Cleaning our banjos should be as routine as cleaning our houses (assuming you clean your house regularly). Dirt and oils from our environment and bodies can build up on the banjo head leaving it unsightly as well as affecting the tone of your banjo. Frequent cleanings keep this grime from accumulating, leaving it bright to the eyes and ears.
Cleaning your banjo head is a very simple process but varies depending on what it is made of. For a mylar plastic head, a damp cloth is typically sufficient to remove the oils and dirt but a non-abrasive household cleaner like 409 can be used for more stubborn buildup. For vellum banjo heads made from animal hide, a wedge eraser like the pink eraser typically found in a school classroom should be used to “erase” the buildup.
Some banjo players feel that a grimy banjo head is a badge of honor. It shows that your banjo gets played a lot. Others feel that it’s gross and is a sign of a neglected instrument. There is no right or wrong. It’s all about personal preference. You do you, you beautiful banjoreno!
Read on for a more in-depth look at how to clean your banjo head, what to do and what not to do – especially if you have a skin-based head.
How to clean a banjo head
Typically, wiping down your banjo head before and after playing is sufficient to keep it looking clean. When you replace the strings, that is a good time to give the head a good cleaning with a cleaner since the bridge and strings will be out of your way. It is important to keep in mind that if you remove the strings and bridge you will need to re-intonate your banjo. I highly recommend marking the bridge placement with painter’s tape before removing the strings. This will ensure that you get the bridge pretty close to where it needs to be before intonating.
Cleaning a mylar plastic banjo head
What you will need to clean your mylar plastic banjo head:
- Painter’s Tape
- Two clean, dry, soft cloths or lint-free shop towels
- Household cleaner like 409 or Windex or a surfactant such as dish soap
Steps for cleaning your mylar plastic banjo head:
-
Clean banjo head Mark the bridge by lightly applying a piece of painters tape both in front of and behind the bridge and remove the strings.
- Spray your preferred cleaner directly on to a clean, dry, soft cloth, or dip the corner of a cloth in soapy water (It’s important not to spray directly on the banjo head as this can cause the cleaner to run off into the flange).
- Use the wetted area of the cloth to scrub at the built up gunk, then simply wipe away.
- Pay extra attention to the areas where skin comes into contact with the banjo head. This is where sebum (oils excreted from skin) tends to accumulate and attract dirt.
- Remove ONE piece of painter’s tape and clean underneath it.
- Place the bridge against the edge of the remaining piece of painter’s tape and replace the first piece of tape
- Remove the second piece of painter’s tape and clean underneath it (there is no need to replace this piece of painter’s tape when done)
- Using a clean, dry cloth, wipe the entire banjo head down to get rid of any excess cleaner.
- Place the bridge against the 2nd piece of painter’s tape and restring the banjo.
- Remove the painter’s tape.
- Using a tuner, check the intonation and adjust the bridge as needed. (ABD: link to tuner here)
Cleaning a vellum or skin banjo head
Some banjo players prefer the warm sound of a vellum or “skin” banjo head. Cleaning a banjo head made from skin or hide is very similar to cleaning a mylar plastic banjo head except that you should not use any liquids on a skin banjo head since it will damage the head. A standard wedge eraser will do the trick in a jiffy.
What you will need to clean your vellum banjo head:
- Painter’s tape
- A pink wedge eraser such as PaperMate Pink Pearl or Ticonderoga
- A clean, dry, soft cloth or lint-free shop towel
Steps for cleaning your your vellum banjo head:
- Mark the bridge by putting a piece of painter’s tape both in front and behind the bridge and remove the strings.
- Using the eraser, rub the dirty areas back and forth just as you would to erase pencil markings on paper.
- Remove ONE piece of painter’s tape and clean underneath it.
- Place the bridge against the edge of the remaining piece of painter’s tape and replace the first piece of tape.
- Remove the second piece of painter’s tape and clean underneath it (there is no need to replace this piece of painter’s tape when done).
- Using a clean, dry cloth wipe the entire banjo head down to get rid of any excess eraser residue.
- Place the bridge against the 2nd piece of painter’s tape and restring the banjo.
- Remove the painter’s tape.
- Using a tuner, check the intonation and adjust the bridge as needed.
Using these simple techniques will bring your banjo head back to looking clean and bright in a matter of a few minutes with minimal effort. My favorite kind of effort!
What is a banjo head made of?
The banjo is a descendant of West African stringed instruments like the Akonting, the buchundu, and the xalam. These instruments were made of calf or goat skin stretched over a gourd with a papyrus stalk through the body. Following the tradition, banjo heads of the early 19th century were typically made from the hide of an animal; usually cow, deer, or goat. I’d bet dollars to donuts someone has one made from opossum hide. Though interesting, it would be highly atypical.
During the 20th century, plastic banjo heads gained popularity for their durability, lower cost, and brighter tone. Today banjo players have many different choices of mylar plastic banjo heads including frosted, Fiberskyn, and Kevlar.
When should I replace my banjo head?
If properly cared for, you will likely never need to replace your banjo head. A banjo head is tough and can literally last a lifetime. Typically, replacing a banjo head only needs to be done if there is damage from an impact, overtightening, or years of overly vigorous playing. Similarly, many banjo players will want to replace their head for aesthetic purposes. Mylar plastic banjo heads may have paint or frosting on them that wears away over time leaving the head looking worn. The banjo head remains intact and still serves its purpose, it just doesn’t look as nice.
However, if you are looking to replace your banjo head, we’ve written up in-depth instructions on how to do it!
Banjo head maintenance
By following a daily cleaning routine of wiping down your banjo head before and after playing, it will help prevent sebum, dander, and assorted other bodily excretions from building up on your banjo head. Keep a clean, soft, dry cloth with your banjo and use it to frequently wipe off any dust before you play and any sweat, pick dust, beer, or dander when you are through playing. Maintaining a clean banjo head will make the steps of cleaning it much quicker and easier when the time comes to get in there and give it a good cleaning.
