Banjo Geared Tuning Pegs
When you get started with your banjo, you will notice that it won’t sound tuned when you get it out of the box. The reason for this is the fact that you need tuning pegs in order to bring it to the right key. Originally, the banjo was built with sort of a stick neck where the strings were connected to loops. They did not have geared tuning pegs but the loops were used to tune it. As time went by and the banjo evolved, banjo geared tuning pegs were manufactured and included in the instrument, in order to replace the old loops. The fretboards were also developed around the time tuning pegs were built in the banjo.
Tuning Your Banjo
One of the most important things for proper maintenance is to tune your banjo. Not only does it bring your instrument to the right key, but it also keeps the strings in fair shape. When turning your banjo geared tuning pegs, the strings are tightened or loosened. This provides them with constant movement, which keeps them sort of lubricated. The original banjos didn’t come with tuning pegs at all, but later on, friction pegs were added. It was until recent times that banjo geared tuning pegs were incorporated to modern instruments. In general, they are built following the same type of pattern as the older pegs; but the knobs that you use for tuning aresticking to the back. Today, you can still find pegs from the early 1920s; a lot of them are still in excellent shape and can be used to replace your current pegs.
Electric vs. Acoustic Banjo
Certainly, you have seen how you can either purchase an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar. Due to the advancement in technology and music, instruments have also turned electric. This makes it a lot easier to plug them into amplifiers and even laptops. The banjo has been no exception to this musical evolution. The truth is that the acoustic banjo, along with its geared tuning pegs, is still more popular than the electric one. The acoustic banjo is perfect for a bluegrass music session, but if you’re jamming with a band that plays electric guitars and basses, you’re better off with your electric banjo. At times, you may use an electric tuner instead of banjo geared tuning pegs to bring your instrument to tune. Deciding between an electric banjo and an acoustic banjo can be easy if you know what type of venue you will be playing.
Where to Find Banjo Geared Tuning Pegs
The majority of large music stores have a dedicated department for banjos. They surely carry all the different stringed instruments, such as guitars, ukuleles and basses. Most of them have a variety of banjo geared tuning pegs. Some of them can be nickel plated and others, gold plated. When using the internet you can log on to the actual store’s website. This should allow you to view the prices and description before actually purchasing the pegs. Elderly Instruments, for example, has Grover Style Tuning Pegs. You can also visit Banjo.com, which is a known bluegrass superstore that offers individual banjo geared tuning pegs starting at $24.95.
