# I want to learn the Banjo!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-learn-the-banjo/582905>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 23, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-learn-the-banjo/582905 "2011-05-23T15:16:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-learn-the-banjo/582905/41 "2014-11-26T16:44:09Z")

</div>

> [@74westy](#):
>
> What’s the difference between a dead skunk in the middle of the road and a dead banjo player in the middle of the road?

There are brake marks in front of the dead skunk?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2014, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-learn-the-banjo/582905/42 "2014-11-26T19:30:41Z")

</div>

[quote=“commasense, post:40, topic:582905”]

My favorite banjo joke:

What’s the difference between a banjo and a chainsaw?

[QUOTE]

You can tune a chainsaw.

Yeah, I used to play a bit of banjo. I need to find the time to pick it up again.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-learn-the-banjo/582905/43 "2014-11-27T04:53:00Z")

</div>

> [@amanset](#):
>
> Yeah, I bought a mute off Amazon. Unfortunately it also changes the tone of the instrument, with it ending up sounding not far off a normal guitar. I’ve thought about removing the resonator, the fear of just totally fucking up the instrument is probably the only thing that has stopped me.

You won’t mess up the banjo by removing the resonator. It’s usually just attached with thumb screws. The problem is the flange being uncomfortable if you rest it in your lap.

I use a Gold Tone mute. I actually really like the sound.

I started out doing Scruggs style then this past year began learning clawhammer. For clawhammer I used youtube videos (mainly Patrick Costello and Cathy Fink) , the Chris Cooley DVD, the Miles Klassen and Ken Perlman books

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-learn-the-banjo/582905/44 "2014-11-29T16:11:34Z")

</div>

> [@mack](#):
>
> You won’t mess up the banjo by removing the resonator. It’s usually just attached with thumb screws. The problem is the flange being uncomfortable if you rest it in your lap.
> 
> I use a Gold Tone mute. I actually really like the sound.
> 
> I started out doing Scruggs style then this past year began learning clawhammer. For clawhammer I used youtube videos (mainly Patrick Costello and Cathy Fink) , the Chris Cooley DVD, the Miles Klassen and Ken Perlman books

Don’t underestimate my ability to mess things up!

I think mine is a Gold Tone as well. I can’t check as I am temporarily out of the country. I’ve been watching a lot of Patrick Costello’s stuff, of which there is a lot, but the others are new to me. Thanks for the tips, I’ll definitely be checking them out.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-learn-the-banjo/582905.md?page=2)