be looking into in this brief guide. We’ll explore string instruments, put them into their main categories, and will share some of the most important and popular ones that are available today.

3 Main Types of String Family Instruments According to Playing Techniques

• Plucked string instruments
• Bowed string instruments
• Striking string instruments

Plucked (or Picked) String Instruments

Guitar

At this point, the guitar is probably the most popular stringed instrument. However, the instrument comes in a lot of forms these days, with the main division being acoustic and electric guitars. Nonetheless, all of them are based on the same principle. There’s the instrument’s body attached to a neck, with strings attached to the bridge on the body on one end, and tuning machines at the end of the neck, a component that’s referred to as the headstock. Of course, there are some other formations where tuners are located on the body and are fused with the bridge, but such guitars are not that widespread.

But all of them rely on the same principle. Strings are plucked, or picked. This can be done using only one’s fingers, or by implementing a plectrum, popularly known as a “guitar pick”. Meanwhile, the neck features a fretboard, which has metal frets on it. By pressing an individual string on a particular fret, the length of the string that vibrates is shortened, thus providing you with a higher pitch. This makes the guitar a good choice for both a leading and backing instrument. Harmonies can also be played “vertically” or “horizontally.”

The guitar, in its many forms, has found its way into pretty much any musical genre today. As for electric guitars, they are now capable of producing many different types of sounds due to the development of different effects units, as well as various types of amplifiers.

Banjo

In its essence, banjo also relies on the same basic principles as the guitar does. You have the body, the neck, you have a headstock at the end of the neck, you have a bridge on the body, and strings are also pressed on the fretboard like on the guitar.
However, there are a few other important distinctions on a banjo. Firstly, the body consists of a frame that has a thin membrane on top of it. The backside is, in almost all cases, completely open and lets the instrument resonate in its unique way.

Modern banjos can either have four or five strings. The one with five strings has a so-called “drone” string. In most cases, the bottom fifth string is the same gauge and tuning as the first string. But in pretty much all cases, the fifth string also only starts from the fifth fret, which is where its tuning machine is located as well. Four-string banjos are more of “traditional” instruments and are not as widespread as five-string ones. But they still rely on the same principles.

Banjo traces its roots in a few different instruments. However, the exact instruments are often part of many discussions. It is generally believed that these instruments all come from the Caribbean. Nonetheless, the development of the modern banjo was significantly helped by African-Americans during the first half of the 19th century.

Bass Guitar

Although often neglected by casual music listeners, the bass guitar is one of the essential instruments for pretty much any modern musical style. However, this is actually one of the youngest instruments. Whether it’s acoustic or electric version, bass guitar as we know it today didn’t actually exist since the 1950s. Sure, the concept was originally developed back in the 1930s by inventor Paul Tutmarc, who essentially created a plucked instrument that had the same tuning and covered the same frequencies as the acoustic double bass, plus it additionally had frets.

But it was Leo Fender who created a regular bass guitar with an electric guitar-like solid body and added conventional pickups to it. This horizontally-held instrument quickly replaced the double bass in all modern music by the time the mid-1950s came.

There were also other attempts at developing bass guitars by Fender at other companies. This involved regular 6-string guitars that were tuned an octave lower. However, their tone never really fit contemporary musical styles and they pretty much remain relics of the past.

Bass guitars are most often plucked by fingers, although it’s also not uncommon to see bass players use different types of plectrums. This depends on the tone that one’s trying to convey, as well as one player’s personal preferences.

Harp

The main thing that makes harps different compared to other plucked instruments on this list is that they don’t have necks. Additionally, each string has its own pitch, they are all placed at an angle to its soundboard, and the only way to change their individual pitch is to use levers or pedals. This makes real professional or semi-professional harps fairly expensive compared to other instruments.

The concept of harps is thousands of years old, although these were very simplified instruments, like lyre.

Mandolin

Just like the guitar, mandolin belongs to the lute family. Mandolins rely on the same principles, as these are string instruments with necks, bodies, and frets. However, what makes them really different is the fact that they come with string courses, which are essentially doubled strings, both tuned to the same note. Mandolins mostly come with 8 strings, with 4 courses of two strings.

