There’s a certain romance to strapping a banjo on your back and hopping on the next train headed out west. Of course, for most of us, the reality of travel is more like stuffing your banjo into the overhead compartment of a plane headed to Atlanta. Wherever you’re going, though, and however you get there,…
The banjo is one of the most iconic sounds in American music. From bluegrass to old-time to folk, the banjo can brighten up just about any song. Old-timers used to send away for a cheap banjo from a mail-order catalogs. The times may have changed, but one thing hasn’t: there are a ton of great…
Traditional Tenor Banjo Tuning: CGDA The tenor banjo first gained popularity in jazz. The punchy, loud sound could cut through back in the days before amplification, and provided a nice rhythmic backing to early jazz bands. CGDA tuning is the most popular jazz tuning for the tenor banjo, and is usually what people mean when…
The banjo has gotten a lot of well-deserved attention recently, as more and more players trade six strings for four or five. While you won’t find banjos for sale on every street corner, there are plenty of places to get your fix, both online and in person. If you’re just starting out, brands like Deering,…