Under such circumstances, perhaps a resonator banjo is better suited.

Fred Kelly plastic pick, backwards on your picking finger: Elderly sells them. I use the Large size, and I have small hands. Picking closer to the bridge is louder, but less pleasant. Also, check that your head is tensioned evenly and reasonably tight.

Strange how things go.

Once considered a true concert solo instrument, often with piano or even small brass orchestra accompaniment the banjo no longer has the volume or carrying power to be distinguishable in a guitar duet.

I too use a Fred Kelly Freedom Pick when playing with a group at weekly contra dances. I'd also add that you may not be hearing the full volume sitting behind the banjo. 

David

quote:

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Originally posted by rkdjones

... I'm just curious what techniques people have used to get a little more volume out of their instruments.

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Steve Martin plays an openback Deering Clawgrass banjo, which has a full blown bluegrass style tone ring. The same tone ring as Deering's bluegrass models. In this video, he has no problem with volume. I've got the Deering openback Sierra version, with the same tone ring, and volume with live music is not a problem. Over the years, I've tried various wood tone ring, tone hoop type banjos, and volume was never good enough for live music with my friends. I'll keep saying it in reply to these threads: I can't believe that open back banjos with a full blown flathead tone ring, aren't wildly more popular. 

For the last 20+ years there has been a steady trend towards the “plunky” and dull tone banjo.

Short scale, center of the head bridge placement, playing over scoops, very heavy bridges, and thick heads all add up to less volume and carrying power.

This is great for the jam culture construct of not offending the fiddle and defining the role of banjo to a background thrumming and droning.

There are lots of recordings with plunky banjos that sound great, but they are balanced electronically. The more I listen to live music the more I am aware of the role of the sound board (Is it OT if the performers are using microphones?). Striking the right balance in a jam session is a challenge. I will probably start practicing with finger picks, cheaper than a new banjo with a Dobson tone ring.