This is an awesome education for ignorant people, who don't know the cultural history. I think knowing and celebrating the original Africans, Scottish, Scots-Irish, English, etc. people who brought these elements of what evolved into Folk, Blues, Bluegrass, Country, Rock music is important to understanding America.
Bill does a fine job, as always, on the banjo's history. As some of the comments mention, however, there's various playing styles and types of banjos left out. Most egregious to me, biased as I am, is the leap from classic style to bluegrass which omits the preceding and enduring Appalachian clawhammer and two and three-finger styles which are very popular around the country. Bluegrassers, for some reason, tend to slight old time music despite it's popularity and, as instrument stores report, open back banjos outsell bluegrass ones.
I've been pickin the banjo (bluegrass) for more than 35 years now and I have to tell you, I just love your analogy, or "definition" of the banjo. A drum on a stick. Pretty much made my day. Thank you.
My understanding is that Joel Walker Sweeney (1810-1860) was the musician who redesigned the African instrument into the modern 5-string banjo that is known today. Although slaves had apparently already added the fifth string, it was Sweeney who popularized the new form on the minstrel circuit. He toured with his two brothers Sam and Dick in the minstrel shows from 1831-to his death in 1860. During the Civil war Sam Sweeney served as Major General J.E.B Stuart's personal banjo picker until Sweeney's death in the winter of 1863/1864.
Been watching a lot of banjo videos while I wait for my first to arrive. One thing I've seen in common with them all is the quiet joy on the player's face when they play
Thank you very much! I could not figure it out. At first I thought it was "Yesterday", then I picked up hints of "Norwegian Wood." I am glad to know I at least had the band right.
The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashioned by African-Americans in the United States, adapted from African instruments of similar design.
Hey if you've never wanted to fuck to the sweet sweet sound of metal picks on metal strings amplified by a trashcan with dead horse skin stretched across it, then clearly you haven't been playing it right!
It was Porter Wagoner & the Wagonmasters. He (Buck) played the Electric Banjo on the song"Daddy was an Old time Preacher man" that Porter sang with Dolly Parton.
They were the main minstrel banjo. And still played prominently in the Philadelphia mummers parade. The string bands are almost exclusively tenor banjos.
And don't forget Eddie Peabody. He also had an electric banjo he called a banjorine. Here in Texas, Smokey Montgomery with The Light Crust Doughboys was a very famous tenor banjo player!
@@onlyrick In Ireland when all the guys that were playing in jazz bands started leaving them to there families they ended up on the market and were taken up by the trad players. In the US they have all been gathered up and had necks swapped out to convert them to blue grass banjos. That is why the old jazz banjos are so hard to find in the US. Now they are hard to find in Ireland and they have to make new ones. Gery O Connor probly has twenty.
What a great presentation by Mr. Bill Evans, who is obviously a fine and accomplished banjo player. I also love his enthusiasm. I play banjos too, although I wouldn't put myself in a league with Bill Evans. Like most lovers of the banjo, I have my favorites......... Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, Jim Mills, Stringbean, Mike Seeger, Pete Seeger..... there are SO many great ones that it's just not fair to list only a few. The only problem I have is with the stories and theories of where the banjo originated. Personally, I don't believe that the first banjos came from Africa. But it doesn't really matter where they came from.....at least we have them, to give us that great sound and enjoyment.🪕
I've played the banjo on and off for the past 25 years... but it took your 14 minute video for me to get the big picture. Thanks so much for posting this! Wonderful!
Thanks. Good presentation. Now ... how about banjeaurine, mandolin banjo, piccolo banjo, plectrum banjo and tenor banjo. Oh, and banjo uke. I love banjos - all kinds and all styles.
Excellent work. Interesting that Mr. Evans refers to clawhammer style a couple of times but never actually demonstrates it or explains its origins. Still, the knowledge and musical virtuosity on display here is tremendous.
Some rather opinionated comments at this juncture. This is a fourteen minute video with plenty of information, a polished well worded presentation and enthusiasm.. Thanks Bill Evans ... like your namesake on a jazz piano, smooth and classy. ⛩〰🎶.
