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The 8 Best beginner banjos of 2024

Are you trying to find beginner banjos among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!

We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling beginner banjos on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 10 hours of research and did 21 beginner banjos tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!

An overview of our top picks

Table of contents

The best beginner banjos you can buy today

No. 1
Vangoa 5 String Banjo 26 Inch, MINI Travel Banjo, Banjo Beginner Kit with Remo Head, Open Back & Closed Solid Back with beginner Kit, Comfortable Carrying Bag
  • ✔PORTABLE SIZE- 26-inch tenor banjo is perfect for music trips. It is light-weighted for taking out for parties, classes, etc. Mini banjo is easy to start which is quite suited for beginners and budget-friendly
  • ✔GREAT SOUND- Superior mahogany body has a solid, warm tone. Quality Alice steel strings deliver a more punchy sound. 12 durable chrome-plated brackets ensure even head panel tension to fusion melodious percussion timbres by gently beating on the head
  • ✔PERFECT ACTION- 3mm action at the 12th fret, is pretty comfortable to press down. Adjust the truss rod can better balance the tension caused by strings or climate change, set up perfect string height to meet different needs
  • ✔DURABLE MATERIAL- Mahogany body with beautiful wood grain is hard and not liable to warp or corrode, making the banjo durable. Anti-corrosion chrome-plated pegs stand the test of time and 15:1 ratios gear keeps the strings in tune
  • ✔ECONOMICAL KIT- It comes with everything you need to start, Carrying Bag, Tuner, Strap, Pick-up, Extra Strings, Picks, Allen Key and Bracket Wrench. Get beginner kits one-off at a cost-effective price. We offer an 18-month warranty & lifetime after-sales service. Buy it with confidence!
No. 2
Banjo Primer Book for Beginners Deluxe Edition with DVD and 2 Jam CDs
1,403 Consomer Reviews
Banjo Primer Book for Beginners Deluxe Edition with DVD and 2 Jam CDs
  • Geoff Hohwald (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 64 Pages - 03/09/2015 (Publication Date) - Watch & Learn, Inc. (Publisher)
No. 3
Absolute Beginners - Banjo: The Complete Picture Guide to Playing the Banjo
762 Consomer Reviews
Absolute Beginners - Banjo: The Complete Picture Guide to Playing the Banjo
  • Book/CD Pack
  • Pages: 44
  • Instrumentation: Banjo
  • Evans, Bill (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 40 Pages - 08/01/2006 (Publication Date) - Hal Leonard (Publisher)
No. 4
Ashthorpe 5-String Banjo - Full Size with 24 Brackets, Closed Back, Mahogany Resonator, Geared 5th Tuner, Padded Gig Bag
  • Traditional style: This 5-string banjo is perfect for any style of play with its guitar-style headstock and neck combined with a tambourine shaped body. Whether you’re playing mellow country tunes, folk, bluegrass, clawhammer-style, even rock, you’ll get a great response and sound from this right-handed banjo.
  • Remo head: This banjo kit is flawlessly designed with a Remo head, made by the world-renown Remo drum company. The crisp white, frosted head delivers bright sound and clarity. The head is secured with 24 chrome-plated brackets and resting on the Remo head is a beautiful 5/8" maple/ebony bridge for superior string vibration transfer.
  • High-quality craftsmanship: Ashthorpe's banjo features a mahogany neck and purpleheart fretboard with finely manicured, smooth seated frets. The body is crafted from mahogany with a high-gloss finish. The closed-back resonator can be easily removed, allowing this banjo to be played open back. Designed with a 5-ply maple and mahogany shell, a 5-ply maple rim, 15:1 ratio geared tuners with high-quality tuning pegs, an adjustable hinged tailpiece, and chrome-plated armrest.
  • Geared 5th tuner and adjustable truss rod: This 5-string banjo also includes a geared 5th string tuner, typically found on more expensive banjos. The geared 5th tuner is an upgrade over the common friction tuner, providing more accurate tuning and less slippage. The adjustable truss rod allows you to adjust the neck, ensuring it remains straight.
  • Banjo bundle kit includes: This banjo is safely stored inside a 15mm premium fabric padded “gig bag” guitar case with pocket, carry handle, and shoulder strap. Extra strings, a polishing cloth, and three celluloid picks are also included.
No. 5
Mulucky Banjolele 4 String Banjo Ukulele Concert Size 23 Inch, Closed Solid Wood Back, Beginner Kit with Truss Rod Gig Bag Tuner String Strap Picks - BU806
  • ♪【Portable Size】 - The 23 inch banjolele is perfect for musical travel. Lightweight, suitable for parties, courses, etc. The mini banjo is easy to use, very suitable for beginners, and economical
