Comments on: The Secret Life of the Banjo

By: Mike Schmidt

Mike Schmidt — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:00:08 +0000

For good traditional/modern playing, look up the ’60s vintage Dillards’ albums. Doug Dillard was fantastic. Sure, Bela Fleck is technically amazing, but is it really a good representation of the instrument? His approach to the banjo makes me think of modern jazz on a pipe organ.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:35:51 +0000

Steve Martin (yes that one) is an amazing banjo player too! He has some CDs that are great!

By: DWHolmz

DWHolmz — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 17:14:25 +0000

Don’t forget about Mumford and Sons

By: Bicycle Bill

Bicycle Bill — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:56:32 +0000

What is perfect pitch?

That’s when you throw the accordion into the dumpster so that it lands smack dab on top of the banjo.

And I might also mention that there is a smaller version of the original four-string banjo called the banjo ukelele — tuned and played like a ukelele, but with the round, paper-like, open-backed shell.

-”BB”-

By: PointSpecial

PointSpecial — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:20:44 +0000

I 100% agree with Rachel…

Can’t talk about the banjo without discussing Bela Fleck… he’s completely revolutionized the instrument. It isn’t just a bluegrass instrument… it’s a jazz fusion instrument that’s taken to its limits. If you haven’t heard Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, check them out. Archive.org has a bunch of free concerts that have been shared for starters!

By: deb

deb — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:51:03 +0000

Hey Rachel, good one. I actually love the banjo too. For me it never got any better than hearing Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson or the late, great Tommy Makem put a banjo through its paces!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:37:28 +0000

Sufjan Stevens plays the banjo beautifully. It all depends on how it’s played.

By: Scott

Scott — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:48:37 +0000

I had heard from several folk musicologists that Earl Scruggs had picked up the three-finger style from an earlier hillbilly picker named Snuffy Jenkins, but that turns out not to be the case. Both Earl and Snuffy acknowledge that he worked it out all on his own. I myself learned the two-finger “clawhammer” style, and when I attempted the three-finger Scruggs style, it was like a whole different universe. It really makes you appreciate what a genius he is. Two-finger “old-timey” style is fun and folksy, but three-finger bluegrass is an art form.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:16:48 +0000

@deb:

Q: What do you call 1,000 banjos at the bottom of the ocean?

A: A good start.

I actually do like the banjo, and one of my current favorite CDs is Bela Fleck & Friends’ Perpetual Motion. Classical music lovers will be amazed at how good Bach, Scarlatti, Chopin, Beethoven, and more sound when played on banjo!

By: EMStoveken

EMStoveken — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:14:35 +0000

Justification for the existence of the banjo:

The last scene of Harold and Maude.