In Dead Rails, the banjo serves both a musical and a gameplay function:
- You can play the banjo by moving your camera up and down to produce five different notes, allowing you to create simple melodies or play specific tunes like the "Linga Guli Guli" song
- The pitch of the note depends on the vertical position of your cursor or camera view, with the notes arranged in a somewhat unusual order from lowest to highest pitch: 2, 3, 4, 5, and 1 (where note 1 is the highest pitch)
- The banjo can be used for entertainment, lightening the mood during gameplay, and adding a fun, quirky element to the apocalyptic setting
- Importantly, when used by the Musician class, the banjo can heal other players, providing a supportive role in the game
- You can acquire the banjo by playing as the Musician class, which always spawns with one, or by purchasing it in General Stores found in forts for $20
Thus, the banjo in Dead Rails is a multifunctional item that allows players to play music, heal teammates (if Musician class), and add a unique, fun dynamic to the survival experience.
