5 Best Beginner Banjos in 2024 (reviews)

A banjo is an awesome instrument that anyone can play freely, with the lovely country vibe that sweetens the spirit.

So if you’re looking for one to start playing, then it’s time to find the best banjos for beginners! Read on as I show you an informative purchasing guide and my top choices.

Here are our top picks for the best beginner banjos in 2024

• Jameson Guitars 5-String Banjo
• Resolute 5-String Resonator Banjo
• Kmise Concert-Sized Banjo
• Pyle 5-String Geared Tunable Banjo
• ADM 5-String Banjo

Jameson Guitars 5-String Banjo

What I love most about Jameson’s 5-String Banjo is that it’s simple but very sturdy. It only comes with the banjo itself, though it’s totally worth the investment given the sounds it produces and the classic look it has.

This banjo is very easy to learn from, exceeding expectations and almost having the similar feel to other more expensive versions. It also looks to be well-made and durable, holding up for many hours of playing daily! All in all, an awesome purchase that you’ll enjoy jamming with.

• Great quality and built to last for many sessions
• Good frets and straight neck for better playability
• Quality sound with good tunes as you play

• Doesn’t come with the carrying bag (optional)
• It’s difficult to put the resonator back

 

Resolute 5-String Resonator Banjo

The Rogue Learn-the-Mandolin Package is the ultimate beginner mandolin because of the complete accessories it comes with. This is an affordable starter set that includes two beginner books, a gig bag, and the mandolin itself. I like these two books as it’s easy to follow and I enjoy learning it.

The mandolin itself is made of exceptional quality for its price. It looks great and sounds beautiful once you have it tuned right.

• Nice
• Glossy finish and durable construction
• Doesn’t look cheap
• It has two easy-to-learn mandolin books for beginners
• Comes at an affordable price with a good starter set

• Doesn’t come with a tuner and needs one upon receiving
• It may sound a bit twangy for some

 

Kmise Concert-Sized Banjo

The Kmise Concert-Sized Banjo is great for both practicing and performing. It comes with everything you need to get started, from the picks, casing, strap, tuning pegs, oil, and even the tuner! Everything works amazingly, especially the instrument itself.

This mandolin has a smooth fingerboard and neat fret wire, which is comfortable to use and easy to play with. I love this banjo for its durable quality and intonation for its price tag! With its affordable price and complete package, I believe it to be a good starter banjo for beginners to have an easier time learning.

• Complete accessories
• Including a tuner and tools
• Good sound for its price
• Has a bright and loud tune
• Great intonation and action

• Tuning may take a long time
• Need to replace strings to get the best tone

 

Pyle 5-String Geared Tunable Banjo

The Pyle 5-String Banjo is simply made with the premium quality that makes it worth the long-term investment. It’s lightweight and ha the rich wood and a high-gloss finish, which looks and feels like it’s more expensive! Also, it offers the cool tone with strong, clear sounds that make it playable for any music genre.

There is some assembly required upon receiving the banjo, but after that, it’s alls booth sailing from there. It’s not the most perfect, but exceeds expectations for a beginner banjo.

• Glossy finish and rich wood quality
• Clear and strong sound when playing
• Easy and comfortable to play with
• Not too tough on the fingers

• Requires setup upon receiving
• Some complaints of a slight gap between frets

 

ADM 5-String Banjo

The ADM Banjo is made with 24 brackets, a chrome-plated armrest, an adjustable-hinged tailpiece, and a maple bridge. It also has a complete package, including picks, a bag, tuner, and an extra set of strings for beginners to enjoy without spending too much.

You’re able to start playing it upon receiving, having fun with how comfortable and easy it is to use. It provides the learning curve and has adequate sound, with a good setup made for beginners.

• Can be used straight out of the box
• The very nice sound that can play match music genres
• Strings aren’t hard to press down

• Picks may be too small for men
• Some complaints of not receiving all accessories as advertised

 

How to Choose the Best Beginner Banjo

Wondering how to choose a beginner banjo? Here are the crucial factors and tips to get you started:

Quality and Make

There are a lot of parts that make a banjo high or low-quality. You have to make sure that you understand how the banjo is made and what it consists of so you know how it should feel and sound according to what you need.

This video will give you tips on picking the best banjo for you.

For starters, the head and bridge are important parts which influences its tone, with calfskin providing the mellow sound.

The Hub gives us a really good example as to checking construction quality of a banjo. The neck and fingerboard are usually made of maple, which allows adjustments to intonation and adjusts the way sound is projected.

Understanding Its Construction

Here are short steps in assessing bamboo quality:

• Test its action through pressing down each string on the fingerboard, making contact with frets easily without it hurting.
• Strum and pluck the strings. It should have the clear and pleasant sound with a tone ring without much buzz.
• The tuners should have the smooth operation with enclosed mechanisms.
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What is the Best Banjo for Beginners?

After our intensive research, the best beginner banjo will have to go to Jameson Guitars 5-String Resonator Banjo. While it comes with just the banjo alone, you can choose to have it with a gig bag for a small price.

However, its lack of a complete beginner’s package still makes it worth the investment because of the brand it comes from, creating the amazing sound with excellent value.

I hope this article on the best banjos for beginners helped you out. So don’t wait any longer and check out any of these reviews now. If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences with these instruments, then comment below.