It's Time to Rethink the Banjo (feat. Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn)
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
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The banjo was, at one time, the most popular instrument in America, with tens of thousands manufactured and sold between 1910 and 1930. Nahre talks to Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn to discover the origins of the banjo as an African and Middle Eastern instrument.
Nahre travels to Nashville to learn how to play the banjo from some of the greatest banjo players in the world. Béla and Abigail show us what makes their banjo playing unique, and they also let Nahre play one of the world's largest banjos.
Songwriter Harlan Howard has said that country music is “three chords and the truth.” Get to know the amazing music and artists behind this uniquely American sound in Ken Burns’ new 8-part documentary Country Music. Tune in or stream the series starting on Sunday, September 15th. For more, check out www.pbs.org/ke...
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We keep forgetting to ask people to subscribe. Is it tacky to ask y'all to subscribe in this here comment? I hope you liked this banjo episode. I promise we're going to have more episodes like this one coming out. So if you like it... just hit that there subscribe button
The lack of that whole tagline was refreshing, honestly. We ARE subscribed, thanks for another great video!
Sound Field you forgot the turkish chumbush! (Cümbüş)
Your videos are too awesome, people will subscribe by instinct
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Not at all! banjo does need more recognition!
Courtin' a girl by learning her banjo style. I never thought of that.
That must be where I've been going wrong all these years!
Getting a banjo lesson from Béla Fleck is like getting a piano lesson from Evgeny Kissin. A rare honour indeed!
I used to know a guy who learned from one of the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia I'm pretty sure.
alex carter I know s guy who gave Jerry Garcia lessons, Bill Bradford Keith. haha
Brian T Bela has tapes from Home spun tapes.
It's very nice that you mentioned Kissin out of all the pianists
@@josephanderson7237 I own a banjo that Bill Keith once played (have a picture of him with it.)
I am from west Africa, and when she said the instrument originated from some African regions it clicked...Banjo in my language roughly translates to "dance with me," "dance for me" or something similar. Coincidence??? Maybe, but I'm suprised I never Made the connection.
Woa what language? So cool to see word origins
Please tell us the name of that language.
It is believed the word 'banjo' is derived from the Yoruba word 'Bami jo' which means 'dance for me'.
@@ProgrammerNextDoorTO You are probably right, but also it was tribes of North African Arabs who played it, maybe earlier. Banjo could be Arabic OR a North African Arab dialect such as Tunisian or Moroccan.
@Nobby Heads Slaves brought the banjo to America
I have a problem with remembering people's faces or discerning them when I see someone. I've watched Abigail with Bela in many videos, but when I met them both, I didn't realize Abigail was the person that greeted me.
I'm a mailman, and when I delivered their packages/letters and recognized Bela's name on his electric bill, I was really excited and too scared I might scare them with my "fan excitement" so I just delivered their stuff like normally.
When I had another chance to deliver their stuff. I was overcame with joy when Abigail (at the time I didn't realize it was her) came out and accepted the items they ordered and talked with me. I asked if "THE Bela Fleck" lived here and she replied, "YES!" We gave each other a high five and she asked if I wanted to meet him.
Abigail is such a wholesome person and I'm so glad that I had the chance to meet her (and her husband) in such a regular and non fandom situation, it means so much more to me even months after meeting her and Bela at their home.
YOU ARE AMAZING ABIGAIL AND BELA! MUCH LOVE from the postal service :)
This is so incredibly sweet. Wish all famous people could stay that grounded.
I had the pleasure of meeting Bela at a workshop in the 90’s and was impressed by how humble and approachable he is. Truly, a great human being!
I didn't realize just, like, getting Bela Fleck to be in a video was an option. Fantastic as always!
