The Medusa Fora

Anybody know if the Pogues used a 4, 5, or 6 string banjo? Iv'e taken a look at some pictures but its tough to count those little strings!

Thanks
Nate

it sounds more like they use a 4-string but i don't know. they're also used a lot more in celtic music, so that's my best guess.

look for a tuning peg about midway up the neck, if you see it its a 5 string/ bluegrass style

Well, Jem plays a five string banjo.

Well I've decided to learn how to play the banjo and I really would like to be able to play some pogues' songs. Anybody else done this? Whats the best way to start and are there banjo tablature for the pogues?

Thanks,
Nate

you should definately start with a 5-string. buy yourself a book or get a teacher or whatever. do whatever you want. you'll have more fun when you're learning the way you feel like learning. and as for pogues songs, there's a few banjo tabs at http://www.vaxxine.com/mtbhl/pogues.html along with some guitar tabs for banjo parts. good luck.

also, you should start listening to a lot of banjo music if you don't already. and a lot of different styles as well.

Near the end of the Pogues' last U.S. tour in '96, I asked Jem about the electric banjo he was playing in those days, and he said it was a Deering Crossfire, which he was using to avoid the normal feedback problems with miked acoustic banjos.

In his words: "It sounds like crap when played acoustic, but plugged in, it sounds approximately like a banjo."

Personally, I think the Deering Crossfire sounds pretty tinny any way you play it. I'd rather deal with the feedback!

Take a look:
http://www.deeringbanjos.com/crossfire.htm

Jem used a five string bajno. Unusual in traditional music. Used mostly in bluegrass

i heard deerings are good.

I would Recommend an Irish Tenor four string banjo..,Much better for Irish Music rather than a 5 string. Banjo with the pogues was not that effective. Terry woods came in with the Bazzoki and lifted it completly. Most Pogues songs are easy enough on a Tenor Banjo..
I can pick off most of them..Body of an american ..I love playing.

Banjo with the pogues was not that effective

What do you mean ?

yeah. i think the way the pogues used it was great. there have been plenty of good bands that play irish music with a 5-string. the dubliners, molly's revenge, the pubcrawlers, the pogues, etc.

I agree with you goodbar. Jem Finer really played the banjo in his own cool way and it sounds great to me. I also think the 5-string banjo has much thicker sound ,if you play it "bluegrass-style" than the picking of a tenor banjo. But don't get me wrong here i get very impressed and do enjoy hearing for example Barney from the Dubliners picking his banjo.

Cleary I'm a dolt - where are the banjo tabs on the vaxxine site? All I've been able to find are guitar tabs and guitar tabs for banjo parts.

Nate