Introduction to Playing the Five String Banjo

Hi, I'm Abram Siegel, and this is a video on how to learn to play the five string banjo.

Understanding the Banjo

This is the banjo. That's the fifth string right there.

Key Components

There are some slight differences between different banjos, but they basically all have:

• Head
• Rim
• Neck
• Frets
• Nut
• Bridge

Proper Banjo Positioning

When you hold the banjo:

• You want to have it sitting right in the middle.
• Avoid setting it off to the side.

Using a Strap

It's usually a good idea to have a strap so you don't have to think about holding the banjo neck up with your left hand.

The Picks

There are two types of picks used when playing:

• Two metal finger picks
• One plastic thumb pick

How to Wear the Picks

• The thumb pick goes on like that.
• The finger picks go on opposite to your fingernails.

And there you have it!