Choosing Your Instrument: What You Should Know About the Banjo
There are many musical instruments that we could choose to play, but few are simpler than the 5-string banjo. Let us then consider the banjo further and how it would be to start learning on as perhaps a first instrument.
Origins of the Banjo
The banjo is a musical instrument that dates to the early 1600s. It is thought to have been invented by the African Slaves of the Caribbean. If you would like to play something with a lot of history attached to it and have some sympathy for those who invented it, then the banjo is such an instrument. You may well have learned much of the history attached to it in a school lesson or from a history book.
The spelling of banjo has changed over time. The way it was written varied in the 1840s compared to the 1700s. The name banjo is derived from “Bantu Mbanze” which is another stringed instrument of African origin.
Joel Sweeney was thought to be the first white man who would professionally play the banjo. If you are into diverse cultures, then it is good to play a multi-cultural instrument to prove that desire and affection for us all to get along as just one race.
What is a Banjo?
We know a banjo today as a stringed instrument that plays folk music, Dixieland jazz, and bluegrass. It consists of a stretched membrane over a frame to form its resonator. This membrane will usually be circular and made from plastic, although occasionally animal skin. If you do not like the idea of it being animal skin, then seek out a new banjo rather than a second-hand one inside a shop selling antiques and old instruments. The tensioned head is similar to that of the drumhead.
The main body of the banjo can be made from wood or metal. That latter was common in the manufacture of older banjos.
The five strings that the banjo is tuned to include G, D, G, B, D. The banjo is tuned to the G-chord. This means that if you simply strum the instrument without any fingering, you will end up with a G-chord.
How is a Banjo Played?
Five-string banjos are played with fingers or fingerpicks by tradition. Tenor and plectrum banjos are played using a pick, whether that is to strum the full chords or the single-note melodies that feature in traditional Irish music. There are lots of assorted styles that you can play in as you become competent at playing the instrument.
A 4-string banjo as opposed to a five-string is known as a plectrum banjo. It will have a long neck. They are picked with a flat pick and normally played with fingernails, tips, or picks.
As with many musical instruments, you can make it harder to play, depending on the exact type of musical instrument that you choose.
Is the Banjo Easy to Play?
The 5-string banjo is considered the easiest stringed instrument for you to get started on. It has been known to help inexperienced players decide to learn a musical instrument, to then end up lifelong musicians. The reason that this instrument is simpler to play than most is because it has standard open G tuning.
Compared to a guitar, a banjo is certainly not considered more difficult. Instead, easier because the strings are of a lighter gauge and so easier to push down. It will not take long to master a few simple musical creations on either instrument. Then we can play every day and become increasingly skilled. We can then join fellow musicians and learn from each other when it comes to improving our tone and playing techniques.
To learn the banjo, we can become self-taught, learn from a parent or sibling, online videos, or a qualified music teacher. We can play the banjo for fun and then end up making it our profession. Most musicians will play several instruments for versatility and interest.
Banjos make the perfect starting instrument for those looking for a stringed instrument to learn on. They are also easier and quicker to learn and master than many other types of musical instruments. Then you can always progress to playing a range of instruments. In the beginning, though, you want an instrument that you or your child can easily and affectionately take to so that nobody is put off by how difficult making music could be to a beginner. It does take hard work and dedication in the long term but can start with simplicity. Although, of course, there is a natural talent to think of. This is something superstar musicians will possess.
