The banjo is a four or five stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity as a resonator. It is an essential instrument in many styles of folk music, such as bluegrass, old-time, and country music. While the banjo is commonly associated with American folk music, it actually has its roots in West African instruments like the akonting, xalam/ngoni, and the ekonting.
History of the Banjo
The banjo originated from various stringed instruments that were brought to North America by enslaved West Africans in the 17th and 18th centuries. These instruments included plucked lutes like the halam, akonting, and xalam. The akonting and xalam in particular laid the groundwork for the development of the banjo. These long-necked lutes had strings made of animal skin or horse hair attached to a gourd resonator.
In the Americas, enslaved Africans adopted and modified these instruments using materials they had available, like gourds and animal skin for the body, and replacing strings with horse hair, gut or steel wire. Eventually the banjo began to be made almost entirely from wood rather than gourds. The most defining addition was metal frets on the neck which allowed for playing melody and chords by pressing strings in specific patterns.
Over time as the banjo was adapted to new styles of music like folk, country and bluegrass, additional strings were added to increase its range and playability. The modern banjo typically has 4 or 5 strings. The additions and modifications to the original akonting and xalam led to the creation of the quintessential American folk instrument, the banjo.
Origins in Africa
Let’s take a closer look at the specific African instruments that led to the banjo. One of the earliest was the halam, akonting or ekonting, a plucked spike folk lute found in many West African countries. This instrument generally has a long wooden neck attached to a resonator made from a gourd covered with animal skin. It typically has 2-4 strings made of horse hair attached to wooden pegs at the top of the neck.
The xalam or ngoni is another precursor to the banjo found across West Africa. This lute has a long, thin neck with a resonator made from a hollowed out gourd covered in leather or snakeskin. Older versions have just two strings while modern versions can have 3-5 strings. Both instruments are played in traditional and folk music across the region.
The akonting and xalam share many similarities to early versions of the banjo brought over by slaves. They laid the early groundwork for what would become a distinctly American take on these African instruments after generations of adaptation, modification and innovation by enslaved Africans and later black musicians and luthiers in the Americas.
Evolution in America
Once in North America, the banjo underwent rapid evolution and adaptation. Early banjos maintained the gourd body of African versions, but used wood, gut or steel for strings. One of the biggest innovations was adding frets which allowed early banjos to play full chords and melodies. As a result, the banjo became an integral part of black folk music and dance styles like jigs, reels, and breakdowns.
In the late 18th century, European-American musicians began incorporating the banjo into their own folk music, like Appalachian string bands. Soon the fully wooden banjo became popularized. In the 1830s Joel Walker Sweeney and other white banjo players increased its popularity in stage performances across the country.
After the American civil war, freed blacks increasingly gravitated towards the guitar rather than the banjo due its association with plantation culture. However, in the 20th century the banjo was revived alongside the rise of folk and old-time music. It became an iconic instrument of the American folk revival, bluegrass and country music scenes.
Modern banjos now have 4 or 5 strings with metal frets and tuning pegs similar to a guitar. While adapted for new genres, elements of the original akonting and xalam live on in the modern American banjo.
Types of Banjos
There are now several major types of banjos which highlight its versatility across different styles of folk music.
5-String Banjo
The most common banjo today is the 5-string banjo. It has a resonator and a short fifth string specifically for playing chords. This lets musicians play melody notes on the other four strings while accompanying themselves with chords on the fifth string. The 5-string became a staple of American folk music and bluegrass.
Tenor and Plectrum Banjo
These 4-string variations without a fifth chord string were developed in the early 20th century. They were adapted from the 5-string for use in dance band music. The shorter neck of the tenor banjo allowed for playing chords required in this style of music. The plectrum banjo has a wider neck more suited to playing with a pick or plectrum.
Open Back Banjo
Open back banjos do not have a resonator and produce a softer, mellower tone. They were originally used in older African American folk music as well as inAppalachian string bands along with fiddles and other folk instruments. These are still used in folk and old-time music today.
