Looking for banjo history

Subject: Looking for banjo history
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 11 Oct 99 - 08:41 PM

I've checked the previous banjo threads and found some history in the 'What is a plectrum banjo?' thread, but I would like to learn more about the history of the banjo. Suggested books? I found a blue clicky 'Banjo History Site' but it was out of order. Did I miss Banjo History somewhere between all the Banjo Wise Crack threads? Any Mudcatting Banjo lover in the mood to tell "Once upon a time........." Little Neo

Subject: RE: Looking for banjo history
From: Dani
Date: 11 Oct 99 - 11:49 PM

No stories to tell, but a friend has a wonderful history of the banjo. I'll get the name and author for you in a day or so. I want to say it's by Tommy Thompson, but I'll check. Refresh this thread if no one else has got it and I forget!

Dani

Subject: RE: Looking for banjo history
From: j0_77
Date: 12 Oct 99 - 12:02 AM

Tenor Banjo is a 4 string - tuned like a fiddle - GDAE there is also a C version it has a shorter neck - The regular one is like a 5 String but does not have the little tuning peg half way along the neck.

5 String Tuned gDGBD- regular resonator type used for Bluegrass - Open back used for folk. Fretless often home made - Gut strings and no frets great fun to play :0) Frank Profitt played one of these.

Elderly Instruments has a website and there are pics there ...cant recall the url ..do a search with Yahoo.

Subject: RE: Looking for banjo history
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Oct 99 - 12:17 AM

j0_77, The tenor exists in several forms and is believed to have first come into existance in or around 1915. What most people would consider to be the "standard" tenor is a 19 fret instrument (as opposed to the 22 frets on the 5 string and the plectrum) and (although I have discovered that there is an 18 fret) the other, short scale model has 17 frets.

The tuning of the tenor is not governed by the number of frets but as a pretty good guide line, a jazz player is likely to tune it to CGDA and a player of celtic or other folk dance is likely to go to GDAE (an octave below the fiddle).

Also, several "celtic" players (and I am one of them - even if not a good one) prefer the 17 fret models because of the shorter stretch for the left hand when playing in the first position. A jazz player who wants to play chords up the neck is likely to prefer the 19 fret which gives a bit more space for this.

Jon

Subject: RE: Looking for banjo history
From: j0_77
Date: 12 Oct 99 - 12:37 AM

Thanx Jon ...never could get the Tenor to work for me but I can play really slowly. I got lessons from a pro once ..showed me how to 'triple' - when it is done properly it is easy but if played back to front sounds weird.

:0)

Subject: RE: Looking for banjo history
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 12 Oct 99 - 12:56 AM

j0_77, The day I become a master of triplets...

Jon

(I love the banjo all the same)

Subject: RE: Looking for banjo history
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 12 Oct 99 - 02:11 AM

Links to a variety of sources of banjo history are available at the following website:

http://www.trussel.com/f_banj1.htm

Have fun checking it out, L'il Neo.

--seed

Subject: RE: Looking for banjo history
From: AKS
Date: 12 Oct 99 - 03:59 AM

Already seen this one?

http://homepages.together.net/~induni//4string.htm

I found the link at http://home.swipnet.se/lato/, home of Swedish band playing Irish (Celtic) music.

cheers Arto K Sallinen Joensuu, Finland

Subject: RE: Looking for banjo history
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 12 Oct 99 - 08:45 AM

This is great! Keep it going guys, I'm taking notes. Neo

Subject: RE: Looking for banjo history
From: Walt B.
Date: 12 Oct 99 - 09:40 AM

I've read "That Half-Barbaric Twang [The Banjo in American Popular Culture]" by Karen Linn, University of Illinois Press, 1994. I bought it from Elderly Instruments and enjoyed reading it ... an excellent history of the instrument I enjoy very much! I recommend it highly.

Subject: RE: Looking for banjo history
From: Stewie
Date: 12 Oct 99 - 07:25 PM

Walt B, I'll second that - it is wonderful book.