Reddit reviews Snark SN-8 Super Tight All Instrument Tuner

If you're in Denver drop by, I'll give you my spare Kay.

That said, getting one is a good start. There's a balance though, if you pay a lot you'll get one that works well and you'll know that the times when it sounds bad are because you're just learning. If you get a crappy one, rebuild it and then play it and it sounds bad then it MIGHT be the instrument and it MIGHT be you which can add some stress. Personally I went with the cheapest I had access to, rebuilt it and the I've played it for a couple of years and only recently discovered that the high frets are in the wrong places making it impossible to stay in tune above, say the 14th fret.

I started with the "complete ignoramus" book https://www.amazon.com/Bluegrass-Banjo-Complete-Ignoramus-Book/dp/1883206448 , learning some tunes and then took actual lessons from a human. You'll need finger picks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhLInd4ZhjE (if you aren't going to learn clawhammer https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=AMv0rT4CYPg) and a tuner https://www.amazon.com/Snark-Super-Tight-Instrument-Tuner/dp/B00646MZHK.

Then get on banjohangout and try

He won't know what he wants. Just get him something good inexpensive. Depends on how limited your budget is. Craigslist used would be your best bet, but I have you a good list that would take a lot of thinking out of the equation


http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/DTY30-000.htm

Tuner:

Case: call elderly and have them suggest an inexpensive 000 hard case that will fit with the guitar above. They'll probably do a combo discount if you ask.

Picks:

Strap:

Guitar stand:

The best clip-on tuner I have found is the snark super-tight. I was a big fan of the old ones, but this newer model is damn near perfect. The only time it lets me down is when the whole band is playing, the latent vibrations can cause it to have issues. Between songs though, its a champ and it looks cool.

Also if you have trouble with the B, try tuning to the 12th fret harmonic instead. The tone will have less over/undertones and is an octave higher which helps quite a lot.

Definitely don't use an app for your tuner. I recommedn the Snark clip on tuners: http://www.amazon.com/Snark-Super-Tight-Instrument-Tuner/dp/B00646MZHK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421186467&sr=8-1&keywords=snark

The display is user friendly, and all of my beginning students find them easier to use than a traditional tuner.

While I don't recommend a tuner app, I do recommend a metronome app. They work great!

if you do get a tuner, make sure to get a clip on. they're convenient, easy to use and you can just leave it on your peghead so it's always there for you. I use this one from Snark. I've been using mine heavily for a year with no issues.

I bought mine on Amazon for $130, the store that was selling through them might no longer be with them. As for a tuner, this is what I use and it works excellently.