Beginner Banjos

Affordable beginner banjos from Gold Tone and Deering. Banjo Warehouse is an authorized dealer for both brands in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Every beginner banjo we sell ships free anywhere in the United States.

Not sure what to spend? Our best banjo under $300 guide covers the top starter picks.

Our beginner lineup includes the Gold Tone AC-1 openback (under 4 lbs, winner of “Best in Show” at the 2016 Summer NAMM show), the AC-5 with resonator and armrest for players headed toward bluegrass, and the Cripple Creek CC-100R, one of the most popular beginner banjos ever made with over 25,000 sold worldwide. Not sure which one is right for you? Read our AC-1 vs AC-5 comparison or call or text us at (404) 218-8580.

Not sure where to start? Geoff’s best beginner banjos guide walks through his current picks by budget and style.

Financing available on all orders: PayPal Pay in 4 and Afterpay, with options for 4 interest-free payments or 3, 6, 12, or 24 month plans with no late fees.

Free US shipping7-day guarantee

All banjos

Gold Tone AC-1 Lightweight Openback Banjo for Beginners and Travel fretboardGold Tone AC-1 Lightweight Openback Banjo for Beginners and Travel pegheadGold Tone AC-1 Lightweight Openback Banjo for Beginners and Travel pot
Gold Tone AC-1 Openback
Openback · 5-string
$314.99
In stockDemo
Gold Tone CC-100R Cripple Creek 5-String Convertible Resonator Banjo fretboardGold Tone CC-100R Cripple Creek 5-String Convertible Resonator Banjo pegheadGold Tone CC-100R Cripple Creek 5-String Convertible Resonator Banjo pot
Gold Tone CC-100R Convertible Resonator
Resonator · 5-string
$799.99
In stockDemo
Deering Goodtime Openback 5-String Banjo fretboardDeering Goodtime Openback 5-String Banjo pegheadDeering Goodtime Openback 5-String Banjo pot
Deering Goodtime Openback
Openback · 5-string
$599.00
In stockDemo
Gold Tone AC-5 Acoustic Composite 5-String Resonator Banjo fretboardGold Tone AC-5 Acoustic Composite 5-String Resonator Banjo pegheadGold Tone AC-5 Acoustic Composite 5-String Resonator Banjo pot
Gold Tone AC-5 Resonator
Resonator · 5-string
$499.99
In stockDemo
Deering Goodtime Two 5-String Resonator Banjo fretboardDeering Goodtime Two 5-String Resonator Banjo pegheadDeering Goodtime Two 5-String Resonator Banjo pot
Deering Goodtime Two
Resonator · 5-string
$849.00
In stockDemo
Gold Tone CC-50RP Cripple Creek Resonator Banjo with Planetary Tuners fretboardGold Tone CC-50RP Cripple Creek Resonator Banjo with Planetary Tuners pegheadGold Tone CC-50RP Cripple Creek Resonator Banjo with Planetary Tuners pot
Gold Tone CC-50RP Cripple Creek
Resonator · 5-string
$699.99
In stockDemo
Deering Goodtime 19-Fret Tenor Openback Banjo, Bowtie Inlay fretboardDeering Goodtime 19-Fret Tenor Openback Banjo, Bowtie Inlay pegheadDeering Goodtime 19-Fret Tenor Openback Banjo, Bowtie Inlay pot
Deering Goodtime 19-Fret Tenor Bowtie
Openback · 4-string
$509.99
In stock
Gold Tone CC-BG Cripple Creek Beginner Bluegrass Banjo Package fretboardGold Tone CC-BG Cripple Creek Beginner Bluegrass Banjo Package pegheadGold Tone CC-BG Cripple Creek Beginner Bluegrass Banjo Package pot
Gold Tone CC-BG Beginner Bluegrass
Resonator · 5-string
$699.99
In stockDemo
Deering Goodtime Americana 5-String Banjo fretboardDeering Goodtime Americana 5-String Banjo pegheadDeering Goodtime Americana 5-String Banjo pot
Deering Goodtime Americana
Openback · 5-string
$749.00
In stockDemo
Gold Tone AC-12 12" Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag fretboardGold Tone AC-12 12" Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pegheadGold Tone AC-12 12" Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pot
Gold Tone AC-12 Openback
Openback · 5-string
$399.99
In stockDemo
Deering Goodtime Americana 5-String Openback Banjo, Bowtie Inlay fretboardDeering Goodtime Americana 5-String Openback Banjo, Bowtie Inlay pegheadDeering Goodtime Americana 5-String Openback Banjo, Bowtie Inlay pot
Deering Goodtime Americana Bowtie
Openback · 5-string
$636.99
In stock
Gold Tone AC-12A 12" Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag fretboardGold Tone AC-12A 12" Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pegheadGold Tone AC-12A 12" Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pot
Gold Tone AC-12A 12" Composite Openback
Openback · 5-string
$399.99
In stock
Gold Tone AC-12FL Fretless 12" Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag fretboardGold Tone AC-12FL Fretless 12" Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pegheadGold Tone AC-12FL Fretless 12" Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pot
Gold Tone AC-12FL Fretless Openback
Openback · 5-string
$399.99
In stock
Gold Tone AC-1FL Fretless Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag fretboardGold Tone AC-1FL Fretless Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pegheadGold Tone AC-1FL Fretless Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pot
Gold Tone AC-1FL Fretless Openback