Mandolin takes its roots in traditional Western European instruments. These include gittern, lute, and mandola. Among all the styles that developed Neapolitan and Lombardic ones are the most widespread. The Neapolitan one is what we mostly see these days. There are many sub-types of Neapolitan mandolin, but the most common ones are A-style and F-style ones.

Ukulele

Ukuleles resemble mini-sized guitars and bear only four strings, most commonly nylon ones. They take us all the way back to the second half of the 19th century. Ukuleles were developed in Hawaii, where they’re considered to be traditional instruments. However, they were developed from Portuguese guitar-like instruments, commonly known as “machetes.”

These days, ukulele is going through its revival and is becoming increasingly popular. This is mostly due to the instrument’s overall simplicity, making it easy to learn and perform on. There are many types of ukuleles, but the most common one is sporano with the G4, C4, E4, and A4 tuning.

Bowed String Instruments

Violin

Going over to bowed instruments, the violin is probably the most famous one from this group. The word, and thus the instrument concept, dates back to the second half of the 16th century. However, all bowed instruments are direct descendants of the Arabic instrument rebab. This eventually led to the Byzantine Lyra, and eventually the older concepts of the modern violin, which emerged in northern Italy during the 16th century.

Once again, we have an instrument with a body that has a resonant chamber, which is also attached to a neck. The very end of the neck contains a pegbox, which is where the tuning pegs are located. On the body, we have a bridge and a tailpiece with fine tuners. As the body resonates, the sound comes out the “F-shaped” sound holes on the front.

And, most importantly, violins are fretless instruments, just like pretty much all of the bowed instruments. There are some fretted versions, although they’re pretty rare. Electric violins with piezo pickups have also become widespread and are a much more practical solution for some modern bands that have violin players.

Viola

Viola also belongs to the violin family and is almost identical to the violin. However, it’s slightly bigger and comes with a lower pitch, which is why it’s sometimes referred to as the “alto voice” of this family of instruments. All of this also impacts the instrument’s overall timbre, making it sound just a bit “darker” compared to the violin. It’s most often used as an accompanying instrument. But other than that, the instrument is played the same way as a violin.

Cello

Another one from the violin family, the cello features four strings and is tuned exactly one octave below the viola. However, it’s a noticeably larger instrument and it’s played vertically while sitting down and holding the instrument between one’s legs.

The instrument’s name tells us a bit of its origin. “Cello” comes from the Italian word “violoncello” which literally translates to “little violone.” Violone is essentially a large bowed instrument, similar to the double bass, that was prominent during the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical eras of music.

It’s another example of a fretless instrument. And although usually serving a backing role, the cello can also be a lead instrument as well.

Double Bass (Bass, Contrabass)

Double bass, contrabass, or just bass, is the largest bowed instrument, as well as the lowest-pitched one. And just like the cello, it’s also derived from violones. It comes with four strings and is tuned the same way as the standard bass guitar.

Striking String Instruments

Piano

What many don’t know, or just forget to consider, is that the piano is also a string instrument. However, this is one of the “striking” string instruments, meaning that the sound is produced through hitting the strings. In the case of the piano, there’s a mechanism involving piano keys and hammers inside of the piano that hits the strings. The sound then resonates in the piano’s large body.

Others

Aeolian Harp

Although not exactly an instrument like others on the list, the aeolian harp produces sound using wind. It features a body and a sounding board, along with strings stretched between two bridges. This is also the only instrument that plays only the harmonic frequencies, making it sound really unique.

Hurdy-Gurdy

The Hurdy-gurdy is a medieval instrument that recently got more attention. But although a string instrument, it relies on completely different principles. There’s a hand-cranked rosined wheel that rubs against the strings. Then there’s a keyboard that helps you shorten the length of the strings, change their pitch, and produce melodies. However, hurdy-gurdy also comes with “drone” strings that produce fixed background notes. It’s a traditional folk instrument, but it found some experimental but interesting implementation in modern music as well.

Conclusion

String instruments still keep a very important place in the world of music today. In fact, we’d even argue that they’re at the very top. You’re actually hearing violins, cellos, guitars, and basses way more than you actually think. And in recent years, ukulele has been seeing a significant rise in popularity. If you decide to start playing a string instrument, you won’t regret it – there’s high chance you’ll find a band or orchestra to play in.

