In stringed instruments that have wooden tops, the top wood used and the tension built into it via thickness, bracing, arch (on arched top instruments such as a violin) is extremely important and it is very hard to change (if possible at all) after the instrument has been built. At Deering we use two different head... Changing your banjo strings is one of the easiest and best ways to bring the tone of your banjo back to life. This is my first Nechville--what an excellent instrument! To me, I heard the same thump. Sincerely, Ross Nickerson / 1-866-322-6567, ...you guys are great and i appreciate your rapid response and quick action in taking care of your customers needs. Great! A banjo head differs from an acoustic guitar top or other stringed instrument with a wooden top because the stiffness of it can be altered by tightening or loosening it. Once you know, BanjoTeacher.com went online in 2001 with a brand new Beginner Banjo Book and two books I wrote on Scruggs Style and Building Banjo Speed. More reviews. The bar is cut from a 12" piece of commonly The photo demonstrates its use with an 11" Renaissance head, 5/8" bridge, no down force from the tailpiece, and using medium steel strings. As for using the spacer, I found it better to set it in 4 special places on the head, I measure 4 areas' tension. Accurate and easy banjo head tension adjustments. More. Sort by. Banjo heads have the benefit that this can easily be changed by adjusting the tension bolts or by entirely changing the head. Banjo Head Tuning using a DrumDial. On most of our banjos at Deering we tighten the head to just above a G# pitch. Probably you can't tune the head to exactly G# with this method, but you could tell what note the head is closest to. Questions and answers to student questions and emails. Testimonials, reviews and comments from customers. It is the soundboard of your banjo. With lots of hard work along with the experience and knowledge gained playing and teaching banjo we have the expertise you need. Discusses multiple frequencies caused by the resonator, bridge and string combinations. Luckily, this is one of the easiest parts of banjo setup to take care of yourself. I had no idea what I was missing. The ruler & coin method might be a good approximation to get you in the ballpark, but doesn't take into account different break angles and string tensions (from differing string gauges). Click over to our banjo resources pages and see sample videos, video performances, more articles, hear MP3', banjo tablatures and our banjo teacher list for the US, Canada, UK, Europe and Australia. Covers both top and bottom head tuning. Learn how to set up your banjo tailpiece with the Deering Quality Control Manager, Chad Kopotic. Performance videos including El Cumbanchero, I'll Fly Away, Cherokee Shuffle, Cluck Old Hen, Little Martha and Ross Nickerson with X-Train. "That's definitely lower than an A!" We recommend a head pressure of 88 to 89 with the Analog Drum Dial readings and 90 to 91 with the Digital Drum Dial head tension meter. It's refreshing to deal with a person and company with such great customer service. Playing By Ear Banjo Workshops with Ross Nickerson, St Pete Beach Banjo Camp - Annual Ross Nickerson Banjo Workshop, Gold Tone CC Tenor 19 fret Tenor Banjo with Resonator, Doc Fossey Guitar for the 5-String Banjo Player, Deering Goodtime Special Banjo - Free Official Deering Hard Shell Case, Drum Dial - Analog - Tighten Banjo Head Drum Dial. Some traditional bluegrass banjoists like to go up to an A note. How to quickly tune a banjo head with a Drumdial, perfectly matching each lug point. Yes, there are a lot of variables that this technique does not address - even head tension all the way around comes to mind. I'm just talking about a good tension for my Cox banjo. Free Banjo Videos and Banjo Lessons from Banjo Master and Teacher, Ross Nickerson. Read reviews about our Banjo Books, DVDs, Banjo CDs, Banjo Lessons Online The Banjo Encyclopedia, Banjo Camps and Workshops Banjos on Sale , Banjo Accessories Customer Service and Customer Satisfaction. Most videos include descriptions too. Using A Straightedge & Coin To Check Banjo Head Tension . Newcomers should also realize that new heads stretch and they need re-tensioning several times before they stabilize. How tight should I tighten the banjo head is a question that comes up often? Covers both top and bottom head tuning. Contact-us. Since then I've written/recorded over 20 Banjo Books and Banjo DVDs , was the first to offer Banjo Lessons Online and have grown into a banjo store with over 1000 products. It will give the banjo a bright, crisp, and clear tone, without being overly harsh sounding. Once you know. Modern banjos have standard head sizes. rudy - Posted - 05/31/2018: 05:17:10. I found out that D'addari ... Hi Ross, I got my banjo and absolutely love it! The Drum Dial is the way to go for the most accurate and easy banjo head tension adjustments. Because of seasonal changes, a head on an older banjo may even need to be loosened. The most important part of this is to have even tension all the way around the head. The BanjoTeacher.com Banjo Teachers Directory is for both students and teachers. Vintage banjos on the other hand have head sizes that are all over the map. Students please use this free service to find a banjo teacher near you, banjo teachers please help me build the list! A banjo head differs from an acoustic guitar top or other stringed instrument with a wooden top because the stiffness of it can be altered by tightening or loosening it. Banjo Head Tuning using a DrumDial. Just recently, Deering sent out an email about "How to change a banjo head." The Drum Dial is the way to go for the most accurate and easy banjo head tension adjustments. The best head tension for my banjo seems to be somewhere in the 88-90 range; obviously this may differ banjo to banjo but its interesting that the "ideal" value for my 12" banjo is roughly similar to what worked for my 11" banjo. Annual Banjo Workshop weekend in Sunny St Pete Beach Florida! BASICS OF BANJO HEAD TENSION: The banjo head typically has a firm tension. The first critical adjustment in banjo setup is the head tension. BanjoTeachers submit your name to our Banjo Teacher List. My first reaction was "this is easier to p ... Hi Ross, I received my new Gold Tone Tenor banjo. We'll spend our mornings and late afternoons exploring the wildlife of South Africa, and the mid day will be filled with a banjo workshop that should be fun and rewarding. This is an annual Florida banjo event and held during the winter months for locals,winter residents and students who want to escape the cold while improving their banjo playing, and having fun doing it. Sort by. ...Thank you Ross for all of your help. It can also alter the playability of your banjo. It should be pretty easy to find when doing a search. One of the most important aspects of your banjo set up is the head tension. The Academy of Performance Arts with Ross NickersonBanjo camp seminar and group banjo lesson workshop in the USA for bluegrass 5-string banjo in Florida at sunny St Pete Beach. Sometimes if you have a tiny buzz on your banjo, the first thing you should check is your banjo head tension. This gives the banjo a very warm tone and is good for modern styles of playing similar to what Bela, Noam Pikelny, or Ryan Cavanaugh do. MODS: MAKE THIS A STICKY PLEASE. "That's definitely lower than an A!" I liked how the banjo "woke up" when I went to a penny compared to a quarter.