Thanks for this Bill. I'm new to Banjo & have been bewildered with the chronology of it & the styles & techniques etc. All the people belly aching about the stuff you missed out is a bit dumb - what do they expect in less than 15 minutes ?!
HI Bill, your interpretation of Home Sweet Home, in old banjo, realy, WONDERFUL, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!, (and sorry for my bad english), Big Hug from Argentina, José Luis. NOTE: Here, most far to USA, I was study whith your book, "Banjo for Dummies", my daughter buyed it in NY 5 year ago. (I have 73 springs, and have 6 banjos,hahaha!!, 3 Deerings, but one is a Deering Calico, the star!!, God Bless Bill, JL.
Great vid.. it was great to hear you play the different styles. The classic banjo piece was particularly interesting. I've never heard that style of banjo before. You are a fine player.
You didn't mention the 4 string type; my late grandfather played a 4 string in the 1940's & 1950's& I was hoping to learn more about the origin of the 4 string.
Major chunk of banjo history missing when the plectrum banjo and tenor banjo were incorporated into traditional jazz; and consequently, became early jazz instruments.
Love the cutting remarks about Gibson 'Les Paul's' - nothing but the equivalent of a flat screen TV or a couple of Lexus in the drive for their owners. *applauds
Nice info on banjos with the 5th string. Now, what about the four string banjos you missed: the long neck plectrum (made famous by Eddy Peabody) and the short neck tenor banjo (played by Irish folk singers) and also played in traditional Dixieland jazz?
Interesting presentation. The 5th string story - supposedly added late by a white American maker, always seemed a bit odd, because the concept existed in Africa already. A time machine would probably be necessary to really sort that one out. I was surprised that clawhammer wasn't really talked about or demonstrated; it's such an important part of folk style banjo and early bluegrass as well.
I'd be willing to bet he saw a variation somewhere that had the 5th string and added it to his style, or got his style from a 5 string from the get go. Much more likely than he just invented it out of the blue....
@@d.l.loonabide9981 That does seem a lot more plausible. There are some old paintings of banjo players playing instruments with three strings and a short drone.
When you said "Canadian" banjo maker I thought you were going to say Rickard Banjo's in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. Bill Rickard builds some of the most beautiful instruments I've ever seen and heard. The attention to detail on all their models is astonishing and I highly recommend their instruments to anyone. Thanks for showing your fine collection, I appreciate it.
I have a 5 string Zither Banjo which was made in the UK around the turn of the last century, Would have been nice to see something played on one of those as they are played in a finger picking style where the neck joins the body, and have a mellow sound, with a combination of steel, gut, wound, silk or nylon strings, they have a very distinctive sound
funny I came across this video years ago when studying jazz piano and i was searching the name BIll Evans allot (a jazz ledgend) now I'm learning clawhammer banjo and I'm back again haha
This was a good, if brief history but I thoroughly enjoyed the Lennon song on the electric banjo! That machine has a beautiful sound and you may be one of the few people besides myself that even seemed to notice that song, nobody else seems to know it. Thanks, this was great!
First time I've seen a chordal approach eg.'You got to hide your Love Away' to Banjo'!!!!.............I WILL DEFINETLY LOOK INTO THIS,ARE THEIR ANY BOOKS?
YES I can see how much you love the gibson flat head granada. It was my favourite too! I'm going to buy a banjo but I don't know what to buy. What's a banjo that you would buy? I play guitar but I can't shake the lovely sound the banjo makes. I need to play a song on one!
first time i watched this i thought it was Bill Evans the pianist talking about banjos, i was shocked. lol
Same hahah
If i had a nickel for every virtuoso musician named Bill Evans, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot but it's weird that it happened twice
How many Bill Evans are there worldwide? 😂
@@oldtimetinfoilhatwearerThere’s also at least one saxophonist named Bill Evans
This is an awesome education for ignorant people, who don't know the cultural history. I think knowing and celebrating the original Africans, Scottish, Scots-Irish, English, etc. people who brought these elements of what evolved into Folk, Blues, Bluegrass, Country, Rock music is important to understanding America.