Openback · 5-string
$314.99
In stockDemo
Gold Tone AC-1LN Long Neck Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag fretboardGold Tone AC-1LN Long Neck Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pegheadGold Tone AC-1LN Long Neck Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pot
Gold Tone AC-1LN Long Neck Openback
Openback · 5-string
$359.99
In stock
Gold Tone CC-100 Cripple Creek Banjo with Bag fretboardGold Tone CC-100 Cripple Creek Banjo with Bag pegheadGold Tone CC-100 Cripple Creek Banjo with Bag pot
Gold Tone CC-100 Cripple Creek
Openback · 5-string
$629.99
In stockDemo
Gold Tone CC-50 Cripple Creek Open Back Banjo fretboardGold Tone CC-50 Cripple Creek Open Back Banjo pegheadGold Tone CC-50 Cripple Creek Open Back Banjo pot
Gold Tone CC-50 Cripple Creek Openback
Openback · 5-string
$474.99
In stockDemo
Gold Tone CC-50TR Cripple Creek Traveler Open-Back Banjo with Gig Bag fretboardGold Tone CC-50TR Cripple Creek Traveler Open-Back Banjo with Gig Bag pegheadGold Tone CC-50TR Cripple Creek Traveler Open-Back Banjo with Gig Bag pot
Gold Tone CC-50TR Traveler Openback
Openback · 5-string
$474.99
In stockDemo
Deering Goodtime Parlor 5-String Banjo fretboardDeering Goodtime Parlor 5-String Banjo pegheadDeering Goodtime Parlor 5-String Banjo pot
Deering Goodtime Parlor
Openback · 5-string
$599.00
Pre-order
Gold Tone AC-5/L Acoustic Composite 5-String Banjo Left-Handed with Gig Bag fretboardGold Tone AC-5/L Acoustic Composite 5-String Banjo Left-Handed with Gig Bag pegheadGold Tone AC-5/L Acoustic Composite 5-String Banjo Left-Handed with Gig Bag pot
Gold Tone AC-5 Resonator Left-Handed
Resonator · 5-string
$499.99
In stockDemo
Deering Goodtime Openback 5-String Banjo, Left-Handed fretboardDeering Goodtime Openback 5-String Banjo, Left-Handed pegheadDeering Goodtime Openback 5-String Banjo, Left-Handed pot
Deering Goodtime Openback Left-Handed
Openback · 5-string
$599.00
In stock
Left-Handed Deering Goodtime Two 5-String Resonator Banjo fretboardLeft-Handed Deering Goodtime Two 5-String Resonator Banjo pegheadLeft-Handed Deering Goodtime Two 5-String Resonator Banjo pot
Deering Goodtime Two Left-Handed
Resonator · 5-string
$849.00
In stock
Gold Tone AC-1/L Left-Handed Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag fretboardGold Tone AC-1/L Left-Handed Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pegheadGold Tone AC-1/L Left-Handed Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pot
Gold Tone AC-1 Openback Left-Handed
Openback · 5-string
$314.99
In stockDemo
Left-Handed Deering Goodtime Americana Limited Edition Bronze 5-String Openback Banjo fretboardLeft-Handed Deering Goodtime Americana Limited Edition Bronze 5-String Openback Banjo pegheadLeft-Handed Deering Goodtime Americana Limited Edition Bronze 5-String Openback Banjo pot
Deering Americana Bronze Left-Handed
Openback · 5-string
$729.00
In stock
Gold Tone AC-1FL/Lefty Fretless Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag (Left-Handed) fretboardGold Tone AC-1FL/Lefty Fretless Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag (Left-Handed) pegheadGold Tone AC-1FL/Lefty Fretless Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag (Left-Handed) pot
Gold Tone AC-1FL Fretless Openback Left-Handed
Openback · 5-string
$314.99
In stock
Gold Tone AC-1LN/L Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag (Left-Handed) fretboardGold Tone AC-1LN/L Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag (Left-Handed) pegheadGold Tone AC-1LN/L Acoustic Composite 5-String Openback Banjo with Gig Bag (Left-Handed) pot
Gold Tone AC-1LN Long Neck Left-Handed
Openback · 5-string
$359.99
In stock
Gold Tone CC-100/L Cripple Creek Left-Handed Banjo with Bag fretboardGold Tone CC-100/L Cripple Creek Left-Handed Banjo with Bag pegheadGold Tone CC-100/L Cripple Creek Left-Handed Banjo with Bag pot
Gold Tone CC-100 Cripple Creek Left-Handed
Openback · 5-string
$629.99
In stockDemo
Gold Tone CC-100+/L: Left-Handed Cripple Creek Banjo with SMP+ Pickup and Bag fretboardGold Tone CC-100+/L: Left-Handed Cripple Creek Banjo with SMP+ Pickup and Bag pegheadGold Tone CC-100+/L: Left-Handed Cripple Creek Banjo with SMP+ Pickup and Bag pot
Gold Tone CC-100+ SMP+ Left-Handed
Openback · 5-string
$799.99
In stockDemo
Gold Tone CC-50/L Cripple Creek Left-Handed Openback Banjo with Gig Bag fretboardGold Tone CC-50/L Cripple Creek Left-Handed Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pegheadGold Tone CC-50/L Cripple Creek Left-Handed Openback Banjo with Gig Bag pot
Gold Tone CC-50 Openback Left-Handed
Openback · 5-string
$474.99
In stockDemo
Gold Tone CC-50TR/L Cripple Creek Traveler Left-Handed Open-Back Banjo with Gig Bag fretboardGold Tone CC-50TR/L Cripple Creek Traveler Left-Handed Open-Back Banjo with Gig Bag pegheadGold Tone CC-50TR/L Cripple Creek Traveler Left-Handed Open-Back Banjo with Gig Bag pot
Gold Tone CC-50TR Traveler Left-Handed
Openback · 5-string
$474.99
In stockDemo

