Irish Banjo vs. 5 String Banjo?

''What's the difference between an Irish Banjo, a 4 string banjo and a 5 string banjo?''

A commonly asked question, the answer is simple!
Firstly an 'Irish Banjo' IS a 4 string banjo, the prefix 'Irish' is simply the style played on it, rather than the banjo itself, and a 4 string banjo being a variation of the 5 string model!

It's used mainly for chord progressions (rhythm) during traditional Irish songs, although very frequently the song will spotlight the banjo for a solo or melodic performance, in which case a tremolo and / or triplet style is undertaken.

The Irish banjo has no 'drone' string like its 5 string cousin!

The use of Irish scales, Irish melodies and other compositions most common on the Island is what gives the ordinary 4 string banjo an Irish feel, or rather, what makes it the ''Irish Banjo''.

Plectrums and picking are most widely used to technique to play Irish banjo.

''What is an Irish Tenor Banjo?''

An Irish Tenor Banjo, like the Irish banjo, is simply a variation of style on a Tenor Banjo.
What makes this variation a tenor banjo is primarily the tuning:

G2 D3 A3 E4


Which is the same tuning as a mandolin, just an octave lower.This tuning allows the player of a tenor banjo to both read, play and duplicated the fiddle (violin) and mandolin players in a performance!