Want to know how to make a guitar sound like a banjo? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. All you need is your banjo, guitar tuner, and this handy guide.
We’ll teach you how to tune your banjo like a guitar, how to hold it like a guitar player, and how to master the right fingerings. You might be thinking that the best way to make your banjo sound like a guitar would be to play it like a guitar player. However, playing it like a banjo player will give you the best sound.
Who knew making something sound totally different could be so simple? Read on for all the details!
Related Article: How to make a guitar sound like a ukulele
Why You Might Want to do This
Do you want to play the banjo but don’t know how to get started? It might sound like a complicated instrument with many strings, but it’s actually easier than most people think!
There are no hard and fast rules for how to tune your guitar for banjo tuning. Just use your ear as a guide and listen for the notes that sound best.
How to Make a Guitar Sound Like a Banjo
Have you ever wanted to play the banjo, but don’t have the funds for a new instrument? Here’s how you can use your guitar to make it sound like a banjo.
We’ll need some string, a knob from an old washboard (or any other hard, flat surface), and a screwdriver. First, take the strings off of your guitar. Then put the knob on one of the tuning pegs, and tighten it with the screwdriver so that it stays in place. Make sure to cut off any excess protruding from the other side of the knobs with scissors or wire cutters.
Next, thread each string through one hole at a time and pull tight until you’re satisfied with its length. You may need to readjust each string if they are too long or too short. Now tie one end of every string together using a piece of strong adhesive tape or some unwaxed dental floss (again, cutting off any excess). Finally, find another hard, flat surface and place it over top of the knob while gently pulling back on all of the strings simultaneously until you hear that unforgettable banjo sound!
Where the String Comes from
The strings to make the banjo sound come from a reel of unwaxed dental floss. Simply cut off a length of string, thread it through one hole on the knob and then tie the ends together using a piece of adhesive tape or some unwaxed dental floss. You may need to readjust each string if they are too long or too short.
One of the most important things you will need to make a guitar sound like a banjo is string. Once you have your string, you can start putting it onto your guitar.
The best place to get string for this project is from an old washboard. This will give us the opportunity to use two strings at once, which is what we want for a banjo sound. To tie the string from the washboard together, you’ll need to remove any excess string, loop it over the knob and then tie it tightly with some strong adhesive tape or unwaxed dental floss (cutting off any excess).
Now, pick up one end of the knotted washboard and put it over one of your guitar tuning pegs. Then take hold of the other end and wrap it around the same tuning peg on the other side. You now have both sides looped over your tuning pegs – this gives you two strings at once! Now all that’s left to do is tune them just like normal guitar strings and play away!
Find a guitar tuner
Start by tuning your banjo like a guitar. You can find a tuner on the internet or at a local music store. If you don’t have one, try playing it with another instrument that’s in tune.
Tune your banjo like a guitar
On a standard guitar, the strings are tuned to E-A-D-G-B-E from lowest to highest.
To tune your banjo like a guitar, you’re going to need a guitar tuner. Tune all six of your strings (the first five are the same as on the guitar) to E-A-D-G-B-E.
Now that all of your strings are tuned like a guitar, it’s time to start playing!
Hold the banjo right
If you’re trying to make your banjo sound like a guitar, it’s important to hold it right. When you’re playing a guitar, the strings are usually tuned in fifths, but on a banjo they’re tuned in fourths. If you try to play your banjo like a guitar player, that means the strings will be tuned all over the place and it’ll be very hard for you to keep them in tune.
To make your banjo sound like a guitar more easily, hold it so that the headstock is pointed away from you, just like how guitar players do. You should also rest the neck on your left arm for stability.
Now that we’ve got your hand placement sorted out, let’s move on to tuning!
Learn the right fingerings
Banjo players often use different fingerings than guitarists. If you want your banjo to sound more like a guitar, practice the following fingerings.
– Place your left index finger on the second fret of the neck and press down.
– Place your thumb on the fifth fret and press down.
– Place your right index finger on the first fret of the neck and press down.
– Place your right middle finger in between the first and second frets on the neck and press down.
Practice, practice, practice
The simplest way to make your banjo sound like a guitar is to play it like a guitar. However, there are other ways to get the same effect. One way is to use your left hand as you would on a guitar. Playing with your right hand will give you the best sound, but you can still get the desired effect by using your left hand only. You’ll be muting some of the strings while strumming others, so pay close attention to which strings you’re muting and which ones you’re strumming.
Another way to make your banjo sound like a guitar is by tuning it like one! Obviously, playing an open D chord on each string at the fifth fret will not make for suitable banjo playing. But that doesn’t mean it’s not totally possible! The easiest way to tune your banjo in this style is through a guitar tuner app –there are plenty available online or on the App Store. That being said, if you want to tune it yourself, here’s what you need:
Plectrum (a flat object such as plastic card)
3mm hex wrench
2mm hex wrench
1/8” wide screwdriver
Wire snips or scissors
Knowledge of how much tension you need when tightening screws
How to make a guitar sound like a banjo FAQS
Tune your open G string to your banjo’s fifth string. Tune your second string to the open A on the banjo. Tune your third string to the 2nd fret on the banjo’s fourth or fifth strings. Tune your fourth string to the 3rd fret on the banjo’s sixth or fifth strings. Tune your fifth string to the 4th fret on the banjo’s sixth or fifth strings. Tune your sixth string to the 5th fret on the banjo’s fourth or fifth strings. Finally, tune your seventh string to the 6th fret on either of the two remaining available strings (banjo’s sixth or fifth).
Place both of your hands across from each other with all fingers in their appropriate places and flat against it so that you’re pressing down evenly across all areas of what would normally be a guitar neck for six frets. You’ll want your thumb and index finger touching at this point and should be holding onto whichever part of what would usually be a guitar neck is closest to them, which is usually just below where they are touching at this point.
The best way to play a song as if it were written for a guitar but performed on a banjo is by using alternate picking (picking alternating down and up strokes).
You can use a screwdriver or any other hard, flat surface. If you don’t have anything else, then you can just put some masking tape over the strings and attach the knob to that.
Conclusion
Tired of playing the same old guitar chords? Here’s the secret: if you know how to play guitar, you can make it sound like a banjo.
The strings on a guitar are tuned differently than on a banjo, which means that the chords you play on a guitar will be different than on a banjo. But there is a way to change the tuning on a guitar so it sounds like a banjo.
It’s not hard, but you’ll need to know what notes to play and when to play them. Follow these steps and your guitar will be playing “Dueling Banjos” in no time!If you’ve ever wanted to make a guitar sound like a banjo, you’re in luck. All it takes are a few simple steps and you can be playing your favorite bluegrass tunes in no time.
