FAQs

What’s the Difference Between a Friendly Banjo, Ukulele, and Banjolele?

Friendly Banjos have three strings, while banjoleles and ukuleles have four. This slight change simplifies chord shapes and makes them more approachable for beginner players. While ukuleles and banjoleles feature a traditional fret system, Friendly Banjos are fretless, similar to a violin or viola. The absence of frets, along with the use of color, allows for more expressive play and helps teach intonation—the ability to recognize notes by ear.

Is there a left-handed model?

Technically, there isn’t a left-handed OR a right-handed model. The Friendly Banjo is designed to be completely symmetrical, making it accessible for both right- and left-handed players. As a left-handed person, this was a key consideration for Zack, the founder of Friendly Banjos.

Is The Friendly Banjo only for kids?

Absolutely not! Friendly Banjos are designed for anyone who wants to play. We’ve sold to first-time adult players looking for something enjoyable and easy to learn, as well as music therapists and professionals in various fields.

What are the benefits and limitations of open tuning?

Open tuning simplifies playing by limiting notes to those in the tuned key, effectively eliminating "wrong notes" in the colored areas. This makes it beginner-friendly, but it also means you can’t play every chord on the Friendly Banjo right away. In advanced lessons, we’ll cover alternate tuning techniques for playing in different keys.

Why does it take 2-3 weeks to receive my banjo?

When you order your banjo, it quite literally starts as a piece of locally grown maple, some hardware, and, of course, a drum. Each instrument is handcrafted to order in the Magic Fluke workshop in Sheffield, Massachusetts. We take great care in building each banjo and thoroughly inspect it for intonation, tone, and action before shipping. This attention to detail ensures you receive the highest quality product possible. See images below.