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kayakeradam - Posted - 03/09/2026: 18:10:26
Hey folks,
We've got a beautiful screen room... and neighbors we don't want to upset. I'd love to practice banjo in the screen room, but listening to a relative novice banjoist playing a tune over and over is not being neighborly. I can play my unplugged electric guitar out there, however, and can't be heard off of our property.
So I want to make a solid body banjo.
I've got an old Goodtime that has volunteered for the conversion.
Before I reinvent the wheel, has anyone done anything like this?
And to be clear, the sound I'm going for is as close to silence as possible. I don't care if I'm using tonewoods or epoxy.
I can't be the first to have thought of this, right?
agibson258 - Posted - 03/09/2026: 18:21:41
Here’s an alternative solution: buy a 12” silent mesh drum head and some flesh hoop stock (or steal the hoop from a donor head) and mount your own mesh head.
I’ve done this with an 11” Rickard little wonder. It’s incredibly quiet but still “sounds” like a banjo. I can really dig in and the banjo will do nothing more than whisper.
Owen - Posted - 03/09/2026: 18:27:07
No help with a banjo conversion, but I sometimes just put a 5/8" X 5/8" X 3" piece of foam under the strings [next to the bridge.... away from the tailpiece]. It makes it "pretty quiet," although a noticeable "plunk" remains. YMMV??
Will Frady - Posted - 03/09/2026: 19:07:14
I would just like to thank the Almighty that I live out in the country !! The place you describe sounds like Hades to me . Neighbors that don’t like being bothered and not to mention a silent banjo.?! It sounds like you’re a good neighbor. Best of luck . I am curious as to what you come up with . Will you keep us posted ? Obliged
tdennis - Posted - 03/09/2026: 19:14:56
I think what you're aspiring to can be accomplished by what is called technique. A working musician needs to learn to control the dynamic range of the instrument. This includes playing at different levels of pianissimo. Try practicing at p, pp & ppp. ...Not easy , but easy on the neighbors.
banjered - Posted - 03/09/2026: 19:19:02
What? No one has recommended mikes mute? OK, I won't either but for the curious you can go to the reviews under "more" to the left of this page.... banjered
Nopix - Posted - 03/09/2026: 20:16:56
Well, there is the rolled up towel between the rod and head.
Helix - Posted - 03/09/2026: 20:17:05
Thin Birch plywood is readily available at Home Depot and other outlets. I had a customer who is a self-employed machinist here and he asked me to hold up on installing a head. He showed up with a perfect circle and dropped in a fine wooden banjo head.
Keeping the bridge from vibrating can be done with clothespins but please, no alligator clips. Wood needs wood.
A clothespin with reversed halves makes a model airplane clamp from the '30s. 
Edited by - Helix on 03/09/2026 20:19:41
davidppp - Posted - 03/09/2026: 21:05:09
I've never stretched mesh, but I made the fine ukulele head from a bird seed bag. Mesh would be much easier because there's no need to have much tension in it -- just enough to hold the bridge.
Even simpler than the foam under the strings right next to the bridge on the picking side is some rolled up paper towel or tissue. It mutes like a charm.
I built my own ~silent banjo to play at work. Starting with a Goodtime, a thick round of plywood would work as a ~silent head. I'd cut it to 11"D and chisel out enough around the edge from the bottom so that it slips inside the rim but hangs over with the right height on top.
Banjo-Pup - Posted - 03/09/2026: 21:35:55
I second the mesh head idea. I have a Tranjo with the mesh “silent practice” head installed. It’s as quiet as an unplugged electric guitar, maybe quieter if that’s possible. I like the idea of making your own with a larger mesh drum head and a flesh hoop.
Laurence Diehl - Posted - 03/09/2026: 22:46:46
+1 on a Mikes mute. It makes your banjo sound quite similar to an unplugged solid body guitar.
But a word of caution. Killing the sound of your banjo does kind of ruin your touch because technique relies on the feedback between the tone/dynamics you are hearing and the pressure/attack etc. of your right hand.
