6 String Banjo
6 string banjo, is it a real instrument?
6 String Banjo, while there are some who would argue that a 6 string banjo is not a real musical instrument at all, there are others who have dedicated their musical careers to the unique sounds this banjo instrument can produce. It has been said,” If you can play a guitar, you can play a six string banjo.”
Who discovered the 6 string banjo?
A British discovered instrument, the six string banjo has been around for more than a 100 years. Variations of the 6 string banjo’s roots have been found as far back as the middle 1800’s. Many of the hybrid string instruments that are in existence today came from crossing the banjo with other stringed instruments. The majority of these will use the body of an ordinary banjo, often with a resonator for its amplification, and add the neck of the other instrument to create their own version on the banjo.
6 string banjos, it’s not about the looks.
Whether you play a 4 string, 5 string, 6 string, 7 string, or even an 8 string banjo, we all know it’s not about the looks of your instrument, but the uniqueness and quality of the sound it produces. Popular with not only world class musicians from around the globe, but the occasional backyard player as well, all looking for that different quality of sound have been drawn to the strings of a banjo.
The sound of a 6 string banjo.
The musical sounds produced by the banjo, and the many different variations of, have touched all faucets of the music world from classical musicians, bluegrass bands, many of the jazz greats, gospel, ragtime, hillbilly players, country western, rock and roll, and backyard pickers alike, have all sought to implant their musical personalities through the magical sounds that only a 6 string banjo can produce.
A 6 string banjo by any other name, is still a six string banjo.
6 String Banjos through the years have been called by many names, some of which include; guitanjo, guitjo, ganjo, banjitar, or bantar. Whatever you call it, it still looks like a guitar but it sounds like a banjo. For many, you either really like the 6 string instrument, or you don’t, however one thing is for sure, it does have the capability of a wider range of musical expression to add to your musical repertoire. We happen to like the 6 string banjo.
We say, give the 6 string banjo a chance.