How to choose your first banjo

Five-string or four-string. Most beginners want a five-string banjo, which covers bluegrass, folk and clawhammer. A tenor banjo is the usual choice for Irish music and traditional jazz.

Bluegrass or old-time. If you love bluegrass, start with a resonator banjo. If you love old-time and clawhammer, start with an open-back. Open-backs are lighter and usually cost less.

Setup matters more than price. A well set up starter banjo plays better than a badly set up expensive one. Every beginner banjo we sell ships free anywhere in the US.

Left-handed? See our left-handed banjos.

What else you need

A clip-on tuner, a strap and a case or gig bag. For bluegrass you also need a thumb pick and two finger picks. Find them in our accessories.

Learn to play

Geoff Hohwald has taught banjo for decades. His instruction books and free weekly lessons are a good place to start.

Common questions

Is banjo hard to learn?

Most beginners can play a simple song within a few weeks of regular practice. A banjo that is set up well makes it much easier.

Should I buy a used banjo to start?

You can, but a used banjo needs a good setup to play well. Ours get one before they ship. See our used and vintage banjos.

Not sure which one to pick?

Call or text us at (404) 218-8580 and we will help you choose.
Want first dibs on beginner banjos?Get an email when new and used beginner banjos come in.
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7-day guarantee

Return it within 7 days if it isn't right. See details

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5.0 from 100+ customer reviews

“Banjo Warehouse are great to deal with. Geoff is so helpful and goes that extra mile to make sure you are happy.”

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