Bill does a fine job, as always, on the banjo's history. As some of the comments mention, however, there's various playing styles and types of banjos left out. Most egregious to me, biased as I am, is the leap from classic style to bluegrass which omits the preceding and enduring Appalachian clawhammer and two and three-finger styles which are very popular around the country. Bluegrassers, for some reason, tend to slight old time music despite it's popularity and, as instrument stores report, open back banjos outsell bluegrass ones.
to be fair, the are generally cheaper
Also skipped over a little thing called jazz. Maybe because in those days they snubbed his beloved short string!
"oh, I have a gentleman caller! I will greet him with my banjo in the parlor."
I've been pickin the banjo (bluegrass) for more than 35 years now and I have to tell you, I just love your analogy, or "definition" of the banjo. A drum on a stick. Pretty much made my day.
Thank you.
Yea
I absolutely love the sound produced by the last banjo. It's incredibly calming.
that akonting sounds so soulful and stirring
My understanding is that Joel Walker Sweeney (1810-1860) was the musician who redesigned the African instrument into the modern 5-string banjo that is known today. Although slaves had apparently already added the fifth string, it was Sweeney who popularized the new form on the minstrel circuit. He toured with his two brothers Sam and Dick in the minstrel shows from 1831-to his death in 1860. During the Civil war Sam Sweeney served as Major General J.E.B Stuart's personal banjo picker until Sweeney's death in the winter of 1863/1864.
Been watching a lot of banjo videos while I wait for my first to arrive.
One thing I've seen in common with them all is the quiet joy on the player's face when they play
Bill Evans is great. You can tell every ounce of joy he pours into his playing. A true banjo player.
The last song was "You've got to Hide your love away" by The Beatles.
Thank you very much! I could not figure it out. At first I thought it was "Yesterday", then I picked up hints of "Norwegian Wood." I am glad to know I at least had the band right.
That classical banjo piece knocked me on the floor, that was amazing! 😲
Exciting history, Bill. I admire your dedication and enjoy your music, as always.
Bill, a fascinating summery of the instruments we love and the beautiful sounds they make. Thank you. An education for us all. God bless.
The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashioned by African-Americans in the United States, adapted from African instruments of similar design.
“The underlying passion and carnality of the banjo” 😂
Hey if you've never wanted to fuck to the sweet sweet sound of metal picks on metal strings amplified by a trashcan with dead horse skin stretched across it, then clearly you haven't been playing it right!
the idea of it being gut strings really changes nothing
@@nicandknacksandseans that is possibly the greatest description of playing the banjo I have ever heard
lol
Thanks Evans, for a very nice lecture on Banjo,and some great playing too.
It was Porter Wagoner & the Wagonmasters. He (Buck) played the Electric Banjo on the song"Daddy was an Old time Preacher man" that Porter sang with Dolly Parton.
Kind of missed out on the tenor and plectrum banjos. Both very popular in the jazz era.
They were the main minstrel banjo. And still played prominently in the Philadelphia mummers parade. The string bands are almost exclusively tenor banjos.
Agreed, get on those for another video! That's what I was waiting for
Right, Al - particularly in Dixieland. A very different technique using a flatpick. There is also an Irish tradition on the tenor banjo.
And don't forget Eddie Peabody. He also had an electric banjo he called a banjorine. Here in Texas, Smokey Montgomery with The Light Crust Doughboys was a very famous tenor banjo player!
@@onlyrick In Ireland when all the guys that were playing in jazz bands started leaving them to there families they ended up on the market and were taken up by the trad players. In the US they have all been gathered up and had necks swapped out to convert them to blue grass banjos. That is why the old jazz banjos are so hard to find in the US. Now they are hard to find in Ireland and they have to make new ones. Gery O Connor probly has twenty.
Playing Renaissance and Lute music also sounds very natural on a resonator instrument such as the banjo.
Shocker..now I want an electric banjo. Tony Rice is gonna freak out on my desired instrument gatherings once again.
Thank you, Bill. That was really interesting. And it also cleared up a couple misconceptions I had.
Just inherited my Uncles Gibson Mastertone Earl Scruggs...now I’m gonna have to learn to play it...thanks for the video great job.
