Changes

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.

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.

Banjos with 4 strings are tuned as DGBD, and banjos with 5 strings are tuned as GDGBD.<ref>http://www.folkofthewood.com/Images10/tuning5stringbanjo2.jpg</ref>

There are two main ways of playing the banjo, bluegrass style (also called Scruggs style, or three-finger style) or clawhammer (also called old-time, or frailing) style.

There are two main ways of playing the banjo, bluegrass style (also called Scruggs style) or clawhammer (also called old-time, or frailing) style.

Bluegrass banjo requires the player to play a series of complex patterns ("rolls"), picking individual strings in quick succession, emphasizing the notes of the melody. To achieve this, a player wears picks on two of his fingers and the thumb, with his hand held stationary over the strings.  This style was developed in the mid [[20th century]] by bluegrass musician [[Earl Scruggs]]. It is more common in the United States than clawhammer, but is sometimes considered more technically difficult.

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.

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.  In the usual style, only the thumb and index finger are used, and strings are struck by the back of the fingernail.

 

The banjo is also popular in [[Ireland]] where it is often played in [[Celtic music]]. The banjo was brought to Ireland from the [[United States]] by returning emigrants. In addition to its use in bluegrass and old-time music, the banjo was an important instrument in early [[jazz], and in recent times has been used in a variety of genres, including [[classical music]] and [[rock and roll]].

 

Notable banjo players include Eddie Peabody, Grandpa Jones, "Stringbean" Akeman, Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, Bill Keith, and more recently Tony Trischka and Bela Fleck.  Comedian [[Steve Martin]] is also a talented banjo player, and won a Grammy in 2002 for a performance with a group that included Earl Scruggs.