Open back banjos are usually played … Open Back Banjo vs Resonator Banjo. If a banjo is closed backed then it has a resonator. It also won't ring as long (the notes won't sustain as long) and it won't sound as "bright" or "tinny" as the bluegrass banjo. Seems obvious enough! Hi there, at the moment I'm trying to get my hands on banjo. Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can read.-Mark Twain. While their design is quite similar they produce different volumes and sound. The next thing you need to focus on is the type of banjos. ... so most resonator banjos can be played open back. All a resonator does is project the sound outward. Trying to decide on one I am a clawhammer player who often times uses a resonator banjo. The resonator banjo has a closed back, the style affects your playing style. The resonator is simply the back of the banjo. "F# is the new G." I know that open backs are cheaper but they have slightly different sounds and different setups but I just wanted to know what one would be better for messing about on making up riffs. Although the basic design is very similar, they both sound very different and produce varied volumes. The open back banjo is exactly what it sounds like. The question of open-back vs. resonator back banjoleles is mainly a matter of personal taste. The first question to ask is Open Back banjo or Resonator. Banjo Uke: Open Back...or Resonator???? There are different instruments for different sounds, namely an open back vs resonator banjo. It is not the type of banjo, open back or resonator, that reflects style, it is the technique the person is using who is playing the banjo. There are 2 styles of banjo, resonator and open back banjo. Resonator. I'm on a low budget and I mean low (£150 max) and I'm not sure whether to get a open back or closed back. People tend to love how cool the resonators look, but these can change the sound a little bit. TCK. The open back banjo is used in folk style music while resonator is used in Bluegrass music. The resonator directs the sound (coming out of the back) to the audience. Before you choose your banjo you need to understand the differences between an open-back design and a closed-back design, sometimes called a resonator banjo. If a banjo is open backed then it doesn’t have a resonator or back plate behind the strings. You will often hear banjos described as either open or closed back. Behind the pot and the head there is an open sound chamber. Pour it on. An open back banjo won't sound as loud because it doesn't have a resonator that the bluegrass banjo has. 11-09-2010, 03:33 PM #5. Open vs Closed (Resonator) Back Before choosing your ideal beginner banjo you should be aware of the differences between Open-back and Closed-back banjos. Back Style. Type of Banjo.