Edited by - Laurence Diehl on 03/09/2026 22:51:02
martyjoe - Posted - 03/09/2026: 23:53:46
quote:
Originally posted by agibson258
Here’s an alternative solution: buy a 12” silent mesh drum head and some flesh hoop stock (or steal the hoop from a donor head) and mount your own mesh head.
I’ve done this with an 11” Rickard little wonder. It’s incredibly quiet but still “sounds” like a banjo. I can really dig in and the banjo will do nothing more than whisper.
Plus 1 for the mesh drum head. While you're at it put a pickup onto it. The perfect solution to a feedback free banjo on stage. I make them with 10" pots.
lucas73b - Posted - 03/10/2026: 03:58:15
I remember when I started out learning, to keep rythm I was told to "always tap your feet". I stuffed the banjo with t-shirts but still the neighbours from below complained about that mysterious tapping sound. So I took off my shoes as well when practising.
desert rose - Posted - 03/10/2026: 04:45:48
As mentioned research the Tranjo, yes its been done
paulhealey - Posted - 03/10/2026: 04:47:57
I shove a towel in my pot. That seems to muffle it enough for me.
Someone told me they put clothespins on their bridge and that worked for them, but I can’t say I’ve tried that.
Dean T - Posted - 03/10/2026: 04:59:57
>...And to be clear, the sound I'm going for is as close to silence as possible...<
Remove the 5th and 6th string from your electric guitar. Replace the 5th string with a .010 string and tune to high g. I’ve been using my telecaster as a practice banjo for many years. I like to run the 5th string through the 6th slot at the nut, to get it away from the other 4 strings, and closer resemble the feel of the banjo open positions. It works fantastic, can be done in a couple minutes, there are no mods required, and only takes a few minutes to reverse.
Edited by - Dean T on 03/10/2026 05:08:32
Owen - Posted - 03/10/2026: 06:56:18
I can see I'm going to have to have a serious talk with my neighbours. Some summer evenings I "play/sing" out on the back deck [until the mosquitoes take over], usually with the mute taken off, and though the neighbours don't comment very often, it's always positive*. 
* which is a bit perplexing; nonetheless I thank them and remain undeterred. 
Edited by - Owen on 03/10/2026 07:01:58
DRL777 - Posted - 03/10/2026: 07:25:07
I use Mike's Mute on all my flat necked banjos when needed. I wish he made one for the radiused neck however. Mike's Mute makes all my playing quite pleasant. The bonus is that if you're working on training your ear, you'll find you can hear the note changes better, and you'll pay more attention to how cleanly you are picking because you can hear any odd attack angles/strikes.
Owen - Posted - 03/10/2026: 07:57:35
Anybody made/tried one, in this style, on a banjo?
I've considered making one, but haven't found anything suitable in my stash and I'm too much of a cheapskate to go buy one of these:
RomanS - Posted - 03/10/2026: 13:02:07
quote:
Originally posted by Owen
Anybody made/tried one, in this style, on a banjo?
I've considered making one, but haven't found anything suitable in my stash and I'm too much of a cheapskate to go buy one of these:
The fiddle player from my band gave me one of those. I trimmed some of the inside "legs", so it would fit a 5-string banjo rather than a 4-string fiddle; works surprisingly well, but it's so tall that it touches my palm when picking close to the bridge; also, the black rubber leaves smudges on the unfinished maple of the bridge.
BTW, the other day the neighbor from the apartment next to ours rang on our door when I was practicing (I usually work afternoons and evenings, so I usually practice from 10 AM to noon, and didn't expect anyone else to be home). I thought he might complain about the "noise" - but he said he liked the music, and asked when he could see my band live (I was practicing along to recordings from our band) - I invited him to our upcoming gig. He makes music, too - EDM!
EEB - Posted - 03/10/2026: 13:08:37
quote:
Originally posted by tdennis
I think what you're aspiring to can be accomplished by what is called technique. A working musician needs to learn to control the dynamic range of the instrument. This includes playing at different levels of pianissimo. Try practicing at p, pp & ppp. ...Not easy , but easy on the neighbors.
