Banjo strings are under constant tension, gradually losing tone and becoming flat until they need replacing. Therefore, regular string replacement should be undertaken for optimal playing experience.
Experimenting with different gauges is the key to finding a set that’s perfect for you. Lighter strings tend to be easier for beginners and produce brighter tones, while heavier sets offer deeper, warmer tones with stronger picking attacks.
Light
Most banjos from the factory will ship with light strings. This makes learning to play easier for beginners while giving a bright sound, making this the best choice for beginner players. Lighter gauge strings may also help when playing in bands as they have lower volume requirements or don’t sound quite right to you – being thinner than medium strings they produce lighter tones without as much depth of tone.
One way to experience what a light string set might feel and sound like is by de-tuning your current medium string set by roughly one third of a step (so, G will become F). This will give an approximate idea of what playing lighter string set might feel and sound like.
Though a light string set will still deliver a bright sound, there are other options that provide additional tonal depth and warmth in their tone. Coated strings will protect them from corrosion while lasting longer than standard nickel plated steel strings.
There are also various winding types you can select to customize both tone and durability of your banjo strings. Nickel plated steel will provide bright sounding strings with exceptional durability; other choices could include stainless steel which offers darker tones while offering increased resistance to corrosion; nylon strings may offer a more natural sound while still remaining durable, although many bluegrass players favor brighter tones.
Medium
Medium gauge banjo strings offer the optimal combination of ease-of-playing and tonal depth, often preferred by players who prefer more resistance on their strings (especially those who use heavy picking styles). Furthermore, medium gauge strings may help reduce feedback from amplified applications due to additional string tension that helps decrease feed back.
Winding material and number of wound strings (on a 4-string banjo) also play an important role in shaping its tone. Nickel plated steel strings are popularly used for bluegrass banjos; stainless steel has superior corrosion resistance. Hex-shaped wound strings tend to produce warmer tones while roundwound strings offer brighter tones.
Coated strings use a polymer coating on their wound strings to reduce corrosion and extend their life span, but some players feel this decreases the depth in tone offered by these strings.
Though it might be tempting to save money by using guitar strings on a banjo, their use should only be considered in emergencies (i.e. having an important gig in 10 minutes and your string has broken) or with prior approval from your instrument manufacturer. Strings that are too tight or too loose can damage the neck of your instrument, while using strings outside the tension range of a banjo can impair its tone and become irritating to play. New banjo players should experiment with several sets of strings until they find one that meets their desired gauge and construction preferences. As banjo strings tend to be relatively inexpensive, this shouldn’t prove too costly an undertaking; simply keeping notes of what works or doesn’t work can help narrow down your choices more quickly.
Heavy
As opposed to guitar strings, which offer multiple gauge options, banjo strings do not typically come labeled “heavy.” Instead, their designs tend to focus more on mid range frequencies while offering less bass response than lighter string sets – making them attractive choices for players using harder attacks on the strings who want to be heard without amplified sounds.
Some banjo string manufacturers provide multiple gauge versions of their sets to meet the preferences and playing styles of different players. They achieve this through using various levels of tungsten in their cores to vary string weight and tension; for instance, Corelli 370 strings offer various tension “versions”, achieved by altering their ratio of tungsten to copper in their cores.
Most players who enjoy bright tones tend to opt for lighter gauge string sets. These sets are easier to play and usually provide an even brightness across each string, while having a more noticeable “pop” when you pick one of them up.
Old timers tend to favor medium gauge string sets. Their soothing sound fits nicely with popular old-time banjo styles like open back clawhammer and minstrel banjo. Furthermore, this gauge helps them maintain brightness while adding some depth into their tone.
As is typically advised, it is highly advised that only banjo strings designed specifically for your instrument be used on it. Any attempt at using guitar strings on a banjo could cause irreparable damage due to different gauge requirements as well as most banjos having less wound strings than guitars.
Coated
Coated banjo strings can provide greater durability and longevity compared to their nickel-plated or stainless steel counterparts, though some players feel their coating lessens the depth in tone they offer.
While the alloy of wire used to construct strings may influence their tone color (how it sounds), if you trust your ears and try out different brands, you should find a set that sounds and feels right to you. Just like selecting pie from a bakery – each brand offers their own special flavor profile but all can taste equally great to people who enjoy them.
Apart from string gauge, it is also important to take into account what kind of sound and instrument you wish to produce. There may also be other factors which influence this decision, including your playing technique and maintenance practices for your instrument.
Jens Kruger and Larry McNeely, two professional banjoists who utilize light gauge strings, prefer medium gauge sets; Earl Scruggs started off playing heavy gauge strings, but gradually switched over to lighter sets later in his life. Your personal choice should dictate your string selection; keep in mind that fret length and instrument maintenance have more of an influence than material composition of strings when making this decision.
Nylon
Nylon banjo strings are similar to the acoustic guitar strings found in standard sets; the only differences are their lighter diameter and lack of steel core. Some players prefer nylon strings over traditional steel banjo strings; it is essential that you select an appropriate gauge string gauge.
Nylon strings produce a warm and more mellow sound than steel strings, not producing as much volume like wooden string banjos but still sound similar to gut strings often found on older banjos. Some players opt to use nylon strings on their banjo as it adds another tone or can be tuned without needing high tension tensions on each string.
When switching from heavier gauge strings to nylon strings, it is critical that the instrument can accommodate for the additional string tension created by their greater mass and gauge. Otherwise, neck breakage could occur, and tuning to a lower pitch than usual may help prevent over time sagging of strings.
Though not recommended as a standard practice, guitar strings may be necessary as an emergency solution (for instance if your band rehearsal starts in 10 minutes and one of your strings has broken) or as a temporary fix. Strings that are too heavy can cause your instrument to go out of tune over time as well as wear out its fretboard and string grooves over time. Guitar strings often differ from banjo strings in terms of material (copper or nickel plated steel vs flatwound wound strings), winding type (roundwound on wound vs flatwound) which may altering their tone significantly and should therefore not be done.