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Originally posted by Tractor1

my own taste in fx--the modulating kind (phaser-flanger-chorus-delay etc.)are 'one trick pony types--in other words not on and on with the same one--but nice especially some early transistor types,digital rack units have good ones.a favorite is a lexicon brand leslie preset midi clocked to tempo--my baritone banjo loves a bit of overdrive on my mesa boogie amp
reverb is just a regular
compressor I never got down but I some folks seem to get a cool rubbery tone enhancement with it

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You have any recorded examples of using the overdrive on your baritone? I would be interested in hearing that. 

here is one,,but but i'm going to run one down with some rock

Sounds great Tom! Where were you tuned at on that Georgia Rose? I definitely think the lower end helps with making the overdrive palatable

thanks I have it tuned like g tuning but dropped down 7 frets (semitones) lower on a bit longer scale,but I usually play it capoed up 2--which is then regular gibson length and it is then an open D --
A microphoned regular banjo with a clean setting can make the spring reverb fun--and then the- flanger delay etc. comes thru good and clear--

I play rock and jazz and gypsy and folk, on guitar. I have a good amount of experience with finger picking.

When I took up banjo, banjo six years ago, I bought the Janet Davis book “you can teach yourself to play Banjo“. It’s a very digestible beginners book, with short, easy to achieve lessons, and most importantly, the basics of Banjo and especially right hand work. Its good for those of us that may have short attention spans….lol. ‘Banjo aerobics” is another good book i have worked through.

I suggest that you work through some of these Banjo basics.

As a longtime blues player on guitar, I was no stranger to open G tuning, similar to Banjo.

It has been my experience, that the right hand technique for Banjo is similar, but significantly different than everything I have used for guitar. It takes work and daily practice.

One of the things that I find most satisfying, and useful in my own development, including playing pop, jazz and rock on Banjo, is time “noodling“ or simply experimenting with different fingerings on the Banjo. I will often copy Robert Johnson licks, (w or w/o slide) , ZZ Top licks, old Motown hooks. (Try Run C and W cd), etc.., not to mention Earl, et al…..

Fwiw, i think steve martin is a particularly good source of applying banjo to non-bg music.

i also happen to love open D and sawmill tunings, among others, on banjo as well as guitar. These might be a great way to get a different sound.

Good luck. Be patient and perseverant. Banjo is a wonderful and versatile instrument, but it is its own unique instrument and will take a fair amount of work. While you can use your guitar “bag of tricks“ to play a banjo in a guitar style, I think it’s also very important to learn basic three finger style for your right hand, as that is what makes Banjo sound like Banjo. FWIW, Danny Gatton had a real command of three finger style for his guitar work when he wanted it. Molly Tuttle is also a great example of clawhammer , on guitar. Pretty cool on banjo too.

Good luck.