Electric Banjo
As with many acoustic instruments, banjos were electrified once amplification technology became available. Electrified 5-string banjos allowed the instrument to be heard in large bands and live music venues. Contemporary bluegrass bands frequently amplify the banjo players along with other instruments and vocals.
Tuning the Banjo
Modern 5-string banjos are tuned to an open G chord with the notes G, B, D, G, D from lowest to highest string. The shorter 5th string is tuned to D above the 4th string. This lets the instrument play chords in G tuning using all open strings.
Other banjo types tune differently. Tenor banjos are often tuned to C tuning, also called Irish tuning. Plectrum banjos are tuned to C tuning but start on a C note one octave lower. Open back banjos frequently use a double C tuning. The various tunings allow banjos to be adapted to different styles of playing.
Playing Techniques
There are several techniques used for playing melodies, chords, and accompaniment on the banjo:
Scruggs Style
Named after bluegrass musician Earl Scruggs, this is the most common style of playing the 5-string banjo. It involves picking individual strings in intricate patterns to play melodies using rolls like forward-backward rolls and alternating thumb rolls. The right hand does most of the work.
Clawhammer Style
Clawhammer gets its name from the claw-like right hand shape used to strike downwards to hit multiple strings at once. It is common in old-time Appalachian folk music. The thumb strikes downward while the fingernails brush strings up to play melody.
Chromatic Style
This jazz-influenced technique uses a plectrum or flatpick to play single-note melodic lines on the 5-string banjo. It allows for playing sharps, flats and full chromatic scales as opposed to just major and minor scales.
Rhythm Styles
For other types like tenor and plectrum banjos, strumming and picking techniques are used to play chords, fills, and chord progressions to accompany other instruments and musicians.
Notable Banjo Players
While originally an African American folk instrument, the banjo was embraced by musicians of other cultures. Here are some influential banjo players through history:
Joel Walker Sweeney
One of the earliest traveling professional banjo players and blackface minstrels in the 1830s. His playing did much to popularize the 5-string banjo.
Uncle Dave Macon
Recording artist and Grand Ole Opry star in the 1920s. His energetic singing and banjo playing helped popularize old-time country music.
Earl Scruggs
Developed the signature 3-finger picking style used in bluegrass banjo. Played in Bill Monroe’s bluegrass band and later Flatt & Scruggs.
Bela Fleck
Considered one of the greatest living banjo players across a range of styles including bluegrass, jazz, classical and world music.
Yusef Lateef
Jazz multi-instrumentalist who pushed boundaries by incorporating instruments like the banjo into progressive and psychedelic jazz in the 1960s.
The Banjo in Africa Today
While the modern American banjo evolved from traditional African instruments, conversely banjos have regained popularity in parts of Africa over the past century. Cheap imported banjos became more accessible in West Africa. The banjo fit well with existing lute and plucked instrument traditions.
Artists like Bassekou Kouyate from Mali have risen to fame playing music that combines traditional sounds like the ngoni lute with the banjo. The banjo allows access to new tonalities and scales beyond existing range of African lutes. In this way, the banjo has now come full circle.
Other groups like KonKoma combine African rhythms and melodies with old time American banjo techniques, merging both sides of the Atlantic banjo tradition.
Conclusion
While the banjo is most associated with American folk music genres like bluegrass, old-time, and country, it originated from African plucked lutes like the akonting, xalam, and ngoni. Transplanted to the Americas, the banjo underwent rapid evolution as the Africans who played it infused their musical traditions. The addition of features like frets and extra strings eventually morphed it into the American folk instrument widely used today.
The banjo comes in 5-, 6- and 4-string varieties to suit different playing techniques and styles. While clawhammer and Scruggs picking define the sounds of Appalachia, the banjo has gone on to find new life in jazz, world music, and back again in Africa. The story of the banjo is one of transatlantic musical connections and evolution.