8 Best Beginner Banjo Reviews 2022 – Banjo for Beginners

1. ADM 5-String Banjo Beginner JB352

This five-string banjo is from ADM. It is larger and is light brown. The top is made of polyurethane and the back is made of Sapele. The strings are made of steel. This banjo produces a sweet sound and stays in tune regardless of fingerpicking speed.

The bridge and fingerboard are made of mahogany and are very stable and durable. The wood on the back and sides is good quality and will not face wear and tear due to its rigidness. It also features a geared 5th tuner, which an upgrade from a common friction tuner. Modern rock tunes as well as classic, folk, and country tunes can be played. The ADM banjo also comes with a travel bag, tuner, picks, straps, hanger, strings, and cleaning cloth.

It is made up of a Remo drumhead, a body shaped partly like a guitar, and partly like a tambourine, and can be played either with fingers or a plectrum. This particular product is very good for beginners as it includes many components along with it.

2. Costzon 5-String Banjo for Beginners

This five-stringed banjo is from Costzon. It has 24 adjustable brackets, and a geared 5th tuner is included. It is 41.5 inches in size and the frame is made of solid plywood. The panel of the banjo is made of wood and the back and sides are made of Sapele wood. The fingerboard is also very durable and solid and is made of Maqiao Rosewood. The different woods that make up the structure of the banjo are all very high quality and that gives them a long lifespan.

The 24 brackets around the drum can be adjusted to produce the desired sound. Modern tunes as well as rock, country, folk, and bluegrass can be played on this versatile banjo. The steel of the strings is also very durable, and the banjo features a mid-range closed handle. This makes it suitable for people of all sizes and heights to hold and play it with ease.

The package also includes a tuner, strap, and travel bag. Overall, the banjo is very durable and reasonable for beginners wanting to buy a banjo.

3. Pyle Hybrid Banjo PBJ20

This instrument from Pyle is a hybrid. It is a mix between a mandolin and a banjo, and its strings are made of nylon. The tuning style and neck belong to a mandolin while the body is of a banjo. This instrument is for students who want to produce banjo-like sounds with a mandolin. If you are familiar with a mandolin but want to recreate sounds the banjo produces, the Pyle would be a very good fit.

It is 23 inches in length and the bridge stand is movable. The binding design is classical, and an adjustable truss-rod is also present. Tuner pegs help adjust and tailor the sound to exactly what you want. The body is made of Sapele wood and is polished. The headstock is mahogany, and the fretboard is made of rosewood. There are tools to adjust the truss-rod, too.

The Pyle PBJ20 is a highly versatile instrument. It is for the students who are familiar with mandolins and now want to recreate and reproduce the tones of a banjo. It is a very useful instrument if you are starting.

4. Rover Tenor Banjo RB-20T

The Rover banjo is offered as an open back banjo or with the resonator. It also comes in three styles, either 5-string, tenor, or plectrum. The rim is 11-inches, and the neck is made of mahogany. It is slim with an adjustable truss rod. The fingerboard is made of East Indian rosewood and has white binding. The peghead is paddle-shaped and the hoop is made of brass with nickel plating.

Rover banjo also features 24 brackets and a mahogany resonator. RB-20T is a very affordable option for students and beginners. It has many professional features and is very versatile. Because of the slim neck, students can play fast, and the lightweight rim enhances the sound even more.

This tenor banjo from Rover is very good for students. Due to its high build quality, students can expect it to be around for quite a long time. It is easy to tune and set up and is an excellent choice for beginners. Even for an affordable banjo, the materials are very high quality. This makes the Rover RB-20T one of the best choices for beginner banjo players.

5. Oscar Schmidt Banjo OB3-O-U

This banjo, from Oscar Schmidt, is a satin open back type that has a Remo drumhead and a glossy finish. The fretboard comes in two materials - either rosewood or ovangkol wood. The OB3 model from Oscar Schmidt is also one of the most low-cost banjos for beginners. They do not make open-back 5 string banjos this cheap.

In addition, the resonator is made of mahogany and the model features an 18-bracket tone ring. The tuner provided is a geared 5th string tuner and it also comes with a fingerboard scoop. The wood on the back and sides are very good quality which makes them durable. Durability is something every beginner wants when going for their first instrument.

Oscar Schmidt OB3 is another brilliant choice for aspiring banjoists. The open-back design means that the sound produced from the banjo will be bright and loud. The tone is extremely sweet and literally like music to the ears. Oscar Schmidt OB3 is a very good choice and is very playable, too. If you are a beginner, you would want to try this one out, for sure.

6. Kmise Concert Banjo MI1661-KUS

This four-stringed banjolele is from the company Kmise. It has a small body that is very similar to a banjo’s and was very common amongst musicians in the ‘20s and the ‘30s. The neck of the banjolele is fretted and it produces the sound of a banjo. The tuning and playing style is that of a ukulele, and it uses the tuning set up G-C-E-A.

The head of the banjolele is made of polyester and has very good elasticity. The response is very efficient, and the strings are Italian, from Aquila Strings. This banjolele stays in tune due to gear turners that remain in place. It is a very versatile instrument and is easy for beginners to play due to the way it is made.

What's more, Kmise banjo is very comfortable and smooth to adjust and can be played in two ways. The back can be removed or kept on, depending on preferences. With the back open, the banjolele produces a louder sound while with the back closed, it produces a mellow sound.

Kmise also offers a 90-day warranty and lifetime string warranty. They can be replaced anytime.

7. Dean Mini Travel Banjo BW MINI BKS

The Dean Backwoods Mini Travel Banjo is a very versatile instrument because of its smaller size. This also makes it very good for students who are starting their journey of being banjoists.

The body is made of mahogany and the banjo features a Remo head top. The fretboard is made of rosewood and the rest of the body has white and chrome accents. The neck of the banjo is made of mahogany, too.

This mini banjo from Dean Guitars is black and has open-gear tuners. The strings are from Olympia and are very durable. The look is very traditional, and the Dean Backwoods mini banjo is perfect for smaller students who want an instrument that suits their size more. Dean Guitars has been in the business since 1977 and a very well-known brand. This makes the Dean Backwoods Mini travel banjo a very good fit for beginners.

What's more, the body also features inlays of white dots, adding to the aesthetic of this beautiful instrument. It is very playable and brilliant for beginners, especially those who travel a lot.

8. JJmooer 4 String Vintage Plated Banjo

This 26-inch JJmooer banjo is four-stringed. It has a reasonable size and is quite lightweight. The body is made of birch while the fingerboard is made of rosewood. The bridge is made of maple and the neck is made of solid mahogany.

JJmooer banjo features an open-back design with a drum that is very good in quality. This helps enhance the sounds produced by the instrument. The banjo also comes with an electronic tuner, which can help tailor the sound to exactly what is desired. The tailpiece, however, is non-adjustable.

Furthermore, the JJmooer banjo comes in three different colors. You can choose either black, white, or a tattoo color scheme. The strings are made of nylon and are very durable. They are also easy to play with and soft to touch. The tone is G-C-E-A and the complete package includes the banjo, a traveling bag, and an electronic tuner.

This beautiful banjo is another perfect fit for beginners, which is why it makes our list. The design, price, sound, and versatility are off the charts. It is also very firmly constructed, making for a long lifespan.