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Deciding to go down the path of becoming a musician opens up new horizons in one’s life. In most cases, people opt for one instrument, quite often the piano or keyboards, electric guitar, or drums. However, the real fun starts when you realize you can play more than just one instrument.

So if you’re a beginner or an intermediate guitar player, why don’t you try something like a banjo? After all, it’s way more fun than the boring old ukulele. But all the jokes aside, we thought that it would be a great idea to do some research and see if we can find out what’s the best beginner banjo out there.

Of course, singling out only one “best” banjo is not that easy. There are so many great banjos for beginners, so we compiled a list of those that we found to be the most interesting. There’s something for everyone’s tastes, as well as a few different price ranges.

But before we get into the list, we should do a brief guide that will help you know what to look for when buying a beginner banjo. If you’re already familiar with the basic concepts of this instrument, then feel free to scroll down to the list. At the end of this brief article, you’ll get all the info you need as a beginner and will hopefully be able to find the best banjo for your needs. So let’s get into it.

Beginner Banjo Buying Guide

Just like guitars, the banjo is a string instrument. However, there are some distinctive features and particular issues that one should be informed about if they’re just starting out. After all, the instrument has a very unique tone and its application is a bit narrowed down to some specific genres. These are some of the most important things you’ll need to take into account.

Number of Strings

Just like guitars or bass guitars, banjos also have versions with different numbers of strings. So this is where we divide banjos into two main groups or categories – 4-string and 5-string versions. Aside from different ranges that they cover, there are some differences in their practical application.

4-String Banjo

First off, 4-string banjos are what you’d usually see in traditional or traditional-inspired musical styles. This is the case with genres like Dixieland jazz or different types of folk and traditional music. For instance, Irish folk music is where you’ll see the 4-string banjo used a lot. What’s also important to note is that there are plectrum and tenor banjos in this category. The plectrum one is more common. There are a few other versions, including cello and bass banjos, but these are somewhat rare.

5-String Banjo

And then we have the 5-string banjo. This is the most common type you’ll find, and these are the models that we’ll be discussing in the main part of this guide. You’ll find it in all the different genres, from folk to jazz, even some experimental rock and metal music.

As far as tunings go, there are so many different approaches here. One of the common tunings you’ll see is the open G, which is essentially a G major chord. It goes G-D-G-B-D. The fifth string, which is the thickest one, is always shorter, with the tuning peg located at the instrument’s 5th fret.

There are also 6-string banjos that are becoming somewhat popular, and they feature the same tuning as the conventional guitar.

Open or Closed-back

Another thing to consider is the difference between the closed and open-back banjos. Closed-back banjos are also referred to as “resonator” banjos. These are pretty much similar in the overall design, but the difference is that the resonator (or closed-back) type has an additional wooden plate on the back.The main idea with such a design is to increase the instrument’s volume.

Open back banjos are the “classic” ones. They have no cover on the backside, making their tone a bit mellower. With no backplate, they’re noticeably lighter than the resonator types.

Resonator banjos often find use in bluegrass music, or any acoustic performance where banjos need to “compete” with the volume of other instruments.

With or Without a Pickup

Just like acoustic guitars and basses, banjos can come with or without internal pickups. Although somewhat similar to electric guitar pickups, these are specialized to pick up needed frequencies from banjo strings. You can either buy a banjo with a pickup, or buy it additionally and add it to the instrument with the help of a professional.

It’s a good idea to have a banjo with a pickup these days, as it makes it a lot easier to perform with bands. Alternative is to buy a dynamic mic and a mic preamp if you need to perform live through a PA system.

What You Also Need to Consider

With all this said, you’ll need to figure out what kind of music you’re planning to do. If it’s something experimental, like implementing banjos in classic rock or metal music, then you’re free to choose between traditional folk or modern banjos. But if you’re into a specific kind of music, then it’s the best idea to choose an appropriate type of banjos.

For instance, if you’re into Irish folk music, you can get a 4-string banjo. If you’re playing bluegrass or jazz, then get a standard 5-string one. But in most of the modern music settings, you’ll need a 5-string banjo, preferably a closed-back one.

