Check out the great selection of 5 string banjos you'll find by browsing through our site. If you're looking for a banjo in an Irish or Dixieland/Jazz setting, you might want to check out some 4-string banjos.
5 string banjos are perfect for Bluegrass, and are a great instrument to learn on if you are a beginner. However, the 5 string also is versatile enough to be used in many other styles including ragtime, jazz, classical or even rock. The 5th (drone) string is what gives a 5-string banjo it's characteristic sound. They are almost always played with fingerpicks.
There are 2 types of 5-string banjos:
1. The Open-Back, which is commonly recognized as the traditional Appalachian banjo. The thumb is used to hit the 5th (drone) string, and the back of the nails are used in a strum fashion in the downward motion. This is the popular clawhammer or frailing style.
2. The Resonator, which is commonly recognized as the traditional Bluegrass banjo. These are most often played with fingerpicks and are likely the most popular banjos being constructed today.
