Banjo resonators help the instrument stand out in a band so audiences can hear your virtuosic solos clearly. Attached using thumbscrews, they are easily removable if you wish to switch from open-back banjo playing.
Resonator banjos are frequently seen being played in bluegrass music, though they can also be used for various genres and performances. Mike Aldridge was an renowned square neck resonator player before his passing away.
Sound
Resonator banjos may offer louder and brighter sound, while open-back instruments have quieter and warmer tones that some players might prefer. When choosing between them, one should base his/her decision primarily on what style of music one intends to play.
Resonators are wooden circles with raised edges attached to the banjo’s rim and head that surround its sound hole, usually made of hard woods like rock maple or mahogany; softwood resonators such as ash or cherry tend to produce brighter tones than their hardwood counterparts.
Resonators produce sound as the result of interactions between sound waves and their baffles in the resonator, and when soundwaves hit it they bounce around inside until they exit through its center hole and create sound through resonance with banjo strings. A soundhole in a resonator acts like an effective microphone by focusing and amplifying banjo sounds produced.
As opposed to other stringed instruments, the banjo does not feature much sustain when played; its strings vibrate quickly and produce numerous short-lived sound waves instead. A resonator helps prolong these sounds so they can be better heard by listeners.
Resonators help the banjo to break through an array of other sounds, which is particularly crucial in bluegrass music which draws its inspiration from jazz by using melodic leads followed by solos played by other musicians. Without one, a banjo’s sound would likely get lost among fiddles, guitars, and bass instruments in a band of musicians playing fiddles, guitars, and bass instruments.
Some banjoists use simple mutes attached to their bridge in order to increase sustain and soften the sound of their instrument. A resonator may also help minimize noise created when playing by moving strings along their strings as you do so.
Styles
Resonators made from different wood types will alter its sound. Resonators usually attach to the rim and head of a banjo’s neck and can come in various styles and wood varieties; removable versions allow players to play without them while others permanently attached can create distinctive tones when played together. Resonators can be constructed out of aluminum, brass and copper materials – each having different sonic capabilities.
Resonators tend to be heavier than the flange and rim of a banjo, adding weight that affects its tone and timbre. Heavier resonators sound closer to that of a guitar than an open-back banjo.
Resonators vary in terms of sound depending on the style of playing chosen by their owner, for instance bluegrass and jazz music tends to produce brighter sounds when using them, while when used for clawhammer or old time music they produce louder tones than an open-back banjo.
Resonators may be recommended as part of clawhammer playing, but are certainly not mandatory. Many accomplished clawhammer players from yesteryear through today have chosen resonator banjos instead, such as Wade Ward, Ralph Stanley, Grandpa Jones and Stringbean.
Resonators alter the sound of banjos without increasing difficulty to play them, differing between an open-back and resonator banjo in terms of how much sound waves are absorbed by player bodies and body. With a resonator installed, some of these sound waves that would otherwise absorb into players are instead reflected back through flanges and sound holes to the audience for enjoyment.
Resonators alter the sound of banjos by adding higher overtones that would otherwise not be present, creating complex chords and melodies in certain genres, while being undesirable for old-time or clawhammer music which seeks to produce more nuanced, gentle sounds. Furthermore, these higher overtones may become distracting to audiences unfamiliar with such music genres.
Materials
Resonators typically consist of wood such as rock maple or mahogany. Each species of wood provides different sound qualities, which ultimately determine the overall tone of a banjo. Resonator shapes also play an integral part in sound quality: some are round while others feature more angular profiles that focus sound waves into the center of an instrument to produce fuller and richer sounds. Resonator sizes range from small to large depending on whether it will be fitted onto either its rim or head of an instrument.
Resonator flange and sound hole components are usually constructed of metal or another hard material. Removable resonators allow players to switch between open-back and resonator-equipped banjos as necessary; using just a single screw post, removal and installation are simple procedures requiring no tools at all.
Acoustic Instrument Trends
With the growing interest in unplugged performances and authentic and organic sound experiences, more musicians are seeking banjos equipped with resonators as they seek authentic sound experiences. Advancements in pickup systems, preamps, signal processing technologies expand players’ tonal palettes and capabilities further encouraging experimentation with various acoustic banjo resonators to achieve desired sounds or performance effects.
Resonators play an essential role in sound physics, converting string vibration to audible sound energy that is then transmitted out into space as vibrational energy. There have been various scientific investigations of banjos with resonators; some examples can be seen below.
Installation
Resonators are circular wooden pieces with raised edges attached to the banjo’s rim and head that create an internal sound chamber for its strings to resonate in, producing fuller tones from string vibrations. Resonators typically come in matching wood species as the neck itself; sound can vary based on species composition as well as thickness.
Resonators also help absorb high frequencies that could make the banjo sound glassy or harsh, giving players greater control of tone and pitch. Furthermore, these removable resonators allow those who prefer open-back sounds to take advantage of playing without them.
Resonator banjos may provide certain advantages; however, your decision should depend on what style of music you plan to play. If unsure, visit a music store and test both kinds. It’s simple enough to switch between resonator and open back banjos depending on what style of music is being performed – many professional players possess both types as they offer maximum versatility.
Installing a resonator requires first unhooking armrest hooks and setting the flange on the banjo so its notch faces toward tailpiece side of instrument; at this stage only finger tight hex nuts should be tightened on both ends of resonator.