This banjo and banjolele comparison describes the history of each instrument, a description of each, pricing, similarities and differences, and which one is easier to learn.
The main difference between the banjo and the banjolele is that the banjolele is a combination of the banjo and the ukulele.
Let’s dive deeper into the details.
Table of Contents
- The Differences Between The Banjo and Banjolele
- Is The Banjo or Banjolele Easier To Learn?
- Does a Banjolele Sound Like a Banjo?
- Some Final Thoughts
- FAQs
The Differences Between The Banjo and Banjolele
Banjo
The banjo originated in Africa, where it was used extensively for folk music. Due to the slave trade in America in the seventeenth century, the instrument was introduced to the continent.
The banjo is a fairly large instrument, with a long neck and drum-like body.
There are usually five strings on a banjo, and plucking the strings is what creates music. The drum-like body amplifies the sounds.
The banjo is often available in a resonator style, with a closed back containing a resonator to amplify the sound.
PMV Top Pick – If you want to fully protect your banjo, don’t go with a cheap case. This hard-shell option offers maximum protection at a reasonable price.
Musicians who want a cheaper banjo can opt for an open back banjo, which does not have a resonator. Due to this, the sound produced is not as loud.
Most resonator-type banjos can be converted into open back banjos, and vice versa.
The price of a banjo varies greatly depending on the quality of the banjo. There are inexpensive banjos for beginners, available for a few hundred dollars or less, while high-quality banjos used by professional musicians can cost thousands of dollars.
- ✔️REMO DRUM HEAD It uses high-quality Remo drum head as Banjo panel that can produce a sweet tone. You can also gently beat the head to fusion different timbres in your melodies.
- ✔️ADJUSTABLE STRING HEIGHT It equips a truss rod that can adjust the string height, so that you will feel comfortable and perform fluently.
- ✔️DURABLE MATERIAL Mahogany neck, sides and back have beautiful wood grain, hard and not liable to warp or corrode, making the banjo durable.
- ✔️SMOOTH DECENT TOUCH It has a fine bright paint, glossy and smooth, giving you a comfortable playing experience.
- Traditional style: This 5-string banjo is perfect for any style of play with its guitar-style headstock and neck combined with a tambourine shaped body. Whether you’re playing mellow country tunes, folk, bluegrass, clawhammer-style, even rock, you’ll get a great response and sound from this right-handed banjo.
- Remo head: This banjo kit is flawlessly designed with a Remo head, made by the world-renown Remo drum company. The crisp white, frosted head delivers bright sound and clarity. The head is secured with 24 chrome-plated brackets and resting on the Remo head is a beautiful 5/8″ maple/ebony bridge for superior string vibration transfer.
- High-quality craftsmanship: Ashthorpe’s banjo features a mahogany neck and purpleheart fretboard with finely manicured, smooth seated frets. The body is crafted from mahogany with a high-gloss finish. The closed-back resonator can be easily removed, allowing this banjo to be played open back. Designed with a 5-ply maple and mahogany shell, a 5-ply maple rim, 15:1 ratio geared tuners with high-quality tuning pegs, an adjustable hinged tailpiece, and chrome-plated armrest.
- Geared 5th tuner and adjustable truss rod: This 5-string banjo also includes a geared 5th string tuner, typically found on more expensive banjos. The geared 5th tuner is an upgrade over the common friction tuner, providing more accurate tuning and less slippage. The adjustable truss rod allows you to adjust the neck, ensuring it remains straight.
- 1. The drum head of Kmise banjolele made of polyester with great elasticity has a quick response. Equipped with superior Aquila String from Italy and high quality closed geared tuners, this banjolele can not only produce a bright and percussive tone but also be in an accurate intonation and stay in tune well.
- 2. Compared with other banjoleles, Kmise banjolele with action 3mm at the 12th fret is very comfortable for beginners to learn because players do not need to press too hard with such a low action. Preset with truss rod inside the neck, players can adjust the action with the wrench as needed. Smooth fretboard and neat fret wires also offer comfortable touch and protect hands from being scratched.
