Early Banjo origin, construction and playing styles and songs popular from Antebellum to Edwardian times.
5 Members, Created 12/18/2015 - 
Administrators: danl (owner)
From danl on 2/15/2016 12:07:05 PM
http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com is the best place to be if you're interested in Early Banjo. However, as with any group of hobbyists, be wary that some fads that have developed there:
+ Early Banjos came from Africa (No; the first thing known as a banjo, and spelled that way, was imported into Africa).
+ Gourd banjos were popular into and after the Minstrel Era (No; they existed, but were never popular).
+ White folk styles preceded and were contemporary to the Minstrel Era (Only evidence is for black folk styles).
+ The tunes as written in published banjo tutors were popular (No; the tunes as performed on stage were popular).
+ Frets and tuning machines were not used in Early Banjo times (Both were commonly available because early guitars used them).
+ Metal strings were not used on Early Banjos, only all gut sets (Actually metal-wound bass strings were commonly used on banjos and wire strings were available).
+ Civil War soldiers commonly marched with banjos (A rare exception; banjos most often were left behind on the march).
+ Minstrel Songs mocked only African Americans (Several other ethnics and roles were as commonly mocked).
+ The short banjo string is a "drone" (The short string does not function as a drone)
+ Anything from the old days can be Early or Minstrel Banjo (Only when the study of history becomes secondary)
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