How You Can Easily Enhance Your Banjo-Playing Skill: Lesser-Known Tips and Tricks
The banjo is one singular instrument that has made its mark in our hearts and minds, and we can all thank the best banjo players for how they have made the instrument so popular. But the banjo stands out on its merit, and most everyone can quickly identify the clear tune of a banjo as soon as they hear it. But if you’d like to be more than a spectator or listener and are set on being a banjo player yourself, you may be at a loss as to how you can even perfect your skill. But there’s no need to give up – far from it. Here’s how you can easily enhance your banjo-playing skill with some lesser-known tips and tricks.
- If you want to enhance your skill, there’s no better way to do it than practicing. So practice as much as you can until you are genuinely comfortable with the instrument. Even the way you hold it will make a difference, and as a beginner in banjo, your first step is to learn how to hold it correctly.
- Be a doer and not just a watcher – it’s all well and good to go on the Internet and check out how-to videos and skilled banjo players, and in fact, this is one of the best things you can do, but once you’re done watching, it’s time to play, and that’s the only way you can truly improve.
- Try to focus on learning one skill first before moving on to the next one. Otherwise, you can become too distracted and will be juggling too many things at once.
- Here’s another tip: if you haven’t bought your banjo yet (or are thinking of purchasing another one), try to get it from a store that likes the instrument and knows all about it. This way, they can make sound recommendations, preferably based on experience as well.
- On a related note, when you go shopping, remember that your choice should be primarily based on the type of music you’d like to play (clawhammer style, etc.) along with your allotted budget. The good news is, there are plenty of banjos that are affordable nowadays, so even if you are on a budget or don’t want to spend too much, you can find one just for your needs.
- Remember that tuning your banjo is essential, and it’s something that you need to learn and be comfortable with from the beginning. You need to tune it properly when you decide to jam with others.
- The trick with banjo tuning is that it can be a little frustrating at the start – but make sure you listen carefully to compare pitches. You should also know that it takes some trial and error; this is a normal part of the process. So just stick with it, and you’ll get there in time.
- It’s also crucial to have a comfortable position while playing, whether you’re standing or sitting. One tip is not to raise the instrument’s neck in a position that’s too high, and you may want to invest in a strap.
- You may also want to begin with scales because the process can become a lot more enjoyable once you’ve mastered some scales, and it’s easier to find notes then.
