The banjo is a stringed musical instrument. Plucking strings that are stretched over a drum box, or pot plays it. The “pot” of the banjo is made of a thin membrane of plastic or animal hide stretched over a circular frame of wood and metal. Generally, the banjo constructed with 4 or 5 strings though there are some makers who offer them with 6 and even 12 strings. Banjo playing is characterized by its fast plucking of the strings. Notes are played in sequence rather than together in chords as in guitar playing.

The banjo is a stringed musical instrument. Plucking strings that are stretched over a drum box, or pot plays it. The “pot” of the banjo is made of a thin membrane of plastic or animal hide stretched over a circular frame of wood and metal. Generally, the banjo constructed with 4 or 5 strings though there are some makers who offer them with 6 and even 12 strings. Banjo playing is characterized by its fast plucking of the strings. Notes are played in sequence rather than together in chords as in guitar playing.

In a five-string banjo, the fifth string or drone string is shorter than the others. The drone string produces a monophonic effect that adds harmony to the piece played. Further, unlike other stringed instruments the five-string banjo does not play notes in order from low to high across the neck of the instrument. Instead, the order from low to high notes is fourth, third, second, first, and then fifth.

There are many different playing styles, but the banjo and its unique sound are associated with bluegrass, folk, Dixieland and country music. Some famous and influential players are Earl Scruggs, Pete Seeger, Bela Fleck, Charlie Poole, and even Mark Twain. Scruggs is known for his unique style of play while Seeger altered the neck and fret structure.

While most people associate the sound of the banjo musical styles of the southern United States, African slaves developed the instrument from predecessors like the lute. Lutes, which were made from gourds, have been around for thousands of years on the African continent.

The instrument made its way into the musical styles common in the south and Appalachian regions as white sharecroppers acquired the instrument from their slaves. The sound became incorporated into the bluegrass and folk music of the southern United States. In contemporary music, the instrument has gained popularity and can be heard even in Indie rock music. Of interest as well is that comedian Steve Martin has won a Grammy for his play of the banjo.

Variants of the banjo exist including the electric banjo. The Plectrum and Tenor banjo each have four strings. The Tenor banjo also has a shorter neck. They tend to be played in accompaniment. Finally, there are a number of hybrid instruments including the banjo-mandolin cross, or banjolin.