Santa done brung me a banjo
I’ve always enjoyed the sound of the banjo. I’d noticed that lately it’s been cropping up more prominently in music recordings I’ve purchased, what with my penchant for ‘americana’, and burgeoning Sufjan obsession. For a while I’ve been kicking around an idea, based around a jokey list of a recipe for the ultimate band; chick on bass, handclaps, xylophone, accordion, etc. and the banjo seemed to also have promoted itself to this exclusive set. Imagine my joy on Christmas day when I unwrapped a five string banjo. Perhaps I should say disrobed, rather than unwrapped, as my inventive wife had actually dressed the cased instrument in a full Santa costume, to better disguise the too-obvious-for-wrapping silhouette.
Some initial thoughts about the banjo, from an amateur explorer’s perspective.
- They are rather tricky to tune
- It’s tuned to a G chord, so it’s a bit like slide guitar
- The hard stuff is the right hand. I’ve always been a bit slack at my right hand guitar techniques, so this part is perhaps even more work.
- It’s very loud, everyone nearby gets to share your ineptitude
It’s very pretty to look at, and tuned up sounds superb. I’ve learnt four chords, and a basic right hand pattern, from a tution book I coincidentally recieved for Christmas, which bears a reassurance accross its cover, in large point type; ‘NO KNOWLEDGE OF MUSIC REQUIRED’. It is quite possibly the best Christmas present I’ve ever received.