- 3. Multifunctional strap with an adjustable length from 45.6” to 66.1” can release the pressure of the banjolele and set hands free to play. The strap equips with two hooks can allow players not to drill a hole on the banjolele but fasten the hook on the metal frame and tie the leather belt on either headstock or strap lock.
- 4. Kmise banjolele has various playing methods. It can be in a traditional resonator style or an open back style by detaching its back. Traditional resonator style produces a mellower, softer sound while the open back style has a brighter sound. The package also comes with a piezo pickup that can connect the recording equipment for stage performance, which makes Kmise banjolele a super playable and multifunctional musical instrument.
Banjolele
The banjolele is a combination of the banjo and the ukulele. It is also called the banjo uke or banjulele.
The banjolele was first used by musicians in the 1900’s , and George Formby made the musical instrument extremely popular in the 1930’s. In general, though, the banjolele is not used as often by musicians, compared to the banjo.
The ukulele, meanwhile, is a musical instrument which originated in Portugal and later became popular in Hawaii. The ukulele is similar to a small guitar in design, with a short neck and fret for tuning.
The sound produced by a ukulele is fairly soft. With that being the case, the banjo and ukulele make a nice combination in the banjolele, which has the short neck of the ukulele along with the drum of the banjo, so that the sound produced will be loud enough.
Compared to a full size banjo, the banjolele will be smaller in size, since the neck is shorter. In turn, it will usually be lighter and less expensive than a banjo of similar quality.
Many musicians are performing at different locations regularly, especially when touring. They have to carry their instruments with them, and also carry them on stage, so some musicians prefer to use the banjolele since it is smaller in size. This lets them easily carry the instrument while performing.
PMV Top Pick – A good hard case will protect your banjolele from those bumps and bruises while you’re lugging it around. This one is a solid option from a well-known ukulele brand.
Many children want to learn to play a musical instrument, and parents who are looking for a light weight instrument might prefer the banjolele since it is easier for children to carry.
Since both the banjo and banjolele have a head, strings, and bridge, the sound produced by both of the musical instruments will be louder than musical instruments which do not have a resonator.
However, the tone of the music created will differ, and this depends on the design of the specific musical instrument.
Of course, musicians will have to tune whichever instrument they choose, adjusting the instrument and checking if the tone is suitable for the music which they are creating.
PMV Top Pick – This multi-instrument tuner is a best seller that should do the trick for both banjos and banjoleles.
The banjo will usually have metal strings, while the banjolele typically has nylon strings. This also affects the music quality.
PMV Top Pick – When it comes to strings, trust these bestselling sets for both the banjolele and banjo.
- 1. The drum head of Kmise banjolele made of polyester with great elasticity has a quick response. Equipped with superior Aquila String from Italy and high quality closed geared tuners, this banjolele can not only produce a bright and percussive tone but also be in an accurate intonation and stay in tune well.
- 2. Compared with other banjoleles, Kmise banjolele with action 3mm at the 12th fret is very comfortable for beginners to learn because players do not need to press too hard with such a low action. Preset with truss rod inside the neck, players can adjust the action with the wrench as needed. Smooth fretboard and neat fret wires also offer comfortable touch and protect hands from being scratched.
- 【Open Back Design】This banjo ukulele is AKLOT first banjolele, opened back with deep rim pump the sound forward toward your audience, which makes the banjo sounds bright.
- 【Remo Fiberskyn Drumhead】This banjolele has a warm, round tone and described as “plunky” or with an Appalachian mountain kind of sound.
- The drum head of Kmise banjolele made of polyester with great elasticity has a quick response. Equipped with superior Aquila String from Italy and high quality closed geared tuners, this banjolele can not only produce a bright and percussive tone but also be in an accurate intonation and stay in tune well.
- Compared with other banjoleles, Kmise banjolele with action 3mm at the 12th fret is very comfortable for beginners to learn because players do not need to press too hard with such a low action. Preset with truss rod inside the neck, players can adjust the action with the wrench as needed. Smooth fretboard and neat fret wires also offer comfortable touch and protect hands from being scratched.
