Dear RNM, You've done a really great job and explained everything perfectly! Thank you. I had to learn everything all by myself some 60 years back, and found myself doing exactly the same kind of things you have shown here, even using a small ring-spanner to check the vellum tension as you do, and there's nothing you have to say that I would even begin to quibble about. Today's banjo players are indeed a lucky bunch having people like you to show them the way! All the Best, BJ.
Your Video is absolutely the Best Banjo Set Up Tutorial on You Tube. Thank You so Very much for the education Sir. I can now Confidently maintain my Banjos and understand the Mechanics of the instruments. Godspeed, DanO'
Very useful and simple without any fancy tools (except the flouroanalysis-very funny, you got me on that one). I finally feel confident to set up my cheap banjo and make it playable. Thank you!
Much gratitude! I wanted to begin despite being spread thin financially. I found a vintage Korean no-name for $50 U.S. in a second hand store which seems to be exceeding any expectations with your help.
I'm about to put nylon strings on a banjo to replace the steel strings and this video helped give me confidence that I can make adjustments on my banjo, thank you!
Terrific, Ian. I can hardly wait to get my hands on my Cammeyer that is at the luthier's. We are using steel and gut as some had suggested. I appreciate all the concise and clear set up/tuning information you provided. Thanks so much!
No. Classic Style and earlier minstrel, clawhammer styles etc use either gut or modern day nylon strings. Most bluegrass players play on steel strings using finger picks. Classic Style Banjo is played with bare fingertips on nylon strings... We learn something new every day ;-)
I've been struggling to lean the 5 string banjo - there's no-one in my part of SW France who gives lessons - and in any event I doubt there's an English-speaking one. Your site is exactly what I've been looking for.. Looking to starting with you!
Excellent video! Very useful even for a clawhammer player... Thank you very much!! PS: what kind of armrest is that? Where can I buy it? Or is it self made? Do you have any detail pictures?
i just got a 6 string banjo. i play guitar...n still trying figure out how to tune...if i use electric tuner for guitar with strings will it work? if around drum is properly tightened?
You really do seem to be a reallyniceman - aged 58 11/16 I've just started learning the Banjo , preferring down-picking & sorely wishing that you lived down the road.
Thank you Ginny. I hope it helps some people. Good luck with the Cammeyer. I hope that you will post videos on the Classic-banjo.ning.com website! Those who don't like the video could perhaps post one of their own explaining how it "should" be done?
Hi, Will the Torque Wrench you show in your video fit the nuts on a Banjo? Why I ask is I have purchased three Drum Keys off Amazon in the past and none fit I find that most drum keys appear to be square but the nuts on my Banjo are hexagon. There is One for sale on Amazon which similar to the one you show, an Evans Torque Key but I notice that looks like it is a square fit and I do not want to purchase if it is not going to fit. Regards John
This is the best banjo set up video I’ve found. So much information and even more, thank you!
Dear RNM,
You've done a really great job and explained everything perfectly! Thank you. I had to learn everything all by myself some 60 years back, and found myself doing exactly the same kind of things you have shown here, even using a small ring-spanner to check the vellum tension as you do, and there's nothing you have to say that I would even begin to quibble about. Today's banjo players are indeed a lucky bunch having people like you to show them the way!
All the Best,
BJ.
I've been playing banjo for over four years and still managed to learn some things from this video. Thanks.
Your Video is absolutely the Best Banjo Set Up Tutorial on You Tube.
Thank You so Very much for the education Sir. I can now Confidently maintain my Banjos and understand the Mechanics of the instruments. Godspeed, DanO'
Very useful and simple without any fancy tools (except the flouroanalysis-very funny, you got me on that one). I finally feel confident to set up my cheap banjo and make it playable. Thank you!
Much gratitude! I wanted to begin despite being spread thin financially. I found a vintage Korean no-name for $50 U.S. in a second hand store which seems to be exceeding any expectations with your help.