  • ♪ 【Polyester Drum Skin】 - The drumskin of Mulucky banjolele is made of polyester that has great elasticity to respond quickly, equipped with premium Aquila strings from Italy and a high-quality closed-gear tuner, this banjo not only delivers bright, punchy sound but is a well-tuned and well-kept.
  • ♪ 【Comfort in Hand】- The 3mm motion at the 12th fret is very comfortable when pressed. Adjusting the truss rod can better balance the tension caused by the strings or climate change, and set the perfect string height to meet different needs
  • ♪ 【Premium Sapele】- The Sapele xylophone body with beautiful wood grain is hard, not easy to warp or corrode, making the banjo durable. The anti-corrosion chrome-plated pegs can stand the test of time, and the 15:1 transmission ratio ensures string pitch
  • ♪ 【Warranty Service】 - We are a professional banjo uke supplier, committed to the spirit of music and supplying competitive instruments. If you have any dissatisfaction with this banjolele, please contact us for a full refund or a replacement it
No. 6
Ktaxon 5 String Banjo, Full-Size Left/Right Handed Banjo 5 String Set with Closed Solid Sapele Back & Premium Mahogany Neck & Polished Rich Wood Finish and Portable Bag (Left Hand)
  • 🪕FABULOUS SOUND: The bridge of 5 string banjo is made of maple, which has a more stable structure and makes the tone more layered. The tuner knob adopts the fully enclosed design for better airtightness and a better locking sound effect.
  • 🪕FANTASTIC HAND-FEELING: The two ends of the cupronickel fret of banjo kit for beginners adopt a special chamfering and grinding process, which makes the line smoother and the touch smoother. This banjo has no requirements on the user's experience and place of use.
  • 🪕PREMIUM MATERIAL: Made of high-quality imitation sheepskin, this top can withstand the temperature and humidity changes in different climates, which better maintains the tightness of the piano skin and emit a warmer and rounder sound.
  • 🪕PRETTERY APPEARANCE: This banjo strings 5 string set is composed of a premium mahogany neck and a Sapele body with a natural grain that is beautiful. The design of the headstock not only is elegant and noble but also the arc is smooth and integrated with its body.
  • 🪕EASY TO CARR: With dual adjustable shoulder straps and extra handles, this portable bag with padding supports you to carry as a backpack using the shoulder straps or take it directly in your hand with the side handle, protecting the instrument from unexpected scratches.
No. 7
Pyle 5 String Resonator Banjo - Full Size 24 Bracket, Geared 5th Tuner Professional Instrument w/ Remo Drum & Hardwood Back - Full Beginner Starter Kit Gig Bag, Tuner, Strings, Picks, Strap, tools
  • COMPLETE BANJO SET: Pyle brings you an all-in-one banjo set, everything you need to start playing. Comes w/ a gig bag, digital tuner, spare strings, 3 finger picks, cleaning cloth, detachable shoulder strap w/ hanger & wrench (to adjust the brackets)
  • PROFESSIONAL FULL SIZE : 38.6” instrument features a tunable 5-string banjo with 24 brackets and 22 frets, equipped with a classic traditional style binding design. Features a coated and polished rich wood finish with chrome-plated hardware/accents
  • HEAVY DUTY HARDWARE: This complete all-in-one standard acoustic banjo starter kit is equipped with a geared 5th string tuner and high quality remo drum head. It is handcrafted from sapele hardwood
  • ADJUSTABLE TRUSS ROD: Features adjustable truss rod & pearl color tuner pegs w/ additional 5th geared tuner side-peg. Adjust the truss rod can balance the tension caused by strings/climate change, set up perfect string height to meet different needs
  • SAPELE WOOD: Features a rich and polished Sapele wood resonator, high-density man-made wood fingerboard, and remo milky skin banjo top, it is designed to sound as good as it looks. Includes maplewood bridge stand and truss rod adjustment tool
No. 8
Mulucky 5 String Banjo Mini - 28 Inch Travel Banjo Sapele Body Closed Solid Back Beginner Kit With Gig Bag Picks Strings Strap - B806
  • ♪ Bright and Percussive Sound - The drumhead of Mulucky mini banjo is made of polyester that has great elasticity to respond quickly.
  • ♪ Easy to Learn - The 28-inch banjo with 5 strings offers a distinctive sound that most players can easily grasp. And the chrome-plated closed tuning pegs are easy to tune and hold
  • ♪ Beautiful Sound - 5 string banjo mini with geared 5th tuner brings the classic tones, 12 brackets ensure even head panel tension to fusion melodious percussion timbres by gently beating on the head
  • ♪ Complete Beginner Kit - 1 x Pick-up, 1 x Strap, 1 x Ruler, 1 x Wrench, 1 x Cleaning Cloth, 3 x Picks, 3 x Finger Picks, 5 x Spare Strings
  • ♪ Warranty Service - We are a professional banjo supplier, committed to the spirit of music and supplying competitive instruments. If you have any dissatisfaction with this banjo, please contact us for a full refund or a replacement banjo
SaleNo. 9