Is The Banjo or Banjolele Easier To Learn?
The time required to learn to play the banjo or banjolele depends on the prior experience of the musician.
Musicians who have some experience in playing the ukulele will find it easy to play the banjolele, since it is very similar.
The time taken to learn to play the banjo or any other musical instrument with strings will greatly vary depending on the aptitude of the person who is playing the instrument.
PMV Top Pick – You can’t go wrong with the Hal Leonard brand – this instructional book will get you on the right track for learning the banjo.
Learn about the banjo and guitar.
Does a Banjolele Sound Like a Banjo?
It definitely sounds similar. One of the things you should know is that the banjolele is essentially a ukulele shaped instrument with the sound of a banjo. Obviously it’s not exactly the same sound as a banjo, but it is a great, inexpensive option to get a banjo-type sound.
Some Final Thoughts
The banjo is a popular instrument in North America, and a musician can choose from a wide variety of suppliers. The banjolele, on the other hand, is less popular. Hence there are relatively fewer companies selling banjoleles.
The banjo’s popularity is in part due to its wide usage for bluegrass and many other types of music.
However in some cases, a musician might find the banjolele to be perfect for their use case. Many musicians who have not used a banjolele would like to know what the instrument is all about, and what the advantages and disadvantages of using the musical instrument are. We hope you now have a more complete idea of what makes the banjolele a unique instrument.
FAQs
What is the Difference Between a Banjo and a Banjolele?
A banjo and a banjolele are similar in appearance but differ in key aspects like size, sound, and construction. A banjo typically has a larger body and a round open-back or resonator. A banjolele, on the other hand, is generally smaller and has a body more similar to that of a ukulele. The sound of a banjo is often described as bright and twangy, while a banjolele has a warmer, mellower tone.
How Many Strings Do Banjos and Banjoleles Typically Have?
A traditional banjo usually has 4 or 5 strings, with the 5-string banjo being the most common for bluegrass and folk music. A banjolele typically has 4 strings, which are tuned similarly to a ukulele.
Why Do Banjos and Banjoleles Sound Different?
The sound differences arise from their construction and the materials used. Banjos often have a drum-like head made from animal skin or synthetic material that contributes to its brighter sound. Banjoleles, with their smaller, wooden bodies, produce a sound that is more contained and warmer.
What Type of Music is Each Instrument Best Suited For?
Banjos are often used in genres like bluegrass, country, and folk. Banjoleles are more commonly found in Hawaiian music and can also be adapted for jazz and pop.
Can You Use Banjo Chords on a Banjolele?
While the tuning and chord structures are different, some chord shapes may be transferable. However, because the tuning is usually different, playing the same chord shape on both instruments will likely produce different chords.
How Does the Size and Weight Compare Between a Banjo and a Banjolele?
Banjos are generally larger and heavier, often measuring over 38 inches in length and weighing more than 10 pounds. Banjoleles are much smaller and lighter, making them more portable and easier to manage, especially for younger or smaller players.
Which is Easier to Learn: Banjo or Banjolele?
Both have their learning curves, but many find the banjolele easier initially due to its smaller size and simpler chord structures. Banjos, with more strings and often more complex picking patterns, might take longer to master.
What is the Price Range for Banjos and Banjoleles?
Banjos can range from $200 for a basic beginner model to over $3,000 for professional-grade instruments. Banjoleles are generally less expensive, with prices ranging from $100 to $1,000.
Where Can You Buy a Quality Banjo or Banjolele?
Both instruments can be purchased from music stores, online retailers, and specialized shops that focus on stringed instruments. Always check for customer reviews or expert recommendations before making a purchase.
What are the Top Brands for Banjos and Banjoleles?
For banjos, some top brands are Gibson, Deering, and Gold Tone. For banjoleles, brands like Luna, Kala, and Oscar Schmidt are often recommended.
