Posted by kb2dhg on Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Hi All,
My Banjo, started sounding a bit ringy / tinny on the 3rd string lately,
I tried to tune it but according to my electronic tuner it is spot on... I started noticing this about a week now... Any ideas as to how to cure this?
13 comments on “Banjo occuring tuning problem?”
kevinwholmes Says:
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @5:14:38 AM
Did you put new strings on lately? Maybe it's just an old string.
There can be a number of causes for a ringy/tinny sound (I assume you don't mean buzz). I've found that it's usually either poor string fit at the nut or bridge, or some extraneous material touching the string (like a long loose end), or a bad string. Try pressing gently on the string just below or even on the nut (maybe with your fingernail) when you pluck the open string. If the undesired sound goes away the problem is at the nut. Do the same thing at the bridge (both sides). Sound gone, bridge problem (is the bridge facing the correct direction? If there is a name stamped on it, it should face toward the neck). Also make sure the bridge is not leaning; over time and mutiple tunings, the bridge can lean, usually toward the neck.
kb2dhg Says:
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @5:48:35 AM
OK THANKS! YES if I touch the string the noise goes away. NO the strings are original to the Banjo. I only have the banjo 2 months... I will look at the causes you mentioned then see if that works. Thank you very much!
kevinwholmes Says:
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @6:06:44 AM
There can be all kinds of fixes, some simple, some radical like refiling the nut (probably not necessary if this banjo is only a couple of months old). I hope some other people can suggest fixes. Someone else recently reported your same problem and someone suggested loosening the offending string and slipping a small piece of paper under the string at the nut, retightening the string and trimming away the excess paper. The person reporting the problem said this fixed it. That was a new one on me. You could try that. Try re-adjusting the bridge. Sometimes that fixes it (be careful not to mess up the tuning). If that doesn't work, I think I might try changing the strings (they're cheap enough), starting with the offending string. I use medium guage strings on the one banjo I have that has steel strings.
kevinwholmes Says:
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 @6:29:40 AM
Lou, there's one VERY simple thing that can cause this noise that I didn't think of because people ususally figure this one out on there own, but it could be due to something you are wearing. I've had the cuff button on a long sleve shirt cause this noise (on my mandolin too), and it's usually on the lower strings. Jewelry, like a watch can cause this too.
kb2dhg Says:
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @12:02:20 PM
Thanks, I got most of it out just by loosing the string and re-tuning it? I will see how it sounds again tonught. BUT i think a better quality string set is in order?
kevinwholmes Says:
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @12:38:25 PM
Could be. Sounds like there may have been some crud under the string at the nut. If your strings are not old, you're probably OK with the ones you have, although some people are fanatics about it and change them every week or two. I've heard that some professionals put on new strings for each performance. I let mine go as long as I can until they break, sound bad, or are hard to play. Most people don't have too hard a time changing strings, but I don't like doing it. There are web sites that show how to do it.
kb2dhg Says:
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @12:52:30 PM
OK, Thanks... I think that the string was not right on the part by the tail peice of the banjo? I played around with it and it seemd to sound a lot better?
kevinwholmes Says:
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @1:20:20 PM
Sounds like you're well on your way toward understanding your instrument! I've had most of mine taken apart and put back together again (by me) partly to fix some, partly to learn how they work and how to get better sound out of them. Be cautious if you do this yourself. It takes courage and or money to dig deep. There are some things better left to the professionals.
Congratulations again.
kb2dhg Says:
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @4:21:13 PM
Yes thanks I seem to have gotten most of it out. NOW if only I could play well, I have been having a real hard time with my right hand. I have a spinal cord injury that left a motor controll problem in my right picking hand. Tonights practice session was horrable, I just could not get my fingers to move freely... This is my frustration... and the reason I have not tried to learn so many years ago that I wanted to... Well, some days are better than others...
kevinwholmes Says:
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @4:36:31 PM
It's that way for all of us Lou from time to time, so don't get too discouraged. You'll get used to it if you just hang in there. It takes time. My banjo teacher has been a professional musician for around 30 years and has his good days (mostly good) and "off" days. I'm missing the middle finger of each hand so I decided to go for 2-finger style when I was 54 in 2006 and have kept at it since. 3-finger Scruggs seemed too intimidating when I watched the professionals. I could probably do it if I tried, but I've been happy with my choice.
TonyS Says:
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @7:06:50 PM
I'm strumming Seeger style right now - don't have the patience for Scruggs but love that sound! It's fun and you can throw in other stuff like Pete does - get his book, current edition is blue - simple and non-insulting hints from a nice man and a pro!
Sounds weird but concentrate on sound and listen, not parts, picks, tuners etc. Actually, with an injury, maybe a little bum-ditty strum and sing along will get the head into the tunes - really - listen to how Pete does historic stuff, which I thought were kids songs! That's why I don't do rolls right now - in tune, in time, singing along and having fun is more important to me than Foggy Mountain....
TonyS Says:
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 @7:13:49 PM
ps. - my friend who I jam with (I'm the piano player) just retired from the city housing as an elevator repairman - and he hung out and played with John and Yoko!! Really! So I guess he feels like a fish out of water sometimes ...
kb2dhg Says:
Thursday, March 31, 2011 @4:52:02 AM
Hi Tony, You know I am doing just that, I strumm along and although I love and want to do Scruggs picking I do just try different things just to get a decent sound out of My Banjo! I am only at it for going on 3 months now so I am not expecting much. All I want ti to get good enough that I am sounding like something... OK tony thanks for the advice and have a great week!
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