Everyone Needs to Learn the Banjo
No one is ever sad when there is a banjo playing.
Whether a tenor banjo or a bluegrass banjo, or ANY banjo, this is one musical instrument that brings life where ever it goes.
Here's what folks often hear me say about the banjo:
They often SMILE AT ME when they see the banjo.
But they always LAUGH WITH ME when I start to play!
Banjo Players Anonymous
A Confession: Part 1
Hi, My name is Jack. And I'm a banjo-holic.See, it all started back when I was a kid.
Some weeknight evening I'd be off doing my thing when my Father would scream at the top of his lungs, "Jackie, they are playing some good music on TV. Come see."
(yes my family called me 'Jackie' when I was young, even after I insisted that Jackie was a GIRL's name. Something tells me they called me that all the more.)
See, my Dad knew I had an appreciation for music even at a relatively young age. And growing up in America in the 1960's and 70's afforded many opportunities on TV and radio to feed that addiction.
But the funny thing is that whenever Dad screamed for me to come hear some music, it was usually the kind of music that HE preferred. It was mostly Country or Hillbilly music that I was forced to listen to.
Not just when it came on prime time TV either. Oh, no. We had to listen to this twangy stuff as it weaved in and out of our car's AM radio for the entire three hour trip to Grandma's house. (I'm afraid for me it wasn't simply 'over the river and through the woods' to Grandmother's house)
But as always happens, I finally grew too old to come running every time the banjo started droning on the TV set.
Amazon: Old Time Banjo
Old Time Banjo
DVD Old-Time Banjo Clawhammer Style
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 10/08/2008)
List Price: $29.95
Banjo Player Anonymous Pt. 2
Banjo Confession Part 2
I guess Dad figured it out as I got slower and slower in my coming to the TV to see the (country) music he was so thrilled with.So, I grew up and started listening to MY kind of music. The Rock and pop music of the day. Not that old-fashioned stuff of my Dad's. Besides, he never came running when something I liked came on TV, did he?
But my musical tastes came full circle as soon as I listened closely on the radio to the hit song 'Take It Easy'. You see, Bernie Leadon of the Eagles just HAD TO play the banjo in the background of that big hit 'Rock song'.
So now a difficult situation arose in my mind.
1] Dad's music WASN'T cool.
2] Dad's music nearly always included the bluegrass banjo.
3] The Eagles WERE cool.
4] THEY included the bluegrass banjo.
Therefore...
I bought a banjo! And I haven't turned back since. (Thanks Dad)
Poll: Your Favorite Banjo Music
Banjo
Banjo Styles
The Different Styles of the Banjo
In this lens, I have tried to give you video examples of the most popular styles of play on the banjo. Here is my quick list of these very different playing styles.Dixieland - is a strumming style played on the 4-string tenor banjo. In the traditional dixieland band, filled with mostly horns, the banjo is the only instrument that provides the chords and the rhythm.
Old-Time - This pluck/strum style of part melody and part chords, is played on the skin headed 5-string banjo with a thumb and strum pattern.
Clawhammer - Based on the old-time style above, players like Pete Seeger and others popularized this accompaniment style.
Bluegrass - This 3-fingered style often called the (Earl) Scruggs Style, is played in a tight plastic headed 5-string banjo with a thumb and two finger picks to achieve its bright sound.
Melodic - This style, also known as (Bill) 'Keith Style', uses the instrument and finger picks of the 3-finger style, but is based on 'melodic' combinations of notes (think Handel's melizmas) instead of repeating patterns using chords.
Modern - an emerging popularity in a new instrument that is strung like a guitar but built on a circular banjo 'pot' head assembly. This instrument allows for a playing style a bit unlike either instrument.
Certainly other styles of play could be mentioned here that include elements of ragtime and other jazz influences, cowboy and other American folk styles, even the blues and other afro-influenced styles.
Amazon: Bluegrass Banjo
Bluegrass Banjo
DVD-Beginning Bluegrass Banjo
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 10/08/2008)
List Price: $29.95
Wikipedia: Banjo
Banjo
The banjo is a stringed instrument developed by enslaved Africans in the United States, adapted from several African instruments.Bluegrass Music: The Roots." IBMA. Retrieved on 2006-08-25
The name banjo commonly is thought to be derived from the Kimbundu term mbanza. Some etymologists derive it from a dialectal pronunciation of "bandore", though recent research suggests that it may come from a Senegambian term for the bamboo stick used for the instrument's neck.