Abigail and Bela have done quite a few videos themselves. They strike me as incredibly friendly, easy-going folks. Well.... I mean... they're banjo players, after all. :D
@@Kaotiqua I get that it's a riff(pun intended) on banjo players being overall friendly, but... These really legendary musicians tend to be absurdly friendly. Surely there are some bad apples, but from the few times I came in contact with big name musicians, they were generally very friendly. That's especially true about niche musicians. I couldn't tell you why, but my guess is that when you aim for mastery rather than simply fame, you can't help but be humbled by it all.
and an sian american pronouncing a hungarian american name just the way we do in Budapest was an extra jaw drop moment to spice it up :)
Nahre, you correctly pronouncing Appalachia blessed me!
For other listeners who want to catch that good pronunciation, it's at 9:58
First I've ever heard it said correctly outside of Appalachia!
Phew good thing I read this. I was about to correct her pronunciation
@@user-ye8zk8ku7s same
@@user-ye8zk8ku7s same
I love the way Ms. Washburn plays. It’s just lovely.
This video made me buy a banjo, it was an entire add for banjos. I ain't mad.
"Great, now go practice that for two hours." That killed me.
😂 yess - it's even funnier because it's hard core truth
Or just sit on UA-cam and watch other people who have done the work 😕 (my problem)
Each of them said that. Cute.
As a banjo player myself, I can attest to the truth of that statement! WELL worth the hard work! 👍
There is a bigger banjo...
I really want to hear that banjo being played, now. That's got to be a curious sound.
Edit: Yes, it is a curious sound.
ua-cam.com/video/74bYq6G471k/v-deo.html
Does it play infrasounds, or why wasn't that in the video?
@@brianmcdonald42 'and is ten times the size of any ordinary bandi-o!'
@@brianmcdonald42 great find mate! Thanks for sharing :D
There's always a bigger banjo
As a long term banjo player, I love this! When I went to Morocco a few years ago I saw groups playing in the public squares using both the traditional gourd instruments from west africa and banjos at the same time. Two branches of the same instrument.So cool to see how music and instruments spread across the world and influence one another.
That must've been amazing to see. So cool
The guy saying "There's not much to it" and then playing baby shark cracked me up. Thanks for this video guys, I'm in love with Banjos and Mandolin. Interesting that the Banjo as seen as a "hillbilly" instrument when it's origin is West African.
In an instructional video, Pete Seeger said something like "It ain't no harder than walkin. Of course it took you a few years to learn how do that too."
Wonder how that happened. 🤔
@@CamerenCollierMusic When we trace the history back, it comes from slaves. The first white people to play it all say they got it from slaves. And there's an instrument in west Africa called the akonting or African lute. It's basically a guitar on a drum like other instruments around the world but it has a short drone string for the thumb. A characteristic exclusive to the banjo (and the akonting) and that's what allows the banjo to play it's unique syncopated feel. They think that the akonting came over from Africa in the minds of slaves and was remade using American supplies tools etc and that's how the banjo came to be.
The rest of the story is a bit uncomfortable since it has to do with minstrel shows but all the same, the story of the banjo is the story of America. The good and the bad. Plus it's just a fascinating story. I suggest you look into further. I mean if you want. No pressure.
And since this has come out, we've began to see a whole new generation of black banjo players. Rhiannon Giddens, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Cedric Watson, Dom Flemons. They're really great. It's a kind of old timey revival.
The banjo today could not be further from the instrument played by slaves. That is like comparing a modern compound bow to the bow used by native tribes in the amazon. The american banjo is its own instrument, trying to give africans credit for it is ridiculous.
@@richardgredwulf-cronley3858 What ridiculous logic, if you think it bears no resemblance you have no knowledge about insturments. Banjo experts who have experience with the West African predecessors will tell you how much they share in common, INCLUDING THE ONES IN THE VIDEO FFS. By that logic the electric guitar isn't related to the Spanish classical guitar, modern computers have no connection to their vaccum tube forebears and Cannons have no connection to modern artillery. Human technology develops with time and denying a technologies direct ancedentents is willful ignorance. By your logic only the person or society who deserves any credit is the one who has most recently tweaked some technology. I'm assuming you think Elon musk invented the electric car.
Wow! Guys, this was amazing video! I am from Bulgaria, a country proud with its traditional music, dances, ways of singing, but bluegrass, country music and southern gothic music are the styles I am starting to work with now. Thank you for this awesome content!!!
