And re: the Shubb 5th string capo - yes - go for it. Way better than those stupid spikes. However (I think I might have seen this in Banjo Newsletter) you can make your own 5th string capo out of a Bic pen cap. I tried it and it does work - and it’s way better than those stupid spikes.
FYI, my first instrument was plectrum banjo tuned C - G - B - D and that style is mostly chord strumming with a plectrum (that’s the fancy word for “pick”). I transitioned pretty easily to guitar - the chord forms are all different, of course, but I didn’t have any trouble. Part of that could have been my great desire to play guitar, because it was way cooler than plectrum banjo. I eventually taught myself to play 5-string banjo - well actually I’m still learning all these instruments - it’s a life-long process. The standard open G tuning for 5-string comes with yet another set of chord forms, but the challenge for me continues to be the right hand. My poor old fingers just don’t move very fast. So, like you, I kinda like strumming.
Strumming along on a banjo is really no more difficult than strumming along on a guitar. The common tunings on a banjo (open G or drop C) are a little different than a guitar tuning, so the chords are slightly different.
The problem with a banjo is capoing the 5th string. If you buy a banjo, it's a good idea to pay a little extra to have a Shubb sliding capo installed. That way, when you capo up the banjo's main four strings, you can capo up the fifth string to match.
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