YouTube: banjo
tenor banjo
Gene Sheldon Classic Tenor Banjo on Jackie Gleason Show
How To Buy Your First Banjo
Buy the right instrument for the right job
Buying the right instrument for your favorite style is the first key.Here is a quick explanation of the various instruments available.
5-String banjo - tight plastic head, used in bluegrass and melodic styles above. Also note that the fifth string is found half way up the neck closest to the player. This is usually picked only with the thumb, and rarely fretted.
Tenor banjo - tight plastic headed 4-string banjo usually strummed in dixieland, polka, and similar styles.
Guitar banjo - is the 6-string guitar and banjo hybrid that allows guitar players to achieve the more percussive sound of the banjo. However, none of the mentioned styles, with the exception of possibly the dixieland strum, can be achieved very accurately on this instrument.
Old time - refers to the thick skin headed 5-string used in old time and other folk styles of play. This is the most authentic style of play from this instrument of African origin. For example the 3-stringed Gambri, still played in Central/Northern Africa, uses the middle string as a drone, like the 5-string banjo's fifth string is used.
So, I hope that helps you to categorize in your mind all the banjo music you may have heard. And I hope you choose to pick up your banjo of choice and start picking away.
Amazon: Tenor Banjo
Tenor Banjo
Absolute Beginners Irish Tenor Banjo
Amazon Price: (as of 10/08/2008)
List Price: $32.95
What To Look For in Buying Your First Banjo
Banjo Buying Red Flags
It doesn't matter from whom you buy an instrument, really. I've had students with 'finds' they got from eBay that were great for their needs. I've also seen some recommended instruments worth less than the case they came in.Here's a good list of red flags to stay away from.
Neck - no 'rolling' or twist as you look down the neck from the top. Also look for only a slight bow where the strings pull the neck forward. A deep bow indicate a poor or broken neck.
Frets - the 'wires' across the neck should not be loose or sharp on the edges. In a new instrument, these could be a clue to more serious workmanship issues.
Head - A plastic head should have no rips or tears around the rim. Skin heads should have no holes any where. Both types of head replacement are a much bigger job than they look.
Tuning Pegs - Make sure all the tuning pegs, especially the FIFTH PEG, can hold pitch at 'standard' G-tuning. Often a dealer may tune the string tension very low or remove the strings so you get stuck with pegs that are too worn to use. This can be quite expensive replacement.
The truth is,
loose or missing hardware,
missing or old strings,
cracked bridge or nut,
and many other situations are usually minor, and most can be done yourself, if you choose.
Hope that helps you in getting an instrument you can learn to play and start 'picking and grinning'.
-Jack Sanner
Below are my personal recommendations for stuff to get you started. You can take the list or bookmark it to see my changes as they occur.
The highest recommended items for beginning banjo players.
Here's the best begining banjo stuff from the most reliable place to get it from.
If you are contemplating, or struggling to start playing the banjo, here are the best recommendations I can make to get you started. Remember I play and teach the 3-finger Bluegrass style, so these recommendations are steered in that direction.
#1
Learning Book and CD: Starting Bluegrass Banjo
Starting Bluegrass Banjo Book and CD. Nice banjo t more...1 point
#2
One of the Best Intermediate Banjos Around
Washburn B14 5-String Banjo (with Case). If you ca more...1 point
#3
Video: Beginning Banjo
For some people seeing is believing. If you think more...0 points
#4
My Recommended 'Best Beginner Banjo'
Of all the low-end banjos I have gotten my hands o more...0 points
Amazon: Dixieland Banjo
Dixieland Banjo
Dixieland Banjo: Chords and Strums
Amazon Price: (as of 10/08/2008)
List Price:
Plexo: Banjo Music
the banjo on CD
The Essential Flatt & Scruggs: 'Tis Sweet To Be Remembered
With ample doses of talent, spirit, and charisma, more...1 point
Further Down the Old Plank Road
As on Another Country (1992) and The Old Plank Roa more...0 points
The Steve Martin Brothers
Steve Martin is the highly successful comedian and more...0 points
Old Time Mountain Banjo
Originally released by County Records in 1969, &qu more...0 points
An essential CD for the fan of old-time ballads, songs, and instrumental...
0 points
Play The Banjo Lens Feedback
Banjos Rule!
Hi from a Banjo Noob. You've certainly got a lot of useful information for the beginner, like me. I'm hoping to chart my progress at my How to Play Banjoblog. feel free to check it out sometime.
Posted August 13, 2008
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Deeringboy
Great lens my friend! I lensrolled it to my Bluegrass Festivals & Tony Rice lenses. Hi 5 to you also! Posted July 05, 2008 |
eBay: Banjo
banjos
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