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 ARCHIVED TOPIC: Snake skin head banjo in China


Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/221501

Ho C Ying - Posted - 11/26/2011:  18:01:00


Hi, folks. 



Some snake skin head banjo videos.



 



 



 



 


 


The musical instrument is called 4 string qinqin or “bianzhu” in China. The qinqin is a plucked Chinese lute. It was originally manufactured with a wooden body, a slender fretted neck, and 3 strings. The 4 string qinqin has a goat/snake skin head and a metal pot. I think it was influenced by American 4 string banjo. Because people also call it “bianzhu” (transliteration of “Banjo”) in Guangzhou, China.


 


Hope you like the videos!


 


 


Ho C Ying


 


 

Edited by - Ho C Ying on 11/26/2011 18:06:31

C Nyal de Kaye - Posted - 11/26/2011:  18:33:55


Very interestintg post, thanks for making it.


desert rose - Posted - 11/26/2011:  20:04:51


These are great, thanks. Very similar to American banjo



 



I really like the armrests on the banjossmiley



 



Looks like a rainy day in Guangzhou, my favorite Chinese city



 



Scott



 



 


MiG-19 - Posted - 11/27/2011:  02:43:37

In Okinawa, it's the samisen, 3 strings, no fret, and a snakeskin head.



   

Ho C Ying - Posted - 11/27/2011:  17:46:56

Hi, Jay. Thanks for the picture!

BrittDLD1 - Posted - 11/27/2011:  18:01:18


Hi C Ying --


 


Great links.  My banjo 'mentor', Dick Sheridan, was stationed in Okinawa during


the late-1950s. He's a "Trad Jazz" tenor player. His banjo head split, and he had


a snakeskin head put on it. 


 


I saw that banjo in the late-1970s, and it still had the sankeskin head on it. He had


worn a hole right through the head, with his pick -- but it still played and sounded great.


The areas where the scales were, was worn through. But it left a 'mesh' (or net) of the


the fibers BETWEEN the scales. (The scales are scraped off, before mounting the head.)


 


Best--


Ed Britt


 


 

Ho C Ying - Posted - 11/27/2011:  21:02:08

Thanks for the response, Ed!
I am thinking if I should use this metal pot with snake skin head on it to make a 5 sring banjo.

Don Borchelt - Posted - 11/28/2011:  03:46:37


A great video, very intriguing.  It is amazing how much our different cultures have always adapted from and influenced one another.   I notice that his wife is keeping a close eye on the money.  Smart woman.  He is still a banjo player, after all.


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