Banjo_Pete - Posted - 11/26/2011:  16:36:22

I don't often change my banjo strings and I try my best to wipe them down after every session, so I haven't put on a new set for over a year.  I decided it was time to change them, so I took off the strings and ordered new ones. 

After receiving the strings and trying to put them on, I didn't think this would happen but I can't remember which direction to tune the pegs! I've looked for guides on this, but it's so simple no one really covers it. I own a Goodtime Openback with worm gear tuning.  When holding the banjo, do I turn the peg tuning buttons toward me to raise pitch, or away from me? Is this the same for all strings? I've heard counterclockwise on the 3, 4 and 5th strings and clockwise on the 1 and 2nd, but this doesn't help as they don't specify whether this is for the post or the pegs.  Needless to say I never expected to forget something so obvious, in the past I've always had a new set of strings ready right after removing the old ones.

Any help here would be appreciated, I've been playing banjo for five years but I'm still pretty inexperienced when it comes to changing strings.  I'm hoping to make it more of a habit now and not put it off for so long.

Oldpiper - Posted - 11/26/2011:  17:00:06

Either google 'restringing banjo" or go to YouTube and search for restringing a banjo. There are too many to mention so find the one that suits you best.

championofnorthhuron - Posted - 11/26/2011:  17:03:46

Just make sure the strings feed onto the pegs from the inside of the peghead... as pictured here. Then your knobs will turn the correct direction for tuning. As to the 5th string, the string should wrap over the top of the peg. 

S.S. Stewart UF

beegee - Posted - 11/26/2011:  17:07:04

You generally turn the D and B Clockwise if you are right-handed. The G and low D turn counter-clockwise. This looking directly at the peghead face.

Some guys like to have the buttons turn all the same direction, but generally we like to turn the 1st & 2nd away from us and the 3rd & 4th toward us.

A geard 5th will wor the same way as the 3rd & 4th.

Banjo_Pete - Posted - 11/26/2011:  17:43:15

So you're saying there's no right or wrong direction to tune the pegs, it's all based on personal preference?  If that's the case, what would you say is the standard direction of tuning the pegs on a five-string banjo?  To put it more simply, what method do most pros such as Earl use?

When people refer to clockwise or counterclockwise, are they referring to the posts on the peghead (that the string wraps around) or the tuning buttons? Because due to worm-gear tuning, if I turn my buttons clockwise the post turns counterclockwise. I'm also right-handed, if that helps.

Thanks everyone for all the help so far, I apologize for my naiveté in regards to this.

Edited by - Banjo_Pete on 11/26/2011 17:46:26

RB00 - Posted - 11/26/2011:  17:47:39

Champions photos are correct. Strung that way there is only one way to tune them up or down.  It also puts the stings in the right positions over the nut.

Edited by - RB00 on 11/26/2011 17:49:34

TxBubbaDog - Posted - 11/26/2011:  20:09:31

quote:

---

Originally posted by Banjo_Pete

So you're saying there's no right or wrong direction to tune the pegs, it's all based on personal preference?

---

No. Like Champion said, your strings should feed to the inside of the peg-head.

Here is a visual explanation...

The red lines show that if you feed the strings to the outside edge of the 3rd and 4th string tuner, the stings will hit the 1st and 4th string tuners. 

The white line shows the correct path.

Edited by - TxBubbaDog on 11/26/2011 20:10:53

beegee - Posted - 11/26/2011:  20:29:45

Like I said, there is a preferred way to do it(as pictured above), but I have known guys who like them to all turn the same direction. there are also guys who like to tie the strings in knots of some kind when they thread them through the eyes. I dunno...I guess it's easy to get confused if you have to think about turning them different directions. I even know a guy who has his strings numbered so he can remember which is which. Seriously.

All the banjo pros do it the right way. And clockwise and counter-clockwise are as viewed looking at the face of the peghead.

Edited by - beegee on 11/26/2011 20:38:08

Tinfoot - Posted - 11/26/2011:  21:09:16

Here is the link I go to to remind myself on re-stringing...

 

frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/...str3.html

How I think of it is that each string will go through the eye then "Inside" the peghead and under the string, then fold over the string and back all away around to the front of the eye again (from the other direction), and putting it once again through the eye (thus running the same direction with the first insertion).  This way, then on the 2nd /1st strings, tune up towards yourself.  On the 3rd / 4th strings, tune up away from yourself.

Now I can't say if this is the technically correct way of stringing - but it has worked for me so without any issues.  Just wish I knew how those nice, neat windings were made.  :T

Edited by - Tinfoot on 11/26/2011 21:14:02

Banjo_Pete - Posted - 11/26/2011:  23:09:03

Thanks a bunch for all the help and informative posts, guys! All this time I thought it had to do with which direction to turn the peg buttons, when I forgot the answer was keeping the strings on the peghead parallel and spaced from each other from the posts to the nut. I probably would have found this out myself had I started to twist the pegs, but I didn't want the strings to break if I needed to change direction.

The strings are now on, and I'm ready for some good time picking; thanks everyone!

beegee - Posted - 11/26/2011:  23:12:37

I love positive feedback...

BANJOJUDY - Posted - 12/04/2011:  10:16:11

Dan Levenson has a great video on youtube showing exactly how changing strings should be done.

Take a look here:

 

youtube.com/watch?v=5cL71WWicV0