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The 4-String Plectrum Banjo Discussion Area

Hi All.

There are at least two kinds of 4-string banjos:

1.) The plectrum banjo (think "5-string banjo, but w/o the 5th string")

2.) The tenor banjo (which has a shorter neck, VSL and tuning).

This area is dedicated to discussions of the plectrum banjo.

Basically, the plectrum banjo is a 5-string banjo without the 5th string.

It is played using a plectrum (pick) instead of claw-hammer or other finger picking styles.

The scale length of a plectrum banjo is identical to a 5-stringer (ignoring the 5th string): 26 inches. Most have 22 frets.

Traditional (standard) tuning is CGBD, but alternative tunings exist, including DGBE (Chicago tuning) and GDAE (Celtic tuning).

Strings for a plectrum banjo are NOT the same as those for a tenor banjo. "Regular Light" string gauges for a plectrum banjo are typically .009, .011, .013, and .020W for strings 1 thru 4.

Here we loosely define plectrum banjos as any 4-stringer with a 26" VSL (scale length) and a twangy banjo sound regardless of what you are using for a sound box.

Here's a nice photo of a 4-String Cigar Box Banjo (CBB) built by Ben Kimbler:

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on April 21, 2011 at 5:03am

At 25.5" string scale and 4 strings i must have a Plectrum Banjo! love the sound, hope to record a song or three this year (-;

Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on April 21, 2011 at 12:41pm

Do you have a photo?

Permalink Reply by Thomas Smith on May 1, 2011 at 6:58am

My third build turned out to become a tenor cigar box banjo. I used the neck from an old Roy Smeck Harmony Tenor and a La Finca box. I was more experimenting and did not cut a sound hole and used a tenor bridge that I had. I an novice player/ builder, but this is one of my favorites.

Attachments:

029.JPG, 3.4 MB

Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on May 8, 2011 at 4:12am

Hi Steve.

Go ahead and try to build one. I have posted a photo of a Cigar Box Banjo for inspiration (see above). It has a build in drum head to help give it a banjo like sound. Let us know how it turns out. And don't be shy about asking questions.

-Rand.

Steve Trowbridge said: