Barnes & Mullins Troubadour 5-String Banjo

The Barnes & Mullins 'Troubadour' is a superb 5-string banjo named after the monthly music publication 'The Troubadour' issued and created by Mr Bowley Barnes and Albert Mullins beginning in their music-hall heyday of 1895.

Along with Barnes & Mullins' banjo-specific title 'The Jo', the Troubadour represented the cutting edge of contemporary music news, comment and transcription.

Featuring a beautifully figured burl maple resonator paired with a maple rim, hard maple neck and appointed with stylish antique gold engraved fittings, the Troubadour is a wonderfully enchanting banjo that impeccably embodies the legacy and heritage of Barnes & Mullins instruments.

You can expect a fast, articulate response and magnificently bright, natural and balanced tone. The hard maple neck stops the string energy from being overly absorbed, allowing the strings to vibrate with freedom at the bridge, thus enhancing the Troubadour's excellent voice and adding even more volume and character.

The Troubadour is complete with a Remo Weatherking head, ovangkol fingerboard with patterned fret inlays, and traditional planetary machineheads.

Why should I buy a 5-string banjo?

This 5-string resonator banjo is the standard for bluegrass playing but is also an excellent choice for other musical styles including country, gospel, jazz, folk, classical and rock. It's the go-to style of banjo for 'Scruggs' players who use three-fingers with fingerpicks on the index and middle fingers and a thumbpick for a fast-tempo and lively style.

Its resonator design means this banjo sounds naturally loud and bright and therefore makes for an excellent accompaniment instrument.

Common 5-string banjo tunings

G, D, G, B, D - Open G
G, C, G, B, D - C Tuning / Drop C