I play both finger-style and down-picking, and agree with you 100% in regard to technique and fingerstyle. Learning to vary dynamics, particularly at the quiet end of the range is a significant element of this playing style.
In practice I'm less convinced in regard to down-picking simply because of the nature of the acceleration and percussive contact between nail and string. Also that varied dynamics don't really feature in OT except the mantra to 'play quieter' when accompanying a vocal part.
Playing with less volume shouldn't distort the basic technique so that feeds back into normal playing. With fingerstyle it doesn't. But I think there is more scope for that happening with downpicking. When down-picking I would stuff my banjo to the point it's not audible to the neighbours. That leaves the finger and strings part of the process free to function.
Edited by - EEB on 03/10/2026 13:20:01
banjonz - Posted - 03/10/2026: 13:43:49
The cheapest option is to stuff a folded towel inside the rim. That mutes it down quite a lot.
Bart Veerman - Posted - 03/10/2026: 13:52:56
What others have said: a towel under the head. A clothes pin on either side of the bridge will also do.
Failing that you can give your neighbours some earplugs :)
Edited by - Bart Veerman on 03/10/2026 13:53:31
tomd7 - Posted - 03/10/2026: 14:08:03
Here's another vote for Mikes Mute. It keeps me practicing in the office.
kayakeradam - Posted - 03/10/2026: 17:06:48
Thanks everyone. To be clear, I have a clothespin style mute on the bridge and I keep a thick piece of dense foam cut to fit inside the pot. I'm looking to go quieter.
I think Davidppp has the right idea. Solid plywood, nowhere for sound to go.
Though Helix has a good thought, too. I've seen someone who sells a plastic insert that converts a banjo into an electric.
Where are folks getting mesh drum heads? Also worth exploring.
For the record, I have a couple other banjos that I play inside or at jams. This is my first banjo, kind of a beater, that I'm willing to sacrifice in the name of courtesy.
Joel Hooks - Posted - 03/11/2026: 05:59:24
quote:
Originally posted by EEB
quote:
Originally posted by tdennis
I think what you're aspiring to can be accomplished by what is called technique. A working musician needs to learn to control the dynamic range of the instrument. This includes playing at different levels of pianissimo. Try practicing at p, pp & ppp. ...Not easy , but easy on the neighbors.
I play both finger-style and down-picking, and agree with you 100% in regard to technique and fingerstyle. Learning to vary dynamics, particularly at the quiet end of the range is a significant element of this playing style.
In practice I'm less convinced in regard to down-picking simply because of the nature of the acceleration and percussive contact between nail and string. Also that varied dynamics don't really feature in OT except the mantra to 'play quieter' when accompanying a vocal part.
Playing with less volume shouldn't distort the basic technique so that feeds back into normal playing. With fingerstyle it doesn't. But I think there is more scope for that happening with downpicking. When down-picking I would stuff my banjo to the point it's not audible to the neighbours. That leaves the finger and strings part of the process free to function.
Mike, explore some of the pre old time "banjo style"/"Stroke style"/"thimble style" pieces.
The banjo style section in Frank B. Converse's Analytical Banjo Method is amazingly advanced and well thought out. His combination, hammer stroke and movement exercises cover pretty much any movement that could be made.
Many of the "thimble marches" are very effective following the dynamic markings too.
EEB - Posted - 03/11/2026: 10:05:53
quote:
Originally posted by Joel Hooks
Mike, explore some of the pre old time "banjo style"/"Stroke style"/"thimble style" pieces.
The banjo style section in Frank B. Converse's Analytical Banjo Method is amazingly advanced and well thought out. His combination, hammer stroke and movement exercises cover pretty much any movement that could be made.
Many of the "thimble marches" are very effective following the dynamic markings too.
I will. I'd be fascinated to read that early stroke-style notation for it's indication of dynamics.
To my mind it seems a loss that modern avoidance of notation tends to reduce awareness, and through that the practical application, of that expressive aspect of playing.
