Of all the questions we receive about banjos, what is the best beginner banjo has to be one of the most common. Find out now.
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It is a commonly held belief that the tone ring of a banjo is the heart or the basis of the sound of a banjo. The tone ring certainly has a major affect onwhy a banjo sounds the way it does. The character or specific type of sound of a banjo is most clearly created and defined by the tone ring. The wood in the rim and neck affect the color, or warmth or brightness of the sound, but the tone ring really determines the basic voice or character of the banjo.
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For a musician, the banjo offers acoustic power, super responsiveness to any kind of touch, brightness that can cut through the sound of an ensemble, warmth and richness to accompany voices and other instruments, and a tone character that is completely unique in the world of musical instruments. But how does all this happen?
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“The tone ring is the most important banjo part; the wood doesn’t make any difference!”
“Tone wood matters in guitars and violins…banjos are mechanical and wood has no effect.”
Statements like these are saying, “the quality of meat in the spaghetti sauce is the most important part: the quality of the tomatoes makes no difference.” So… does that mean green, un-ripe tomatoes, or rotten tomatoes don’t affect the sauce?
I think it’s fair to say they do. The wood used in a banjo has a profound effect on tone and response.
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