I'm thinking of buying a banjo or a mandolin.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I am a huge fan of folk and bluegrass music, and want to learn either a mandolin or a banjo. I can't make up my mind on what instrument I want to start with. A mandolin is more affordable, but I think a banjo (which might be harder to learn and expensive) gives me a greater range of options. If any of you guys are musicians, I’d love to hear your opinions. And even if you don’t know how to play anything, I’m interested in which instrument you like better.

[Oakvale]

F[inks] that, sell your possessions, buy an MPC on craigslist and start making ill libertarian beatz.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

[PJ]

Mandolin. Seems more professional than a banjo.

[Lief 🗽]

Are you me circa 2007?

SPOILER ALERT: didn't waste my money on either. Buy a PS4.

[Cincinnatus]

Banjo is harder to learn, though, not impossibly so.  Honestly, I'd say it's the harder of the two to play as well, if you want to be proficient.  I have more experience playing a mandolin, which I prefer regarding sound.

Of course, acoustic guitar being my primary instrument, when I first started messing around with a mandolin I found my fingers hurt quite a bit.  Babbling aside, it really depends what sound you want.  Plus, you can pick up a decent starter mandolin for cheap at most guitar centers or other related shops, so you shouldn't feel confined to one or the other.

[Lambsbread]

Aren't there some Zeppelin songs that have mandolin in them? Definitely the mandolin. Although you could learn Dropkick Murphys songs that have banjo in them...

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

[Lambsbread]

tw

[Oakvale]

I'm telling you.



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[Indy Texas]

I am one of the few people in my family who doesn't play the banjo, so I'm obviously partial to it.

[angus]

Banjo.

I don't play myself, but I think it's harder to learn.  I have several guitars, and I've played in pop/rock bands in college and grad school.  Fooled around on mandolins and banjos.  Banjo is not necessarily more expensive--decent entry-level instruments can be purchased for 200 dollars or less, new, if that's an issue, but they can be more expensive, as top-end banjos are certainly more expensive than top-end mandolins.  Banjos strike me as more versatile.  At least from a layman's point of view.  Lots of traditional Ukranian and Czech stuff played with banjo, as well as bluegrass, country, patriotic, whatever.  Download some Tony Trischka music.

For many years, when I lived in Boston, the guy that lived below me played a banjo.  He was sort of a weirdo.  Long-haired New York Jew who wouldn't drink tea unless it was "fair-trade" and never ate any meat, but he was an interesting guy.  Played a mean banjo and always had good weed.  He was into Eastern European folk music.  I just loved to hear him play.  Once in a while I'd get my Martin acoustic guitar and walk down to his flat and we'd jam together, but mostly I just listened to him.  I've also known a few mandolin players, but none of them really struck a chord with me, so to speak, the way the banjo did.

Anyway, I vote for the banjo FWIW.

[politicus]

[DINGO Joe]

Do you play the guitar already?

I think the banjo would be a difficult first instrument.  Mandolins are cheaper too.  Musically I think there's a higher upside to mastering the banjo though.  I dunno, voted banjo though.

[politicus]

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Mandolins have a nicer voice and are easier to learn.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Mandolin. When the great guitarists play them it's awesome.

[minionofmidas]

I like banjos.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Depends entirely on the sort of music you intend to play.

[Representative Joe Mad]

I'm partial to Banjos myself.