I love how the banjo sound it's a unique sound I love it
What a great presentation by Mr. Bill Evans, who is obviously a fine and accomplished banjo player. I also love his enthusiasm.
I play banjos too, although I wouldn't put myself in a league with
Bill Evans. Like most lovers of the banjo, I have my favorites.........
Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, Jim Mills, Stringbean, Mike Seeger, Pete Seeger.....
there are SO many great ones that it's just not fair to list only a few.
The only problem I have is with the stories
and theories of where the banjo originated. Personally, I don't believe that the first banjos came from Africa. But it doesn't really matter where they came from.....at least we have them, to give us that great sound and enjoyment.🪕
Bill, you continue to amaze me! Thanks for your skillful, interesting, accurate and concise presentation.
man that old Gibson rings!!!!
troynov1965 maple leaf rag
I
His history of the banjo shows with tony trischka were very cool
I've played the banjo on and off for the past 25 years... but it took your 14 minute video for me to get the big picture.
Thanks so much for posting this! Wonderful!
The electric banjo sounds delightful. They all do!
Thanks for sharing a part of Banjos’ history! And yes - a great playing :)
Thanks. Good presentation. Now ... how about banjeaurine, mandolin banjo, piccolo banjo, plectrum banjo and tenor banjo. Oh, and banjo uke. I love banjos - all kinds and all styles.
That home sweet home with variations is so good.
Excellent work. Interesting that Mr. Evans refers to clawhammer style a couple of times but never actually demonstrates it or explains its origins. Still, the knowledge and musical virtuosity on display here is tremendous.
Some rather opinionated comments at this juncture. This is a fourteen minute video with plenty of information, a polished well worded presentation and enthusiasm.. Thanks Bill Evans ... like your namesake on a jazz piano, smooth and classy. ⛩〰🎶.
Thanks for this Bill. I'm new to Banjo & have been bewildered with the chronology of it & the styles & techniques etc. All the people belly aching about the stuff you missed out is a bit dumb - what do they expect in less than 15 minutes ?!
Instead of saying you left out this, that and you left out
something else I´ll just say *THANK YOU* very good !
HI Bill, your interpretation of Home Sweet Home, in old banjo, realy, WONDERFUL, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!, (and sorry for my bad english), Big Hug from Argentina, José Luis. NOTE: Here, most far to USA, I was study whith your book, "Banjo for Dummies", my daughter buyed it in NY 5 year ago. (I have 73 springs, and have 6 banjos,hahaha!!, 3 Deerings, but one is a Deering Calico, the star!!, God Bless Bill, JL.
That 1930 sounds so good my favorite
that last one was beautiful...
Great vid.. it was great to hear you play the different styles. The classic banjo piece was particularly interesting. I've never heard that style of banjo before. You are a fine player.
that classical piece was so much fun to listen too.
No mention of mountain banjos. Where do they fit into the mix?
You didn't mention the 4 string type; my late grandfather played a 4 string in the 1940's & 1950's& I was hoping to learn more about the origin of the 4 string.
Kudos to the luthier of the electric!!! That thing sounds and looks fantastic!!
11:39 Buck Trent worked with Porter Wagoner . He was a "Waggoner". Great video, Thanks so much for sharing.
Major chunk of banjo history missing when the plectrum banjo and tenor banjo were incorporated into traditional jazz; and consequently, became early jazz instruments.
Really wanted to learn about that
Thanks for this insight into these beautiful instruments. Love them all. I think my favourite is the open back banjo.
Love the cutting remarks about Gibson 'Les Paul's' - nothing but the equivalent of a flat screen TV or a couple of Lexus in the drive for their owners. *applauds
Nice demos on the nice collection.
A delightful, brief overview of the banjo’s evolution through history! Thank you :)
Nice info on banjos with the 5th string. Now, what about the four string banjos you missed: the long neck plectrum (made famous by Eddy Peabody) and the short neck tenor banjo (played by Irish folk singers) and also played in traditional Dixieland jazz?
...and what about the ukulele banjo? I have a 1927 Gibson UB4 which has a brilliant sound.
I’m currently going through your course of Banjo for dummies .. wish me luck !!