A fiddle-playing friend of mine has a beautiful version of 'Sweet Marie' that is a favourite at our OT session. Dynamics naturally come right to the fore on that one to everyone's advantage. But so many OT sessions are in dynamic terms quite 'unplayful' banging away at one volume all evening. Small sessions where players can hear each other and interact are a salvation. Because shared music has such potential for playfulness.
Edited by - EEB on 03/11/2026 10:09:16
Dean T - Posted - 03/11/2026: 10:36:54
I love my mikes mute, and not only is it quiet, but the guitar like tone is enjoyable. But even so, it’s still not enough to keep from driving my wife bonkers, in our small retirement condo. I’ve also done all kinds of towel stuffing, and although it’s very effective, it’s also the worst representation of tone and playing dynamics. And again, at the point it sounds practicable, it can drive others in my condo bonkers. Which is why I mentioned the banjo strung electric guitar, when the OP mentioned “as quit as possible”. It really is. I can be on the couch watching TV and wailing away, and not bother anyone. Not only that, but playing dynamics between an unplugged electric guitar, and a banjo are surprisingly similar in terms of sustain and note decay. I have no trouble hearing what I need to hear, for quality practice. If you’re hesitant to try it, just grab an electric guitar, tune the high e down to a d, and play some rolls on the lower 4 strings. That should let you know if restringing with a high g, and the method would be worth pursuing.
Laurence Diehl - Posted - 03/11/2026: 10:47:30
quote:
Originally posted by Dean T
I love my mikes mute, and not only is it quiet, but the guitar like tone is enjoyable. But even so, it’s still not enough to keep from driving my wife bonkers, in our small retirement condo. I’ve also done all kinds of towel stuffing, and although it’s very effective, it’s also the worst representation of tone and playing dynamics. And again, at the point it sounds practicable, it can drive others in my condo bonkers. Which is why I mentioned the banjo strung electric guitar, when the OP mentioned “as quit as possible”. It really is. I can be on the couch watching TV and wailing away, and not bother anyone. Not only that, but playing dynamics between an unplugged electric guitar, and a banjo are surprisingly similar in terms of sustain and note decay. I have no trouble hearing what I need to hear, for quality practice. If you’re hesitant to try it, just grab an electric guitar, tune the high e down to a d, and play some rolls on the lower 4 strings. That should let you know if restringing with a high g, and the method would be worth pursuing.
Additionally, you can plug in a headphone amp (I got one from Fender, around 100 bucks) and really have a lot of fun!
martyjoe - Posted - 03/11/2026: 11:56:47
quote:
Originally posted by kayakeradam
Where are folks getting mesh drum heads? Also worth exploring.
I get my mesh heads online from Thomman in Germany. I also live in the EU. Any drum retailers should have have them there are a wide variety of options and sizes to choose from.
Tatersoup - Posted - 03/11/2026: 17:08:49
I bought a Mikes Banjo Mute that is very good. It's brass and clamps on to the bridge.
I doubt if you could hear me in the next room unless you tried very hard - ha!
SatCotM - Posted - 03/11/2026: 22:14:34
As for the banjo-strung guitar, you can trim a little piece of sponge/felt/etc. down and stick it under the strings, against the bridge, to cut down on the sustain so the notes don't all slur together if playing amped. It only needs a tiny bit of pressure, though the heavier strings need more muting. Takes a bit of fiddling to get it right.
Dean T - Posted - 03/12/2026: 07:01:47
quote:
Originally posted by SatCotM
As for the banjo-strung guitar, you can trim a little piece of sponge/felt/etc. down and stick it under the strings, against the bridge, to cut down on the sustain so the notes don't all slur together if playing amped. It only needs a tiny bit of pressure, though the heavier strings need more muting. Takes a bit of fiddling to get it right.
