The banjo occupies an unique space within American culture, acting both as an emblem for black folk music and African heritage, and an instrument used for white cultural appropriation and minstrelization.
Rosploch recently joined the East Bay Banjo Club, performing at civic events and parties around San Francisco Bay Area. Her playing ability has grown greatly since she joined.
It’s a fable
Fables are narrative stories based on fact or fiction that serve to teach moral or ethical lessons while providing entertainment. Banjo on my knee is one such fable which emphasizes not judging books by their covers – as well as people. Additionally, this fable teaches readers not to judge friends by looks or actions alone.
McCrea stars as a shanty town boy who marries Stanwyck (played by Barbara Stanwyck). After getting married, however, Stanwyck finds herself unable to conceive and the patriarch of their family is obsessed with playing banjo so McCrea is sent out on an adventure to see the world and earn some extra income while waiting for his wife.
Tintype photography from the 1850’s and 60’s utilized a process of reverse imaging that resulted in banjos appearing upside-down in many Civil War era photos, such as Matokie Slaughter finger picking & clawhamming her Resonator Vega banjo on her right leg and Abie Horton with his Openback Alvarez on his left leg. This practice allowed for photographs to be developed quickly.
It’s a myth
A banjo has long been used as a cultural signifier, symbolizing both collaboration across cultural lines as well as blackface minstrelsy. Furthermore, its instrument has been seen as being emblematic of racism and stereotyping but can also serve as an avenue to maintain African aesthetics and beliefs. This book investigates this controversial instrument’s history.
This collection of songs contains both traditional and contemporary compositions composed specifically for banjo, along with extensive historical notes and an exhaustive bibliography. This book serves as an invaluable resource for scholars of American music or anyone curious about banjo culture.
Some individuals fear banjo playing because they worry that at any moment, their strings may suddenly start cracking up and emitting “gum stump.” These individuals should consider getting rid of this fear for an affordable fee: I will fly directly into their hometowns and help cure them of their desire to play banjo.
The banjo is an incredible instrument to learn, yet not for everyone. Even professional musicians may find the banjo challenging due to its unique techniques that take some practice before mastering them fully; nonetheless, many players have over come these challenges to become accomplished musicians themselves.
When in a desert and you encounter Bugs Bunny, a cactus and an excellent banjo player – who should you approach for directions? Answer: Cacti are considered mythological creatures.
There are various jokes regarding banjo players and their music; some can be funny while others not so much. Here are a few popular examples:
It’s a story
Banjo on my Knee was a 1936 film adaptation of Harry Hamilton’s novel that kept audiences guessing as to where it would head with each scene change. Joel McCrea portrayed a shantytowner who marries Barbara Stanwyck (Barbara Stanwyck was playing Susanna). To satisfy their father who is desperate for grandchild, McCrea travels the world for six months accompanied by Susanna while busking on street corners with banjo in hand for spare nickels to bring back home to Susanna (Barbara Stanwyck was playing Susanna).
Due to its distinctive sound and limited artistic value, banjo players and music composers were often subjected to “banjojokes.”
It’s a song
The banjo has long been the subject of humorous or otherwise offensive jokes and puns. While its distinctive twang can help open nasal passages or tear off stubborn wallpaper, many view its artlessness and lack of musicality as antithetical to its value as an instrument and musician. Due to these characteristics, numerous jokes relating to its players (and/or the instrument itself) have arisen surrounding its usage, including many offensive ones.
Banjo on My Knee was inspired by Harry Hamilton’s novel of the same name and stars McCrea as a shantytown boy who marries a land girl (Stanwyck), then embarks on an international trip. On his return home, his grandfather is desperate for grandchildren – something McCrea demonstrates quite effectively throughout this film.
Add some old-time American nostalgia into your classroom with this lively medley of Stephen Foster tunes, set against an easy yet pleasing banjo-like piano accompaniment. This book/CD pack features 16 of his pre-Civil War songs arranged for minstrel banjo – including some of the first and most beloved banjo songs ever composed – with fascinating historical notes explaining their meaning, performance history, significance of musicians who first performed them and of Foster himself, America’s first professional songwriter! Plus complete original lyrics and an extensive bibliography!
The banjo stands at the intersection of American culture. With a long and rich history of merging African aesthetics and white American music into one entity, as well as serving as an agent of cultural exploitation, its longstanding role is paramount.
Barbara Stanwyck stars as a poor shantytown land girl who marries Walter Brennan (their family patriarch). Their father is excited that they may finally have a grandchild!
What is a banjo?
The banjo is a stringed instrument with five metal strings connected by a plectrum, commonly used in American folk and bluegrass music as well as jazz ensembles. Early banjos had wooden bodies but modern instruments are typically made out of steel or plastic.
In many respects, the banjo is similar to its guitar counterpart in that they both possess necks with pegs for tuning strings and fretboards; however, banjos feature an unusual fifth string which sits one tone lower than other strings on its fretboard; additionally they provide access to chord forms not available on guitar.
Modern banjos often feature more than five strings, such as the tenor banjo, which has six. Players may choose either thumb picking or fingerpicking techniques when playing it. There are also hybrid instruments which combine the body of a banjo with neck of another instrument such as mandolins and ukuleles; such as banjo mandolins.
Black musicians have a rich legacy of playing banjo. Some of the earliest recordings ever made were by African-American players like Sylvester Ossman; his recordings from 1890 featured traditional folk and minstrel music.
