The '''banjo''' is an [[American]] string instrument, usually played in [[folk]] music or [[bluegrass]] music.
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Most Banjos have 5 strings (though the shorter Tenor Banjo has only four), one of which is shorter, and is played as a drone in the background.
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There are two main ways of playing the banjo, bluegrass style (also called Scruggs style) or clawhammer (also called old-time, or frailing) style.
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Bluegrass banjo requires the player to play a series of complex patterns, picking individual strings in quick succession, emphasizing the notes of the melody. This style was developed in the early [[20th Century]] by bluegrass musician [[Earl Scruggs]]. It is more common in the united states than clawhammer, but it much more technically difficult.
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Clawhammer has the player picking the notes of the melody interspersed with strumming all the strings together. This style is older than bluegrass style and is usually easier to learn.