I got to do monitors for the Flecktones in the '90s in Madison WI. THE BEST SHOW EVER! And I got to listen to them up close. The things I heard on my headphones was AMAZING! Bela was the nicest person. Jazz banjo...yeah!
This is a great overview of centuries of history in a few minutes. Hearing more of the big banjo would be more than welcome!
You guys should do an episode on "talking drums" in West Africa (Bata, dundun, tama, etc.). People say music is a language as a metaphor, but in some situations, that's literally true.
That'd be incredibly interesting. Not sure if their budget or scope could accommodate it. Then again they never fail to impress me.
@@nedisahonkey True. There are definitely some people here in the US who play those instruments. Here's a guy in Atlanta: ua-cam.com/video/B4oQJZ2TEVI/v-deo.html
The Black Pather soundtrack made use of them as a motif for the main character, really made the sound of the movie
Yep tonal language + drums that can be played melodically. This is what makes the blues so wonderful, BTW.
great idea.... plus their “call back” singing... i could listen to their drums and call back for hours
A vastly underappreciated instrument. When my son was three, I was showing him some Bela Fleck, and he wanted to know who was playing the "barn guitar" He's had a fascination with it since, and he loved this episode too! Good stuff. Love you guys! 👍✌️❤️🤘
It doesn't matter how low, depressed or however I feel; the moment I hear Banjo, I immediately feel good. Greetings from Australia
The lady who sang at 1:00, her voice gave me the chills. Absolutely heavenly. :o
Abigail Washburn. She's Bela Fleck's wife, and she's amazing.
@@Kaotiqua , her voice would fit right in with the style of Celtic folksingers such as Maddy Prior, June Tabor and Sandy Denny ,( may she rest in peace,). A lot of music from the British Isles was brought to Appalachia by Scottish and Irish immigrants, and became endemic to the region, pretty much unchanged, for several hundred years.
Anyone know the song she sang?
Bloomin Rose
I would love to see a whole series of these kinds of videos, where you travel around the world with each episode focused on a different somewhat unique, non-mainstream instrument. Exploring the different kinds of playing styles, the histories of it, and how it is making a comeback in modern music.
My mom and dad got tickets to see Roy Clark when I was 3 or 4. The sitter never showed up that night. Dad wasn't about to miss Roy Clark so, they stuffed some cotton in my ears and, I got to go with them. It didn't take long for me to give my pop the slip. I always went my own way my aunt said I was so bad, my mom would hook a leash to my belt at times so she could grocery shop. They didn't bring it that night though and first chance, I snuck right up front. It was magical. The rest of the people melted away and it felt like he was playing just for me. The music made me laugh and dance. His smile was impossible not to return. I think he may have been a little charmed by me too. When he finished, I wasn't having any of that! My little face all hopeful, big brown eyes begging like a starving dog. Half a bubble off a tear; "Please mister, play me more?" He played 5 more songs and I was delighted. Seeing Roy Clark playing banjo and guitar is not only a good memory, it's my first. Looking back, I feel a little bad for the freak out my parents must have been going through. But seeing my next real memory I have is my brother pushing me out of a tree and breaking my arm, I can live with their trauma.
LambentLark for some reason this comment moved me to tears. thank you for sharing!
Very nicely stated. My son was similarly enthralled when he first saw a banjo being played and now in his mid-twenties is an awesome player and is doing things I don't hear anyone else doing in it. Seeing Earl Scruggs and then a few Reno style players really pulled him in and he focused on doing Reno style for a long time.
Come from a family of black musicians and Im proud to be a part of their legacy.
Bela can take a lot of credit for its comeback honestly. As a musician I kinda liked bluegrass and only really accepted it in that genre. Then I heard the Flecktones and was completely BLOWN away as I liked jazz as well. I've been a Flecktones fan ever since and Victor Wooten's playing has been an inspiration to me for quite some time. I still remember hearing Bela Fleck and the Flecktones for the first time on the Tonight Show. They are still amazing!
My college girlfriend worked for his publicist, so I got to see the Flecktones play, supporting the UFO Tofu album. I'd never heard of them, but I'd loved the banjo since I was a kid. I had no idea just how good all of them were going to be.
At one point (probably after Wooten played Amazing Grace in harmonics while also playing the bass line), I turned to a guy behind me and said "Ya know--that bass player's really good!" He laughed and said "Brother--he's the reason half the crowd is here right now!" ;-)
I think Bach would have loved the banjo. It's got a clear, precise sound.
Sure! ua-cam.com/video/Xg_GA4per8g/v-deo.html
The sound is not entirely unlike the harpsichord.
One should bear in mind, that the banjo origanally is an instrument from west africa There is a place called BANJUL. Which means STRAW, OR RUSH It came to the American continent with the african slaves-
I would love to see a "reaction video" of Nahre and LA watching clips from "Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Live at The Quick". Has to be the most eclectic combination of instruments I've ever seen/heard.
This is such a brilliantly eclectic series! Thank you!
Béla is a legend, i saw him with the flecktones live once, probably one of the greatest groups of musicians ever to exist, also he has the absolute best bassist in the world imo : victor wooten
That's no lie!
I'm afraid to say that, in the opinions of many of today's top musicians, Victor Wooten has been overshadowed by a hugely talented young man called Charles Berthoud and I have to say, they may well be right.
I’m in love with the curly haired woman who sings like an angel
R B. Bella’s wife Abigaile.
The Flecktones Live at the Quick album is so phenomenal, and is one of my favorites.
Also, I saw Rhiannon Giddens with Dirk Powell last month, and that was a killer show where no song was in same genre as any other song. Dirk picked up an accordion and played a Cajun waltz, and then Rhiannon sang a Gaelic song. Her nephew went up and rapped while band grooved behind him. They played a song in the vein of Carole King, a gospel song, a swamp pop song... And every performance was solid gold. I noticed there was a lot of communication that made me realize this was very off-the-cuff, and in fact learned afterwards that this show was never rehearsed.
I love seeing Nahre go from pianist extraordinaire, to banjo beginner! Did it feel weird going from a keyboard to a stringed instrument?
Nahre here! Yes it was totally weird!! But I really had fun with it :)
It seems like we're due for another American folk Renaissance. I'm here for it.
Meredith Williams
We’re in the middle of it.
I love this! The banjo needs all the love it can get. Thanks!
Bela. What can you say? Just wow.
if you wanna get your minds blown, google "Molly Tuttle"
admittetly, she plays the guitar, but she is a true bluegrass virtuoso and probably one of those 'younger folks' the banjo maker in this video was talking about. She is incredibly talented.
Sooo talented
Also check out Mean MAry.
Ssgt Griggs
Molly’s an amazing clawhammer banjo player too.
Do you know what you just did? Mother-lode of god people in the banjo world. And you made it interesting. Thank you. Love all Bela music!
Glad we made it interesting! Thanks to the awesome people that showed us around the banjo.
I’m a long-time guitarist who, at one time, dabbled with the banjo. No matter what Bela or Abigail May say, the banjo as played today is not an easy instrument to play. It’s raw, elemental and vibrant. Good work, again. Cheers.
Bela Fleck! I friggin love bela fleck
Love Bela can’t stand Abigail.
Chance1957
What’s wrong with you?
Wow! Just wow! Bela Fleck. One of favorite artists. Thanks Sound Field for bringing him on.
thank you for always doing such a understandable and in-depth job on whatever subject you take on. Ever considered to dip into the "genre" of aphex twin? I'd love to see that stuff explained by you!
i love banjo one day i make one
I heart the banjo and bluegrass so this was awesome
"Time will show us where the banjo goes next." I'm a banjo player in Detroit (Banjolectric) updating "Americana" for our modern America. So that's one place the banjo can go. (www.banjolectric.com) Thanks for the really nice documentary, Sound Field! I don't know of a more complete 15min film...this is great.
great interview, nahre. so much interesting history. i just started learning to play the banjo a few months ago.... there is such a cool community for banjo players, and always something new to learn. also, that is a badass banjo.... well done, pbs. thanks for making his video. time for me to practice....
Ba-bay SHARK do do do do do do. Thanks. Now it's in my head forever 🤣🤣
Great to see Banjo content being made in 2019
That was a bloody good documentary. 👍
" So my theory is, musicians like Bela, they're aliens..."
:D :D
At 2:20 the banjo abigail is playing is called a cello banjo by Gold Tone music group.
I thought I couldn't love Bela anymore and then I learn that he learned Abigail's playing style as part of his attempt to court her. Bela is a national treasure!
Check out his interview on the "Toy Heart" podcast, it is a fantastic interview.
Oh man, I first learned about Abigail Washburn from a great TED talk she gave, about her journey in music. Apparently she can speak Mandarin Chinese, because she originally wanted to become a lawyer and improve US-China relations?! Anyway, to paraphrase her TED talk, I think what makes the banjo and folk music so appealing is it often sounds ancient, like it's been here for thousands of years (and some of it has!)
Abigail is the coolest by far
Beautiful stuff. I knew there was something about it!
Judah and the Lion is another amazing band that is incorporating the banjo.
When discussing the banjos lack of popularity around 1980 I didn't catch anything about the nasty PR the early 1970's movie "Deliverance" did for the banjo reputation.....This vid is great !
Well done! Very enjoyable documentary!
Nahre, you make such beautiful and interesting videos!
What a great video! I could've sat here and watched an hour plus doco on the banjo. Thanks heaps! :D
Here in Chile Banjo is an instrument related to evangelical Christianity. They use to learn to play banjo to sing in the church. It looks like a simple instrument to play but is not. Thank you Sound Field, the amount and quality of information is amazing as always :D Love Nahre, but where is L.A? They are the dynamic duo LOL :)
Thanks for watching Gladys! LA couldn't make it with us to Nashville. Don't worry he'll be in our next episode.
@@SoundFieldPBS Great 👍🏾👍🏾 thank you
"What do you think of when you hear banjo?"
Me:
90% chance of me running
10% chance of me having my mind blown
Way cool! Now I want to learn banjo, too!
Great video and so cool that you got to interview Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn 🤩🤩
God, I love banjos! The sound makes me really nostalgic, since my dad's old friend Aaron Levin played one when I was little. I don't know how to play one (yet), but it's the next instrument I'm going to learn. I really love the sound, especially for a worldbuilding project of mine (I've been developing music theory for a fictional country, and one of the main instruments will be based upon a banjo, but it can be plucked or bowed easily). I have a solid basis in stringed instruments (I play violin, plucked psaltery, and guitar, and also piano but that doesn't count as a stringed instrument in my head), and as a drummer I'm interested in how the skin on the banjo changes the sound. Also, I've found that the timbre of banjos goes nicely with the timbre of my voice, so I'm REALLY glad that they're coming back in popularity! By the way, if you want to hear some lovely banjo playing, please listen to Mean Mary if you haven't already!
I'm a guitarist of 40 years, and just got a "banjitar" as a Christmas gift. Even strung like a guitar, and without the drone string, it's surprisingly different. I'm spending 2 or more hours a day practicing the techniques I'm learning from great players like Bela and Abigail. I think they'll serve me well, but it's harder than I thought it was going to be!
Split Lip Rayfield is probably one of my all time favorite bands with a banjo.
I’ve been looking forward to this moment for weeks since you released the teaser excerpt of it! Amazingly informative and constantly exploratory as always! I can’t even believe how much depth every single genre has that I feel regretful that I discovered them late! Thank you so much crew for opening that third ear as always! 😊🙏🎉🙌
Bati is back!
Very enjoyable, very well put together. It all comes down to what Dante said: 'I like the sound and it's fun to play'.
Man I love Sound Field. My Dad is big on 60s American folk (Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, etc), so the banjo kinda reminds me of him and the music he plays in the car. My favourite use of the banjo, though, has gotta be Journey of the Sorcerer, the theme tune to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Combined with the space-age synths and wooshes, it gives the tune this ethereal yet somehow also earthy vibe.
Also, Dante Limon is one of the coolest names I've ever heard.
well, look who it is!
It's easier to Play like Abigail , I need to Learn both was though , The banjo is such a cool Sound , LOve Bluegrass , Liked and Shared . Thank You :) QC
Love you guys, every video you bring out is amazing! Also, thanks for introducing us to these musicians, Abigail Washburn has an amazing voice!
Blu-Bop one of my favorites, along with Ufo Tofu, plus too many more great tunes to mention.
Awesome video. I love banjo music. Awsesome to see Trampled by Turtles mentioned with such legitimacy, I used to watch those guys play to a dozen people in shitty bars way up in Duluth MN years ago.
Man, PBS is really killin' it with this one! Great video and super informative too!
Baby shark do do do do do do
I remember first seeing Bela Fleck and the Flecktones on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show on Feb. 5th 1992, and just 5 days later he played The Belly Up Tavern, a local San Diego area music scene. I was shocked that a guest on Carson would be in such an intimate venue, when I would normally expect first-time guests to be instantly launched into the firmament.
Fleck himself was beyond mind-blowing, but so was his entire band. Most notably, the bassist was the incomparable Victor Wooten. During a break he came out and played a bass rendition of a classical piece (Bach, IIRC) that made the normally raucous bar completely silent, to the point that the bartenders stopped pouring drinks or using the cash register. The silence lingered long after Victor's last note completely faded away. After which we all "exhaled loudly". Bela wasn't the only virtuoso in the house!
Victor's brother Roy, the funky pirate-hatted "Future Man" himself, played the drumitar. Something you must see to believe. I literally lack the words. Then there was Howard Levy, who played "everything else" including keyboards, harmonica, guitar, flute, and more. I believe he also acted as the de-facto musical director, keeping the band focused and in the groove, yet on their toes by tossing in improvised phrases to spice things up (as did everyone, but Howard's were special).
That Carson show was the first time I realized I absolutely needed a better sound system for my TV (banjo brought out the worst in my speakers). And that Belly Up show was the first time I had been so close to true musical greatness, a huge step up from the awesome bands and terrific musicians that always played there. Bela totally upgraded my musical existence, and I haven't looked back since.
Thanks for the informative comment,
Yes! Bela and Abigail are so awesome. :D (Surprised you went with Trampled by Turtles over Punch Brothers though...)
We are from Minnesota
@@SoundFieldPBS So we can expect a prince video sooner than later?
@@SoundFieldPBS 😁
@@SoundFieldPBS I've seen Trampled by Turtles twice at 10,000 Lakes festival. I am from SW FL.
@@nedisahonkey maybe
Once upon a time, folk music ruled the earth. Then, a desire for clean sounds without drones and semi-intentional harmonics came to the fore and classical music was born, culminating in a push for truly clean, transcendent sounds. At some point, people lost interest in that and slowly we've developed a hunger for distortion and strange harmonics. First big push in that direction was the distorted electric guitar, and now we're seeing old folk instruments like the banjo and hurdy gurdy resurge. It's kind of awesome.
Wow - that rendition of "Bloomin' Rose" in the beginning was amazing. Had never heard it before - what a voice! And the melody's very "Irish" skips and cadences together with the more "American" ending to the phrase in the chorus... wonderful! Thanks for bringing more great music and its history to my attention, Nahre! :)
Love this channel. Love the diversity of music you cover! Theres so much underappreciated music in the world
What's the difference between a Banjo and a Lawnmower? You can tune up a Lawnmower! I love playing Banjo! Shoutout to the BHO!
Very enjoyable and informative. I know it's 4 years down the line but very good indeed. I presume this predates Nahre having her own channel.
check out Mean Mary, she plays a mean banjo, has a beautiful voice, writes great songs, best new banjo player ive seen in a long time.
Fantastic- thank you for this !
