Nekkid Music General Store

Always visit your local musical instrument accessory retailer first. By supporting the local merchant, you help your neighbors to make their rent, feed their families, and be good productive members of our communities. As my ol’ Dad used to say… “Your gonna want that.”

In case you don’t have anywhere locally to turn to, or don’t know where to start, this is your General Store… It will send you directly to a page where you can order the product (usually from Amazon) and get it shipped right to you.

Bracket Banjo Strap

A banjo strap strap that attaches to the brackets is great if your banjo is not too heavy. Below is a nice version of a bracket strap that I have tried on a light-weight “bottlecap” banjo. The little leather “lockers” that hook onto the brackets are much quieter and do not rattle like the metal or hard plastic hooks that come with some bracket straps. >>> Click Here to see the full description in Amazon. <<<

Guitar Strap Adapter for a Banjo

If you have access to a cool guitar strap, you can adapt it for a lighter banjo with these two little leather bolt on pieces. >>> Click Here to see the full description in Amazon. <<<

Cradle Style Banjo Strap

A cradle. If your banjo is more than 8 pounds consider a cradle-type strap that goes all the way around the banjo for security and weight distribution. >>> Click Here to see the full description. <<<

Guitar Strap

There are all kinds of guitar straps. My favorite is a leather strap with a two-piece adjustable design, mounted on two simple strap buttons. This is just less wear on the guitar and my shoulders. If the strap is on a guitar that I primarily play seated, I might attach the guitar on an end pin or end button, and around the headstock with a little headstock quick release adapter. You can use the headstock connection while standing, but it does put more stress on the guitar neck and it just isn’t as comfortable over longer periods of time – to me anyway.

Simple leather guitar strap. Here is a nice simple leather strap with a lace on leather adjustment strap. This kind of strap won’t slip, adjusts well, doesn’t dig into the guitar finish, fits easily in the case, and won’t shed little bits of padded faux leather in your case or stick that stuff to your guitar. That thin leatherette-covered shoulder padding feels good when it is new, but it kind of “rots”, flakes off, and makes a huge mess. For my money simple leather is best. >>> Click Here to see the full description. <<<

Guitar Strap Extender. Attaches your strap at the guitar headstock. >>> Click Here to see the full description. <<<

Capos

A capo. You use the capo to raise the key that you play in, while not changing your fingering position. If you capo on the second fret, and play as you would open, your G chord progression raises in pitch to become an A chord progression. Here is the tricky part… You need TWO capos for the 5-string banjo. One for the first four strings and one for the 5^th string. You can get 5^th string capos that attach when needed and capo systems that need to be mounted to your banjo by a luthier (instrument builder or repair person). Installed 5^th string capos can be tiny little spikes that you hook the string under or a capo that moves on a rail that is installed on the banjo neck.

Simple Banjo Capo

Inexpensive, easy to use elastic capo. I always seem to have a couple of these stuck in instrument cases or desk drawers. Simple reason… They work, and they don’t take up much room. >>> Click Here to see the full description. <<<

Better Quality Banjo Capo

Many different kinds of better Banjo capos… The capo I like to use is the Paige. It just sits nicely above the nut until you need to use it. It will work down to the 4th fret. To capo below the 4th fret you likely want to use a guitar capo anyway. >>> Click Here to see the full description. <<<

Banjo 5th String Capos

There are three different ways to capo your 5th string on a 5-string banjo.

Clamp on 5th string capo. Some pickers love these things… Never have worked great for me, but they do the basic job. The best thing about them is that you don’t have to drill into your banjo neck or fingerboard to use the device. >>> Click Here to see the full description. <<<

Model railroad spikes. If you visit Stewmac.com you can search for banjo fifth string capo spikes. If you are not super confident about drilling into your banjo fingerboard and hammering little spikes into it, you will likely need to have a luthier install these for you. Many pro banjo players like this approach, and it is simple to use. Just hook the 5th string under the spike at the fret you want to capo to and you got it. Having said that… These things are not my favorite. They can pop out over time, they bug my hand when fretting the fifth string, and they can wear out the string and break it using them. But if you want to try ’em, hunt ’em down, find a luthier for installation, and give it a whirl.

Bar style 5th string capo – or Shubb banjo bar capo. THIS is my go-to capo for the fifth string on my personal banjos. I love this thing. It is a little fidgety to install so it would be wise to consult with a luthier on this one as well, unless you are fairly handy and super confident to drill into your banjo neck and screw the capo in place. Sounds scarry, but the performance is there once installed. You can get them in nickel or gold plating to match your other banjo hardware. >>> Click Here to see the full description. <<<

Guitar Capo

There are several different styles of guitar capos. And several very strong opinions on what makes a good capo or even a favorite capo. There is a lot to consider… Radiused or flat fingerboard? 6-string or 120string guitar? Nylon or steel strings? If nylon, folk, flamenco, or classical necks? Do you want the capo to barre all the courses of strings – or just four or five strings at a time? (Some specialty capos can barre any combination of the strings of a 6-string guitar). So just to get you started, here is my favorite all-purpose, steel-6-string-radiused fingerboard guitar capo. It’s easy to set on the neck, super light (so it won’t rob vibrations from the neck(, and it stays out of the way of my fretting hand when it’s attached. This an Amazon link so look around at the other models when you get there. It’s a good hours worth of window shopping to pick out an inspiring capo to try. If you are a beginner, consider going to a music store and getting some help picking out a good starter capo. >>> Click Here to see the full description. <<<

Cases and Gig Bags

Case or a gig-bag. Either works great to protect your instrument, but again if your instrument is really heavy, if your travel is extensive, or if your instrument is a real investment that you want the best protection for, a hard case will be the best choice. the hard-shell case is a better armor for your investment. If you regularly check an instrument for airline travel, you will want to drop some serious coin on a heavy-duty flight case. Below are some links to some basic choices, but there are a multitude of choices for you to review – be sure to match the case with your instrument description and style, including key dimensions to assure a good fit. As for my favorite(s) and recommendation, I really like the Crossrock brand and have purchased several of them to protect my personal instruments.

Gig Bag: