The Banjo
The banjo is an instrument that is often associated with country, bluegrass, folk, traditional Irish music, and Appalachian music, as well as, heavily rooted inAfrican American music. Originally, the banjo can be traced back to the 17 th century where it was handmade from scrap item, often by enslaved people. The banjo is sometimes referred to as a drum with strings over it. The earliest versions of the instrument feature a body made of gourd or gourd-shaped shells—similar to the kora, which is heavily used in African American music. The banjo has a long wooden neck and can have anywhere from four to six strings. The banjo was a fairly common instrument that circulated through salve trades world-wide. The banjo, originally having four strings, became a popularized five-string instrument in the 1800s after Joel Walker was credited with inventing the short, fifth string—even though there are paintings of banjos with five strings that date back to the late 1700s. However, S...