I'm about to put nylon strings on a banjo to replace the steel strings and this video helped give me confidence that I can make adjustments on my banjo, thank you!
Len Adams
How does it sound with the nylon?
What a great teacher you are, thank you.
Terrific, Ian. I can hardly wait to get my hands on my Cammeyer that is at the luthier's. We are using steel and gut as some had suggested. I appreciate all the concise and clear set up/tuning information you provided. Thanks so much!
Excellent tutorial! Comprehensive and easy to understand.
Very straightforward and informative. Thank you.
Excellent video which has helped me enormously, thanks
really nicely done video, a friend of mine is just starting to play banjo so I'll have to show this to him
This video is brilliant! It contains everything I want to know :)
Very informative, and very well done. Bravo!
Really good instructional video. Precisely British.
You got me on the spectrum thing. I almost lost my mind. 😂
No. Classic Style and earlier minstrel, clawhammer styles etc use either gut or modern day nylon strings. Most bluegrass players play on steel strings using finger picks.
Classic Style Banjo is played with bare fingertips on nylon strings...
We learn something new every day ;-)
That was so helpful, thank you!!!
I've been struggling to lean the 5 string banjo - there's no-one in my part of SW France who gives lessons - and in any event I doubt there's an English-speaking one. Your site is exactly what I've been looking for.. Looking to starting with you!
Thank you very much for your excellent banjo setup tutorial video
wich was really helpful for me. : )
Lots of pretty inlays on these banjos.
thanks to u i figured it out!!!! ty so much
Thank you, that was very helpful.
Well done Sir! thanks!
Great Explanation , Thank you , Very Helplful
Great, great video!! Thanks.
Hi Julian,
The tune is "Pensacola" composed for banjo by Parke Hunter.
The score is available in the classic-banjo.ning.com MUSIC LIBRARY
Fantastic presentation...
Great video thanks
Great video, my drone string sounds a bit too much like an Indian sitar, not a buzz but a weird overtone. Any ideas?
Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Excellent video! Very useful even for a clawhammer player...
Thank you very much!!
PS: what kind of armrest is that? Where can I buy it? Or is it self made? Do you have any detail pictures?
Thank you
hi your a real pro at this
i just got a 6 string banjo. i play guitar...n still trying figure out how to tune...if i use electric tuner for guitar with strings will it work? if around drum is properly tightened?
Hello can you tell me about the banjo at 10 14 because I think its like the one I picked up at a junk shop
Hi , I’ve broke the top g sting guide just before the tuning peg have you any idea how I can replace it ? 🙏
Exellent.
You really do seem to be a reallyniceman - aged 58 11/16 I've just started learning the Banjo , preferring down-picking & sorely wishing that you lived down the road.
Hi Ian, whats the tune i can hear when this video opens?
Hi dear sir : i like the Indian song at 1,24 . Is the score for this available ?
F A N T A S T I C !
Ha! Then you gave me a double answer :) as long as I play the guitar with the picks, I'll play my Banjo with finger picks! Thanks a lot!!!
Its generally not called classic style here in the states its called open back style.
Open back set up is completely different than bluegrass set up.
Thank you Ginny. I hope it helps some people.
Good luck with the Cammeyer. I hope that you will post videos on the Classic-banjo.ning.com website!
Those who don't like the video could perhaps post one of their own explaining how it "should" be done?
I always thought that Banjo had steel strings! (?)
Hi,
Will the Torque Wrench you show in your video fit the nuts on a Banjo?
Why I ask is I have purchased three Drum Keys off Amazon in the past and none fit
I find that most drum keys appear to be square but the nuts on my Banjo are hexagon.
There is One for sale on Amazon which similar to the one you show, an Evans Torque Key but I notice that looks like it is a square fit and I do not want to purchase if it is not going to fit.
Regards
John
Problem solved!
surely you meant 'native american'