Gifts for Banjo Players
Jul 19, 2025
We banjo players are a unique group!
Often considered the most intelligent and sophisticated people in our social circles, we can be intimidating and difficult to shop for.
Have no fear: Banjo Mountain will help you find the perfect gift for your banjo player.
Let's start with the less expensive gifts:
Gift: The Banjo Mute
The banjo can be loud. Not having a mute can be a roadblock to consistent practice because family members can be so mean. 😜
Enter the banjo mute! This handy device quiets the banjo drastically, so your loved one can practice any time they want.
Our favorite banjo mute is MIKE'S BANJO MUTE found here.
Additional banjo mute choices are:
This handy little mute slides onto the bridge of the banjo to magically quiet the banjo. Often found on Amazon, it's an easy and cheap purchase. Not as great as Mike's Banjo Mute (in our humble opinion), but still works well.
Anyone who reads our blog knows we are big fans of Deering banjos. Their quality/value is excellent. Their mute works similarly to the Gold Tone Ultimate Banjo Mute. It slides onto the bridge to quiet the banjo. If you want to support an excellent, small, family-owned business, look no further than the Deering Banjo Mute.
Gift: Banjo Tuner
We won't bore you with the unique number of strings/tuning of the banjo that makes it so beautiful. Just know that tuning is incredibly important for a banjo player. In fact, we talk about how a banjo player should be tuning constantly. Thus, a tuner is a key part of any banjo player's gear.
The Snark Tuner
The Snark Tuner is great for many reasons:
- It's extremely affordable.
- Can be purchased just about anywhere (local music store, online music store, Amazon, etc).
- Tunes by vibration of the instrument so it doesn't matter how loud the room is or if other musicians are playing/tuning.
- Clips right onto the head of the banjo.
Korg TM-60 (for that sweet retro feel).
The Korg TM-60 is also great for many reasons. Unlike the snark it does not clip on but is MUCH more accurate. You can literally see the exact hz measurement.
The downfall is if you use the built in mic the room needs to be pretty quiet to work. Most banjos do not have a mic pick-up which means you can't use the built-in 1/4 jack that most guitars would be able to take advantage of.
That being said, this tuner is really useful, extremely accurate and has a fun retro vibe. It also has a built in metronome which is extremely useful for banjo players (they should be practicing with one often!).
Gift: Banjo Strap
Many players don't play with a banjo strap, but it can be very useful to have one, and they make a very affordable gift for a banjo player. Here are some pros of a strap:
- Every time you put the banjo on, it's in the same position, regardless of how you are sitting (assuming you strap it in a higher position).
- A strap can help keep the neck from slipping down horizontally into a less-than-ideal playing position (particularly for open-back banjo players).
- You can stand and practice/play to avoid children/pets grabbing at the banjo, OR if you plan to play at a jam, open mic, or in a performance.
Banjo straps are made of all types of materials and attach in different ways.
Leather Banjo Straps:
Leather is a popular choice for banjo straps due to its durability, comfort, and classic appearance. High-quality leather, such as vegetable-tanned leather or American bison leather, is often used for premium straps.
Leather straps age well, becoming softer with use, and provide a comfortable feel against the skin. They are sturdy enough to support heavier banjos, like resonator models, and are less likely to scratch the instrument compared to metal components. Some leather straps, such as those from Deering or Lakota, feature padding or sheepskin lining for added comfort.
If buying a leather strap, consider vegetable-tanned leather to avoid chemical reactions with the banjo’s metal parts, as chromium-tanned leather can corrode chrome or nickel plating.
Here are some good choices for a leather banjo strap:
Suede Banjo Straps:
Suede, a softer and more textured form of leather, is used for straps that prioritize comfort and a luxurious feel.
Suede straps are lightweight and comfortable but may require more care to maintain their appearance. They are less common than standard leather but are valued for their softness.
Here is a great choice for a suede banjo strap:
Levy's Leathers Banjo Master Series 2.5" Suede Banjo Strap
Nylon Banjo Straps:
Nylon straps are a budget-friendly option, often used for beginner banjos like the Deering Goodtime series.
Nylon is durable, lightweight, and resistant to moisture, making it practical for players in humid environments. These straps often include leather tabs for attachment to avoid metal-on-metal noise. The nylon straps biggest pros are they incredibly affordable and leightweight.
Here is a good choice for a nylon banjo strap:
One thing to note for all banjo straps: avoid metal clips as they can scratch the wood and or chrome parts of a banjo. You want either a cradle strap or a strap that has leather tabs or plastic clips.
Gift: Banjo Strings
As banjo players, we need to change our strings often. If you're loved one is a new player, this gift might not be as helpful as new players can be intimidated by changing their own strings. Although we highly recommend it, and have made videos for our members on how to do so.
Recommending strings as a gift can be a bit tricky because you need to know if they are playing a 5-string banjo or not (most banjo players are, but not all) and whether their banjo requires loop end (the most common by far) or ball end. If you know the answer to those questions, proceed. Otherwise, skip this gift.
If you want to give the gift of banjo strings, we recommend light-gauge strings for most banjos.
Here are some good options for banjo strings:
Gift: How to Learn Banjo!
This is both a shameless plug but also one of the best gifts you can give.
All banjo players hit plateaus and struggle, whether they are brand-new banjo players or intermediate. Banjo Mountain isn't just incredible lessons and courses. Perhaps even more importantly, we are a Community built to support and encourage each other. We do this not just with sharing and getting feedback on our playing, but through our weekly practice challenges that earn points, prizes, and most importantly, a way to stay consistent in practice.
As a gift, we offer a non-subscription, 6-month or 1-year membership. It's a simple one-time purchase, and you enter your loved one's email, and when you want them to receive their membership email.
As a reminder, since it's not a subscription, you won't have to deal with cancelling something. It's a clean and brilliant way to support your loved one on their banjo journey!
