When I take my banjo out to play, a lot of times several strings are sharp. I don’t really understand that. Shouldn’t the strings be stretched from being played and the tension. It seems they should be flat instead of sharp. Just curious as to how that happens.
Sharp Tuned
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yeah I wonder that too, never understood that one
If you think about a banjo compared to other wooden instruments like a guitar, mandolin, or bass, the bridge is on a hard wood surface on those instruments and shouldn’t move much unless there’s a big humidity change and the wood swells or dries significantly.
On a banjo, the bridge is on a soft, deformable thin plastic “skin” that changes with the temperature. As well, some banjo tuners are prone to slippage (not making it sharp but generally losing tune).
If you play a hide banjo head, this issue of the bridge “moving” is magnified because it is sensitive to humidity as well. It can go sharp while you play as it gets less humid and can go flat as it sags from humidity.
These are some of the reasons banjos go out of tune so easily. I would guess it might go sharp especially in winter because it cools off when its not in use and the plastic gets more rigid, essentially lifting the bridge. Just a guess, tho.
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Timber & Metal products expand and contract due to temperature & humidity changes. I have yet to hear a banjo that never goes out of tune. If like me you were taught the basics by Murphy Henry you’ll know why it’s so important to “Tune the Banjo”
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