I love how the description, "A drum head with a neck" perfectly describes the sound of a banjo to me. Awesome episode as always! Would love to see future videos, if you do more on specific cultural instruments, of things like the ocarina, sitar, or even didgeridoo!
Sufjan Stevens was huge in bringing the banjo to the indie/neo-folk scenes. He did it starting back in the late 90s when it wasn’t cool... yet... he made it cool. And his album, Michigan really started it all and showed how beautiful a banjo could be in an indie song when kids only saw it as a country/bluegrass/ ol’ timey instrument.
Don't forget the Stringdusters, Greensky and YMSB! They are helping spread the Banjo sound to the new generations.
that girl´s voice!!!
Any "Rethinking" of the banjo that only mentions Earls Scruggs in passing has missed the mark. The banjo has already been rethought. He not only invented what is known as banjo music in the modern era, but he is universally regarded as the grandfather of the instrument.
Ray Garrett, Jr. Scruggs is the greatest banjo player of all time. PERIOD. I would say JD Crowe, Al Munde, and Bill Keith were also some of the best.
A fretless banjo? YES! I'm definitely taking up the banjo now!
That was a great piece. / Fantastique reportage!
Great video! good job guys
I heard Rhiannon Giddens and thought her music sounded a lot like RDR2. Just found out she did some of the music in it. Nice.
Awesome! S2
An episode on the pedal steel would be incredible
Everyone should listen to Béla Fleck's album Tabula Rasa with virtuosos of eastern music. Brilliant listen
If you ever get a chance to see Béla Fleck live, do it. He is one of the best musicians you will ever see. I saw him with the Flecktones years ago and it was an experience I will never forget. Victor Wooten is also in the Flecktones and he is one of the best bass players alive today also.
I'm still learning banjo! (Haven't practiced in a while tho, lmao) So happy to see this episode!
Very informative video ty for posting
Now you’re getting private lessons from Bela Fleck. What a cool gig.
Great work, though slightly incomplete. The four string banjo tradition, not touched on here, is a rich part of the history. Perhaps a Part 2?
But then they might not have had enough time to talk about slavery and racism.
One of my funniest musician cartoons I ever saw was this drawing of a orchestra with the conductor up front all frazzled, pulling his hair out, and screaming "that sound, that sound". Then you see there is dufus looking guy playing banjo where the 1st violin would be. LOL
I hear part of reason banjo was used in early bands was guitar wasn't loud enough and would get lost in the sound, but banjo would cut thru and could be heard. Also read a lot of banjos in early America was because the early settlers couldn't bring much with them on the ship so they mainly brought guitars, violins, and banjo. That the roots of Country was British settlers playing the British pop songs of the day on banjo, violin and guitar.
Gary Larson cartoons crack me up:-)
He did a split view with "Welcome to Heaven - here's your harp" vs "Welcome to Hell - here's your accordion"
As a teenager in the early 70s I thought banjo was kinda passe' until I developed an interest in blues and bought Taj Mahals' double-album concept record "Giant Step/ De Ole Folks At Home". The non-electrified side of the album had Taj picking some good banjo, and the album helped show me the common ground between older acoustic stylings and modern electric guitar.
So, does a banjo player actually tune the drum head? (I guess there'd be no reason for functional tuning lugs if they didn't.) Is it tuned to effect the head's sympathetic resonance with the strings? What pitch is it tuned to?
Yes, we do! The tension of the head can drastically change the tone of the instrument. You don't generally tune the head to match the strings - they're kinda independent, and you don't want sympathetic resonance overly emphasizing some notes. As a rule of thumb, more head tension generally sounds brighter and more focused and a less tension gives a warmer and more resonant sound. Most folks like a balance in between.
The other big reason tuning lugs were introduced is that traditionally, like with drums, banjos used animal skin heads, often goat or calf. Skin/hide heads are sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity, expanding or contracting which changes the overall tenison. This affects both the sound and the height of the strings. The lugs are were first introduced as way to be able to keep consistent tension in different environments to get around this.
@@etparadox That all makes tons of sense! Thank you very much!