4-String Tenor Banjos

No other instrument is more down-to-earth than the banjo. First conceived by honest, hard-working folk and becoming a mainstay of the country and bluegrass genres they came to love, the banjo is as much an American tradition as baseball or apple pie. Of course, with such a colorful history behind it, it's no surprise that the banjo branched out into several different styles over the years. Today, there's a home for any type of banjo in the collection of a skilled player, so if you're ready to broaden your horizons past the classic 5-string, a 4-string tenor banjo is the perfect way to do it.

With their short-scale necks, 4-string tenor banjos are probably best known as the centerpiece of Irish and early jazz styles going back as far as 1910, when they first started getting musicians' attention. They're closely related to the larger 4-string plectrum banjo, including that they're played with guitar-style picks, which makes them great for chord strumming. In an ensemble, the tenor banjo makes a great rhythm instrument, using the same tuning style as a viola or mandola.

Of course, the choice is yours in how you'd like to play your tenor banjo. Will you go for the traditional strumming approach, or follow in the footsteps of the Dubliners banjoist, Barney McKenna, exploring finger-style performances in alternate tunings? It's up to you, and with instruments ranging from the affordable Gold Tone Cripple Creek Irish Tenor Banjo to the peerlessly-designed Deering Sierra 17-Fret Tenor Banjo, there are plenty of options to get to know this distinctive banjo design.

When you take the stage or sit at the fireside to strum out your favorite tunes, your banjo is like a teammate. It's important to have an instrument that's ready to support your playing style, and when that means a chordal accompaniment or Irish finger-picking, a 4-string tenor banjo is the perfect companion. There are plenty of instruments here to choose from, built by some of the most trusted banjo makers in the world, so consider this an opportunity to give those styles a try.