Interesting presentation. The 5th string story - supposedly added late by a white American maker, always seemed a bit odd, because the concept existed in Africa already. A time machine would probably be necessary to really sort that one out.
I was surprised that clawhammer wasn't really talked about or demonstrated; it's such an important part of folk style banjo and early bluegrass as well.
So true.
I'd be willing to bet he saw a variation somewhere that had the 5th string and added it to his style, or got his style from a 5 string from the get go. Much more likely than he just invented it out of the blue....
The bass string was added, not the 5th.
@@d.l.loonabide9981 That does seem a lot more plausible. There are some old paintings of banjo players playing instruments with three strings and a short drone.
I have a hondo 2 ... I ended up here looking about these type of instruments. Nice video..
Please do a similar video about mandolins
or the banjolele
Respect. Fantastic playing
Man that Granada was Killer!
When you said "Canadian" banjo maker I thought you were going to say Rickard Banjo's in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. Bill Rickard builds some of the most beautiful instruments I've ever seen and heard. The attention to detail on all their models is astonishing and I highly recommend their instruments to anyone.
Thanks for showing your fine collection, I appreciate it.
I have a 5 string Zither Banjo which was made in the UK around the turn of the last century, Would have been nice to see something played on one of those as they are played in a finger picking style where the neck joins the body, and have a mellow sound, with a combination of steel, gut, wound, silk or nylon strings, they have a very distinctive sound
History channel... love what you are doing, 100% passion
Great journey through the banjo history. Love it. Thnx !
Thank you so much for posting this video. It makes me want to learn how to play the banjo.
Wow, that was great!
So informative. Thank you Bill.
I've put banjo necks on a les Paul and a Kay hollow Body and a Stratocaster. they are awesome!
Awesome video! I think my grandma had that exact same rug as you!
Wow amazing playing, thank you that was really terrific.
What a wonderful video!!! Thank you so much!!!
I just purchased a tenor banjo from deering banjos a few weeks ago. turns out their factory was right down the street from where I live.
This is fantastic! Very informative, thanks!
Awesome teaching and awesome music. Would have love to hear more about the turning point into bluegrass.
funny I came across this video years ago when studying jazz piano and i was searching the name BIll Evans allot (a jazz ledgend)
now I'm learning clawhammer banjo and I'm back again haha
thank you, loved it
Liked your playing and presentation very much.
The Gibson sounds great, but I’d love to have a play with all of them
This was a good, if brief history but I thoroughly enjoyed the Lennon song on the electric banjo! That machine has a beautiful sound and you may be one of the few people besides myself that even seemed to notice that song, nobody else seems to know it. Thanks, this was great!
So very interesting, thanks. I'm fascinated by these instruments.
If anyone is interested, the spelling of the African instrument is "Akonting".
buck trent played for porter waggoner
Informative, Interesting and Enjoyable.
Nice. Thanks for the tour!
Great video and playing, Thanks for sharing.
I got a banjo a week ago for no reason at all looked fun. Already play many instruments so I'll pick it up
Beautifully done video. Makes me want to get a banjo now.
Oh, the carnality!
Magnificent.
Thanks, very informative. I love your enthusiasm.
Nice. Thanks.
underlying passion and carnality. who knew?
First time I've seen a chordal approach eg.'You got to hide your Love Away' to Banjo'!!!!.............I WILL DEFINETLY LOOK INTO THIS,ARE THEIR ANY BOOKS?
YES I can see how much you love the gibson flat head granada. It was my favourite too! I'm going to buy a banjo but I don't know what to buy. What's a banjo that you would buy? I play guitar but I can't shake the lovely sound the banjo makes. I need to play a song on one!
Buy a Deering Goodtime Open back. Go to www.deeringbanjos.com
I agree Michael , I got one in December 2015 & mega pleased with it !
Beautiful
Wonderful review
Thanks a lot. Was hoping for something like this. They should make the short string same as others (full length). Don't see why not.
Enjoyable video. thanks.
Omg your favorite banjo is STUNNING I want to play it
thanks
Great vid 👌🏿
Top man! Btw, you are so right about the electric banjo! Not a banjo sound at all, definitely an electric guitar feel!