ADM 5 String Full Size Banjo Guitar Kit with Remo Drum Head and Geared 5th Tuner, 24 Bracket Beginner Banjoe Set Gift Package with Free Lessons & Starter Accessories for Adult Teenager, Large Size
  • ♫【HIGH-QUALITY REMO DRUM HEAD】Selected banjo panel will produce a sweet tone, ensuring clarity sound. Proper bridge setting can stay stable when fast fingerpicking
  • ♫【SUPERIOR MATERIAL】Black walnut fingerboard and bridge, sturdy and stable, make the sound more layered. Sapele sides and back have beautiful wood grain, hard and not liable to warp or corrode, making the banjo durable
  • ♫【ECONOMICAL KIT WITH FREE LESSONS】Our pack is constucted with bag, digital tuner(battery not included), strap, strings, picks, hanger and clearing cloth. You can get these accessories which is suited to beginner one-off at a cost-effective price. Meanwhile, you will also enjoy extra one-month lesson by contactng us when the item arrive
  • ♫【GEARED 5TH TUNER】It is important for both tuning and playability, bringing you the classic tones and perfect for country, folk, bluegrass and even some modern rock. And it is an important upgrade over the common friction tuner
  • ♫【THICKENED BAG for BETTER PROTECTING】An thicker bag will protect the banjo better, making it a great idea to take for traveling, camping, hiking, going to the beach. And also perfect for anyone who has always wanted to learn to play this iconic instrument
No. 10
Laminated Banjo Poster - Chords Rolls Fretboard Notes - Open G Tuning 11x17 Easy Beginner Instructional Chart by A New Song Music
  • 🪕 Great learning tool for beginning & intermediate banjo players. Hang on the wall wherever you practice for easy reference, instead of flipping through a book. This chart includes the notes of the banjo displayed on the fretboard, 5 basic right hand roll patterns and a chord chart for a standard G-Tuning. This information can be found in books, but rarely on one easy to read chart!
  • 🪧 LAMINATED 11" x 17" Instructional Guide
  • 🪕 Right Hand Roll Patterns - Forward, Reverse, Forward-Reverse, Backward, Alternating Thumb
  • 🎶 Note locations on the fingerboard
  • 🪕 Essential Chord Chart including the most used chord types: Major, Minor, and 7ths
No. 11
Kmise, 4, Banjolele Banjo Ukulele Concert Size 23 Inch, with Bag Tuner Strap Strings (Pickup Picks Ruler Wrench Bridge)
  • 1. The drum head of Kmise banjolele made of polyester with great elasticity has a quick response. Equipped with superior Aquila String from Italy and high quality closed geared tuners, this banjolele can not only produce a bright and percussive tone but also be in an accurate intonation and stay in tune well.
  • 2. Compared with other banjoleles, Kmise banjolele with action 3mm at the 12th fret is very comfortable for beginners to learn because players do not need to press too hard with such a low action. Preset with truss rod inside the neck, players can adjust the action with the wrench as needed. Smooth fretboard and neat fret wires also offer comfortable touch and protect hands from being scratched.
  • 3. Multifunctional strap with an adjustable length from 45.6'' to 66.1'' can release the pressure of the banjolele and set hands free to play. The strap equips with two hooks can allow players not to drill a hole on the banjolele but fasten the hook on the metal frame and tie the leather belt on either headstock or strap lock.
  • 4. Kmise banjolele has various playing methods. It can be in a traditional resonator style or an open back style by detaching its back. Traditional resonator style produces a mellower, softer sound while the open back style has a brighter sound. The package also comes with a piezo pickup that can connect the recording equipment for stage performance, which makes Kmise banjolele a super playable and multifunctional musical instrument.
  • 5. Kmise responsible for every item we sold and do our best to offer the best shopping experience, feel free to contact us once your product has any problem.
No. 12
Donner Banjolele 4 String Banjo Ukulele kit Stringed Musical Instruments for Adult Beginner with Banjo Tuners, Gig Bag, Picks, Skeleton 23 Inch Sapele
  • 4 Sting Banjo Uke---Donner banjolele is a four-stringed musical instrument with a small banjo-type body and a fretted ukulele neck. Combining banjo's distinctive tone with ukulele's standard tuning of G-C-E-A and playing style.
  • Quality Material Banjolele - the body of Donner banjo uke is made of sapele, enabling it to produce a mellow, and soft sound. Made by maple and hardwood, the bridge is hard enough to prevent the strings cut into the bridge.
  • Resonator Guitar Banjolele - Donner banjo is resonator banjo with the great drumhead which is from the professional drumhead supplier - Remo, contributing to a warm, full and clear tone.
  • Best Beginner Guitar Banjo - innovative use of finger plates inlaid with muscovite to help beginners quickly find the appropriate position and the board points are very clear, and there will be no reflection under the light.
