Double Bass Finally, A Good Use for Banjos

[Don Hergert]

I've never heard a nylon-string banjo, that I know of...sounds lovely.

Thank you!

That nylon strung banjo is an 1889 S.S.Stewart American Princess banjo, often used as a parlor instrument back in the day.

We commonly refer to that historical period as the "Classic Banjo" period (late 1870s to early 1930s worldwide). From ca 1880 to about ca 1910 the banjo was one of the the most popular instruments in the USA. There were banjo orchestras utilizing banjos of every range, from double bass to piccolo, frequently playing popular marches and folk tunes of the day. Gut or nylon strings were preferred and hide heads were the norm.

As the Classic Banjo period declined, the mandolin took over, again with orchestras utilizing mandolins of every range. When Jazz became popular around 1918, the banjo again became extremely popular, this time with steel strings for greater volume and clarity. Plastic heads came out in the mid 1950s and were quickly very popular among folk and bluegrass banjo players.

 

[Ed S]

...

I live in the heart of banjo country and find it to be an amazing full spectrum instrument. ...

I bought a Pisgah - made right in your neighborhood. What a sweet sounding - and beautiful - instrument. Looking forward to the day my playing does it justice.

 

[Steve Killingsworth]

It's a fine instrument, but like some others, including the harpsichord, it lacks certain qualities that would lend it greater powers of expression.

Hard to imagine anything more expressive than this.

 

[Don Hergert]

For a lot of not-really-bluegrass music, banjo can actually do a piano part. That's very much what's happening there, the banjo and piano are trading off.

I also play mandolin, but the folks in my band frequently complain when I do -- they literally say it's missing the piano part, which often they depend on having there.

Bela is amazing, btw. Flat-out amazing.

 

[matthewbrown]

Hard to imagine anything more expressive than this.

I'm not talking about the performer, but about the tonal qualities of the banjo. That's a favorite album of mine. Even so, banjos produce notes of short duration and can't get much vibrato. So I'll stand by my statement, in spite of Bela's genius.

 

[GretschWretch]

You could say the same about just about any percussion instrument, and yet...

And - no disrespect intended for those who play one - I've long felt the same way about trombones.

Q: What is the difference between a frog lying dead in the middle of the road and a trombone player lying dead in the middle of the road?

A: The frog probably was on his way to a gig.

 

[GretschWretch]

Plenty of people on other forums make the same jokes about bass players. I had a craigslist dork tell me earlier this year that there is no way he would want someone who plays upright bass in his band because it is just a one trick pony and they needed something that was more versatile and could cover a wide range of music (w t f????????).....I responded that it has been working just fine covering the entire world for 300+ years. That caused him to really let loose on my "narrow minded folk instrument..."

I live in the heart of banjo country and find it to be an amazing full spectrum instrument. The challenge is not the instrument, it is the player: some can bring a tear to my eye, some can make me dance like my feet are on fire....and a few can make me run away as fast as I can with my hands over my ears.

James,

I will see your "full spectrum instrument" and raise you . . .

THIS!!

 

[GlenParks]

Kyle Ollah. Gamut guts. Duluth, MN.