Banjo

A banjo is a stringed musical instrument that features a long neck and a circular tambourine-like body. It has a metal or wooden rim with a drumhead made of plastic polyester or animal skin. There is a tailpiece, built opposite the neck and a bridge for supporting the strings. The vibration is transferred from the bridge to the soundboard or other amplifier for producing the audible sound. The banjo belongs to the guitar family and is played by plucking with a pick or the fingers. This instrument offers a percussive sound that makes it favourable for bluegrass and folk music. Dixieland bands often use the banjo as a solo or rhythm instrument. A banjo features four (plectrum and tenor banjos) or five strings and the optional fifth string serves as a thumb-plucked drone as it is pegged at the fifth fret. Another version, the six-string, is quite popular nowadays. It can be tuned and played in the same way as a guitar.

The original banjo was introduced to the United States and the western world by African slaves. Those instruments lacked frets and were used at minstrel shows in the nineteenth century. Banjos were exported to Europe as their popularity increased. The early jazz musicians employed the banjo to good effect. One can learn the different Banjo chords from various books that even graphically illustrates how to play the instrument.