Most Famous Banjo Brands

Just like with many other instruments, choosing the right brand is an important issue. Although banjo players might not be so defensive of their preferred brands compared to guitar players, it’s still something that should be discussed. Here are some of the famous banjo manufacturers you should know of.

Deering Banjo Company

Founded back in the mid-1970s, Deering Banjo Company still remains as one of the leading brands on the market. This is not a surprise as they’ve built their reputation for making reliable and great-sounding instruments. To this day, all Deering banjos are hand-made in the US.

You’ll find these banjos in the hands of professional musicians, including Winston Marshall of Mumford & Sons who even has his own signature model.

Website: DeeringBanjo

Gold Tone Music Group

Formed in 1993 under the name Gold Tone Banjo, the company now has many different banjo models for all price points and playing levels. They’re also known for their other instruments, including guitars, bass guitars, ukuleles, and mandolins. They’re known for their Gold Tone CC-50, which is quite popular among beginners and intermediate players.

Bela Fleck is one of the famous Gold Tone players and he has a few “hybrid” banjos made by this brand. These include different baritone banjos, banjitars, and cello banjos.

Website: GoldToneMusicGroup

Stelling

Stelling banjos go way back to the mid-20th century when Geoff Stelling started making his own instruments. The company officially opened up in 1974. Being an experienced player himself, it’s only obvious that he’s dedicated a lot of attention to making great instruments. Stelling also patented the special “pivot-pin” type of tailpiece, which is in use even to this day.

Website: StellingBanjo

Oscar Schmidt

Another brand that makes a variety of instruments, Oscar Schmidt are well-known for their guitars. However, banjos that they make deserve all the praise too. After all, they’ve been present on the market since the 1870s, making them one of the oldest instrument manufacturing companies at this point.

They have a decent collection of banjo models. The most famous one is OB5, which is quite a popular one among both beginner and somewhat experienced bluegrass musicians.

Website: OscarSchmidt

Recording King

Although not as old as Oscar Schmidt, Recording King is another American-based instrument-making company. Becoming famous in the 1930s and revived in the 2000s, they mostly focus on making acoustic guitars. However, banjos are an important part of their line of products as well.

And they have quite a lot of different banjo models to choose from. Aside from the standard 5-string modern ones, you can also find traditional 4-strings, and even banjos with pickups, which is pretty useful for live performances.

Website: RecordingKing

Top 6 Best Beginner Banjos Reviews

Now that we have some basics covered, we head on to the main part of the guide, which is the list of the best beginner banjos. But before we get into it, just bear in mind that this is our pick of what we considered to be a good choice for beginners. There are many other great brands and instruments to choose on the market. Nonetheless, if you’re a complete beginner or just a musician who’s new to banjos, you just can’t go wrong with any of these instruments listed below.

Best Overall: Deering Goodtime

It might not be the most budget-friendly option on the list, but Deering sure knows how to make great banjos. This is why we decided to include their Goodtime on the list. In case you’re really serious about becoming good at it, we advise that you go with this particular model. After all, it will serve you well past your beginner stages of playing.

Goodtime has a low-profile maple neck with 22 frets in total, that’s really easy to play. This is a resonator banjo, meaning that it has a closed back, resulting in a sharper and louder tone.

In addition, it’s very aesthetically pleasing. Aside from the great body design, we also have hardwood bowtie-looking inlays, a trait that makes it easily recognizable and memorable.

We would also recommend this banjo for anyone who’s just starting to play banjo but is already experienced with guitars or any other instrument.

Pros:

• Reliable
• Well-built
• Great tone
• Closed back

Cons:

• Might be a bit too expensive for some beginners

Best Tone: Oscar Schmidt OB5

Although Oscar Schmidt doesn’t have as many banjo models compared to some other manufacturers, they still dedicated a lot of attention to making great instruments. Their OB5 has become pretty much a standard model, both for beginners and more experienced players.

It’s noticeably cheaper compared to the aforementioned Deering Goodtime. Once again, we have a resonator banjo on our hands. Although it’s somewhat subjective, we would argue that OB5 stands out with its design. What’s more, the company did its best to round it up with beautiful-looking inlays.

The back is made from mahogany wood, which results in a specific type of tone, slightly reducing the attack yet still providing louder output. The neck here is made from nato wood, while the fingerboard is a standard rosewood one.

