banjo

The banjo is a stringed instrument characterized by a circular body with a drum-like head, a fretted neck, and usually four or five strings. The five-string banjo is the most common in traditional American folk and bluegrass music, and features a short fifth string that provides a drone.

Construction typically includes a wooden shell, a metal pot or a hoop with a skin or synthetic head, and a neck connected to the body. A bridge and tailpiece transmit string vibrations to the head, while many models have a resonator on the back to project sound. Variants include four-string tenor and plectrum banjos, as well as six-string versions and other hybrids designed for different styles and playing techniques.

Origins trace to West African instruments brought to the Americas by enslaved people in the 18th century, evolving within American folk performance and minstrelsy. In the 20th century the banjo diversified into bluegrass, country, folk, and other forms of music, with distinct playing traditions such as frailing or clawhammer and the three-finger picking style becoming widely associated with the instrument.

Playing and tuning: the five-string is most often tuned to open G (g–D–G–B–D), with the short fifth string tuned to A. Other tunings are used for different genres and repertoires. Strings are typically steel on most banjos, though nylon strings are used on some beginner models. The banjo remains popular worldwide, featuring in traditional ensembles as well as contemporary and fusion music.