Today’s five-string banjo is most often associated with bluegrass music, yet its tuning options extend far beyond its classic form. Tenor banjos may be tuned to G – an octave lower than what would typically be found on a standard five-string bajo; or sometimes D, which would place it an octave higher.
There are only a handful of low-pitched banjos on the market today, such as the broomstick bass and Gibson bass banjo. These instruments are commonly known as bass banjos because of the stand that replaces its spike on their neck. Production for both instruments lasted from 1930-1933 respectively; with Gibson producing four string instruments tuned EADG.
The 6-string banjo is often compared to the guitar, yet has its own distinct sound. Furthermore, its versatility outshines that of its 5-string counterpart as it can be played for any style of music including classical, jazz, rock and country.
How to play a banjo
Starting to play the banjo can be intimidating at first, so for beginners it is best to focus on learning basic chords and rolls quickly – this will enable you to play some simple songs quickly! Once these basic skills have been mastered, more complex chords and fingerings may follow.
Before beginning to play the banjo, ensure it is in tune. This can be done electronically using an electronic tuner or by ear. In addition, consider investing in finger picks – small metal or plastic devices which help create crisper sound when picking strings – most banjo players wear one in both thumb and index fingers while some opt not to use any pick at all; ultimately it should come down to what feels comfortable for you!
As a beginner, it is wise to choose a banjo with a shorter neck as this will be easier for you to hold for prolonged periods. Also important when selecting your instrument is selecting high-quality wood for its neck; soft wood may not resonate as effectively and create dull sound quality.
Peghead size and shape should also be a primary consideration when purchasing a banjo. This part of the neck houses tuning pegs as well as its own set of nuts – small ledges made of either ebony or bone with slots for string passageway that serve to align strings before they travel down its fingerboard.
It’s also essential to experiment with various neck profiles until you find one that feels great in your hand. An ideal neck should feel slim and be easy to maneuver; larger necks may make holding hard for newcomers or cause wrist fatigue over time.
Once you find a banjo that appeals to you, make sure to practice regularly. Like any musical instrument, mastery takes time – the banjo included! But with regular practice comes faster song learning! Be patient while still having fun!
Banjo jokes
Banjo jokes can be hilarious because they revolve around banjo players, their music or even the instrument itself. Furthermore, these humorous statements often touch upon issues related to racism, sexism and other social injustices. The best banjo jokes make audiences laugh while leaving them thinking and offer humorous twists on well-known phrases or events that leave viewers laughing yet thinking at the same time.
A reporter attended a banjo joke convention to find material for her paper. As she was sitting, one of the comedians took the stage and announced, “Number 57!”, prompting the entire audience to erupt into laughter.
Later, the reporter went backstage and spoke with the comedian. The comedian advised her that she could improve her score on the banjo joke contest by changing one word; agreeing, she changed it for an alternate number and witnessed more laughter at her joke from an appreciative audience. It gave her confidence and made her feel good about herself!
There are plenty of banjo jokes you can tell; some can be straightforward while others more intricate. An example would be how many bass players it takes to screw in a lightbulb: six: one to change it and five more as backup to keep from hogging all the light! Another classic banjo-related gag would be: How can you tell if a banjo player’s stage is level? Simply look out for him drooling both sides of his mouth!
One night while sitting at a bar, a banjo player didn’t hear when someone started collecting donations for an impoverished accordionist. Instead he gave his dollar to the box but when his turn came he asked what exactly they needed him to bury.
Banjo jokes can be great fun to share with your friends and family, but always use caution when telling them in front of minors. Some banjo jokes may be offensive to children under 12, so make sure that yours are appropriate for this audience before telling it.
Banjo music
The banjo has long been a central component of American traditional music, from bluegrass and country through old-time jazz and Dixieland jazz, calypso, biguine and mento. However, its roots lie in West African music culture – having come with slaves who carried it with them across North America in the 19th century. Minstrel shows popularized its use across North America by portraying its use through blackface caricature minstrel shows; demand was then created through these performances, leading to various regional playing styles emerging across America.
Early commercial banjos were handmade gourd instruments; around 1840 William Boucher began producing wooden frames equipped with European drum technology for mass manufacturing of banjos. His first designs featured an unconventional fifth string configuration (i.e. the higher-sounding string was placed where you might expect the lower sounding string to be). This innovation enabled chordal playing without needing to tune every string individually – something no other manufacturer offered at that time.
Nowadays, five-string banjo is an essential instrument in folk, classical, bluegrass and American roots music as well as other genres worldwide. Contemporary musicians including the Travelin’ McCourys, Del McCoury, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Emmylou Harris play this instrument across multiple musical styles from traditional folk to rock; their banjo sounds have also been featured in movies and TV shows including Gone with the Wind, Andy Griffith Show and Star Wars soundtracks.
Others consider the banjo to have African roots. Rhiannon Giddens is among those championing its African history as an instrumentalist and vocalist.
Franz Schubert, Kurt Weill, and Ernst Krenek have all included banjo in their works; four-string banjos are frequently employed in musical theater productions such as Hello Dolly!, Mame, Cabaret as well as Broadway productions like Barnum: Threepenny Opera and Monty Python’s Spamalot. More recently the banjo has also become increasingly popular within pop music, becoming widely utilized by bands like Mumford & Sons.