All in all, you’ll get a great value for the money if you decide on getting Oscar Schmidt’s OB5.

Pros:

• Great design and build quality
• Resonator (mahogany wood closed-back)
• Great value for the money

Cons:

• None for this particular price level

Best for Old School Music: Gold Tone CC-50

We’ve already explained the greatness of a company like Gold Tone Music Group that’s well-known for their quality instruments. Of course, they take a lot of pride in their CC-50 banjo. And they definitely should, as this is one of the best banjos for beginners or intermediate players that you can find.

However, you need to bear in mind that this is an open-back banjo. This, of course, does not make it worse in any way, but it might be a very specific choice. Nonetheless, we decided to include it on the list since it’s one of the best open-back beginner banjos that one can find on the market these days.

This old school-inspired instrument has a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard and a maple-made rim. It’s equipped with classic guitar-style tuning pegs, which makes it a little bit easier for beginners who are somewhat experienced with guitar.

Pros

• An excellent choice for beginners
• Good tone
• Open-back banjo which is great for folk and old school music

Cons

• Might not be versatile enough for more modern music
• Open back means less output volume

Best Design: Washburn B10

While Washburn are mostly known as electric and acoustic guitar manufacturers, they have a few other interesting things to offer. Such is the case with their banjos, especially the B10 model. This is a classic 5-string instrument with the standard resonator body. We have the mahogany resonator on our hands, with the gloss finish. This adds to the overall output volume of the instrument.

As far as the neck goes, it’s also made of mahogany and features a rosewood fingerboard with 22 frets. The design of the neck is rounded up with stylish pearl inlays. We also have die-cast tuners, which ensure reliable operation and stable tuning.

Overall, B10 is designed as a bluegrass banjo. However, we would argue that it’s capable of any particular setting, depending on your needs.

Pros

• Mahogany resonator with a glossy finish
• Die-cast tuners
• Reliable

Cons:

• Nothing in its price range

Best Beginner Banjo With a Pickup: Dean Backwoods 2

Another famous guitar brand on the list, Dean are one of the most popular brands among players of many different genres. So with this in mind, it’s only obvious that the company is capable of making great banjos as well. That’s why we included their Backwoods 2 here.

However, what makes it different is the fact that it features a pickup. It’s a DMT Design Humbucker, and you can just plug it into your rig or directly into any standard PA system.

It’s just a slightly larger instrument with a scale length of 26.5 inches. But what also makes it stand out is its unique design. While we’re mostly used to seeing white banjos, this one’s dark, making it look really unique.

This is a mahogany-body resonator banjo with a bolt-on mahogany neck. There’s a total of 21 frets on its black walnut fingerboard. To put it simply, this is one of the best choices for beginners who are looking to have an electric banjo.

Pros

• Unique design
• Features a DMT Design Humbucker
• Includes an armrest
• Great tone

Cons

• It could use 22 instead of just 21 frets

Best Budget Banjo: ADM 5-String Banjo

When trying to make the best beginner banjo list, we should always find a way to add at least one budget option. This is why we included ADM’s 5-string banjo. Yes, it’s somewhat of a “generic” brand, but it still provides surprisingly great tone and reliability for its price point. And it’s obviously a great solution for absolute beginners, even those who are just starting out on banjo as their first instrument.

It’s nothing really impressive, but it still has some nice features like an adjustable tailpiece, as well as a chrome-plated armrest. The body is maple, while the resonator back is a mahogany one. Overall this ADM banjo will provide you with enough of a good tone and reliable operation. It’s specially designed for beginners, but it’s also a good options for those who seek to buy a budget banjo.

Pros

• Affordable
• Great value for the money.

Cons

• Might not be a good option for those who need a reliable instrument in the long run

Conclusion

Before getting into the purchase, one should always think about doing enough research and figuring out what kind of instrument will suit their needs. This especially goes for any beginner out there. Even if you’re an experienced guitar player, you should always find ways to educate yourself on the matter if you’re planning to buy and start learning how to play a banjo.

Hopefully, this brief guide cleared things up to you and helped you find the best banjo for your needs. Now all you need to do is practice and get those banjo chops ready.

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