  • Full size Banjo Kit for Beginners Kids -All accessories,including banjo picks, gig bag,tunner, ruler and truss rod,are suitable for banjo Beginner.
No. 13
Beginner Banjo Lessons
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Geoff Hohwald (Actor)
  • --- (Director) - Geoff Hohwald (Writer)
  • English (Playback Language)
  • English (Subtitle)
No. 14
How To Play Banjo – A Complete Guide for Absolute Beginners
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Parker, Ben (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 44 Pages - 10/31/2013 (Publication Date) - Kyle Craig Publishing Ltd. (Publisher)
No. 15
How To Play Banjo For Beginners - Learn Bluegrass Banjo Lessons Tuning, Chords and Classic Songs on Your 5 String Banjo with this Instructional DVD.
  • Titles - Auld Lang Syne, Deck the Halls, The First Noel, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bells, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night
  • Avram Siegel (Actor)
  • Music Star Productions (Director)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
No. 17
Banjo Chord Chart Cheatsheet for Beginner Adult or Kid, 8'' x 11'' Banjo Chords Card with Easy Chords, Circle of Fifths, Fretboard Note Reference Guide, Great Learning Aid for Acoustic Electric Banjo
  • Perfect for beginners: Our Banjo Chords Chart is an essential tool for anyone just starting out with the banjo, providing clear and easy-to-follow finger placement diagrams for all the chords you'll need.
  • Comprehensive and practical: With detailed chord diagrams for major, minor, and 7th chords, as well as the circle of fifths and fretboard notes, our Banjo Chords Chart is a complete reference guide and teaching aid.
  • Easy-to-use design: Our Banjo Chords Chart has a user-friendly design that's perfect for adults and kids alike, making it an ideal learning tool for anyone looking to master the banjo.
  • Convenient and portable: Measuring 8 x 11 inches and with a durable 1mm thickness, our Banjo Chords Chart is suitable for music folders and sheet music stands, and can also be carried in a banjo bag for use on the go.
  • A must-have accessory: Whether you're taking banjo lessons or just looking for a handy reference guide and cheat sheet, our Banjo Chords Chart is an essential accessory for any banjo player looking to improve their skills and knowledge.
No. 18
Banjo for Beginners: An Easy Beginning Method
  • Manufactured to the Highest Quality Available.
  • With True Enhanced Performance.
  • Latest Technical Development.
  • Trischka, Tony (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 48 Pages - 08/01/2001 (Publication Date) - Alfred Music (Publisher)
No. 19
Five-String Banjo For Beginners by Happy Traum [VHS]
  • Traum, Happy (Actor)
  • Audience Rating: Unrated (Not Rated)
No. 20
First 15 Lessons - Banjo: A Beginner's Guide, Featuring Step-By-Step Lessons with Audio, Video, and Bluegrass Songs!
  • Book/Online Media
  • Pages: 32
  • Instrumentation: Banjo
  • Benson, Kristin Scott (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 32 Pages - 06/01/2018 (Publication Date) - Hal Leonard (Publisher)

How to choose a good beginner banjos

Does the idea of finding a fantastic beginner banjos make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!

Your presence here indicates that you are interested in beginner banjos. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top beginner banjos products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?

First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top beginner banjos on the market right now!

The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:

Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top beginner banjos brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.

Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top beginner banjos based on those.

Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.

Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.

Customer ratings:  Would it be accurate to suggest that the beginner banjos were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.

Customer Reviews: Like ratings,  provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.

Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good beginner banjos, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.

Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your beginner banjos.

Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting beginner banjos for months and years to come.

Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.

Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.

These are the standards by which we selected our beginner banjos. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.

Why should you believe us?

There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what beginner banjos should you purchase in 2022?

This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on beginner banjos.