Banjo & bluegrass, reviewed by players
Find the right banjo — without the hype.
Independent, expert-led banjo reviews, brand comparisons and buying guides — plus mandolin, resonator and fiddle. Honest picks, real playing experience, no hype.
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Our core guides
The best banjo brands
Gibson, Deering, Recording King, Gold Tone and more — who each one suits and what you pay.
Best banjos for beginners
Five honest first-banjo picks that will not hold you back at a jam.
How to tune a banjo
Standard open-G tuning for the 5-string, plus tenor and plectrum, step by step.
The different types of banjos
4-string, 5-string, tenor, plectrum, banjolele and hybrids — explained plainly.
Banjo chords for beginners
The handful of chords that get you playing real songs in an afternoon.
Bluegrass instruments
How the banjo fits with the mandolin, fiddle, resonator and upright bass.
Why trust us
We actually play the things we review.
This site grew out of the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys — a family of young bluegrass players who spent years on stage and on national TV with a banjo in hand. Every pick here is grounded in real playing, not spec sheets scraped by a robot.
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