I've done the same, by weaving yarn through the strings in front of the bridge. This does help when practicing with headphone and amp. Is also quite fun to bring a banjo tuned electric guitar to a plugged in rock jam
sdfarris - Posted - 03/12/2026: 09:00:46
Finally chiming in on the silent banjo discussion – I’ve been selling Tranjo travel banjos with a Silent option for over 20 years now. I got the idea after seeing a banjo builder (don’t recall their name, I think they were in Texas somewhere) who was making banjos with 10” rims, using a 10” mesh drum head, for silent play. I found out that Remo and some other drum head manufacturers were already selling mesh heads for silent practice or MIDI interfaced drums. These heads came in standard drum sizes (6”, 8”, 10”, 12”, 14”, 16”) but not in 11” banjo head size. I was able to order some custom sized 11” mesh heads from Pearl and sold those for a while, but the stretcher bands were a larger size than a banjo head, and difficult to fit on a regular banjo. I use standard 6” and 8” mesh heads, available from Amazon, Musicians Friend, Sweetwater, and other on-line retailers. The Remo heads are called Silent Stroke, so search for that name to find them.
The great advantage of a mesh head versus a solid body, wood top banjo, or a banjo mute, is the attack/decay properties of each note. A wood top or bridge mute solution will generate a long ringing decay on each note, and playing fast will produce a muddy mush of sound. The mesh head give each note more of a banjo quality – sharp attack, quick decay – which lets you get that snappy banjo sound we all know and love, without generating enough volume to wake the baby or get thrown out of a motel room. It’s about as loud decibel-wise as an unplugged electric guitar, which is plenty loud for practice purposes. If you use a pickup, you can play through a headphone amp to hear better, or plug it in to a PA to get a feedback proof concert solution.
Maurice McMurry - Posted - 03/12/2026: 10:34:01
There are several threads about this in the wayback machine here at BHO. If I remember correctly the Silent Mesh Head receives the most support. I believe A contributor documents his conversion. There has been some discussion of a bridge transducer and headphone amp in conjunction with a "dead head" too. I can imagine trying an overlay with a 10 7/8 inch Masonite disc and shorty bridge. As mentioned, a whole lot of technique dynamics will be compromised.
banjohangout.org/pages/search....ore:forum
More about Masonite
jakewildwood.blogspot.com/2018...ractical.
Edited by - Maurice McMurry on 03/12/2026 10:49:32
jdumler - Posted - 03/13/2026: 17:30:50
Just get a mute for a few bucks. If you don't want to spend the $, clip a clothespin on each side of the bridge.
kayakeradam - Posted - 03/13/2026: 18:51:31
quote:
Originally posted by sdfarris
Finally chiming in on the silent banjo discussion – I’ve been selling Tranjo travel banjos with a Silent option for over 20 years now.
Hey Tranjo guy! I've been checking out your banjos online. Such a cool concept. Unfortunately, I started playing banjo during the pandemic. I used to travel for work a lot before the pandemic; I've only been on one business trip since... wow, since March 10, 2020. Weird anniversary. I digress.
If I ever start traveling again, I'll definitely get one of your cool machines.
bolton banjo - Posted - 03/18/2026: 09:37:06
I’m from the UK where you can buy a putty-like compound called ‘Blu-Tak” Rolled into a 3/4inch cigarette shape, you just press it down onto the top of the bridge, on top of the strings. When tutoring a banjo class it’s sooooo necessary ! Kevin
Owen - Posted - 03/18/2026: 10:09:53
Thanks, Kevin. ^^ sounds like what we call Fun-Tak.
[I like to think of myself as KISS guy..... how come I never thought of that?!?!? ]
aikenj - Posted - 03/18/2026: 14:18:07
I recently purchased Mike's mute (~$50). It cuts the "noise" in half, but it is not completely quiet. I sometimes put an old sock under the strings next to the bridge on the playing side and it really quiets it down. Keeps the family happy. (I suppose any fabric, foam, or closepin will also do, but Mike's mute is only a partial solution.) However, with Mike's mute, you still get a sense for the banjo. Not so much with my sock solution. However, at this point of 'quietness', I'm really focusing on fingers and frets, trying to build muscle memory and, above all else, keep the family happy.
