Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Custom Made Banjos And The Modern Market

By Timothy Edwards


Whatever it is that you have in mind. Nothing beats a melodious adventure in West Africa. West Africa has a very rich history and culture and up to date they have a wide and vast choices of musical instruments that we could always choose to learn any day. Today, I am very interested with one thing and it is their custom made banjos.

These Banjos has been hitting the online community recently. But before any thing else I will be sharing to you the history of this lovely instrument. Banjo is just one of the few instrument that is rich in history and in cultural relativity. It is one tool that has made a great impact to the lives of the people in West Africa.

Originating from West Africa since as early as the 17th century they have been calling this type of instrument as the gourd. The so called gourd is made out of horse hair for strings, a hollowed gourd and a wooden neck. It is also just one of the 60 plucked lute instruments to date.

What thrills me is the fact that the Banjo is the most under-ranked instrument in the family of strings. This could be caused by the mere fact that it is mainly functional but what lacks most of exposure. Banjos are once called out to be studio instruments not until its consistent exposure and promotion in the 1940s.

During the Jazz Age in the 1940s. The Banjo was made into a tool that brought about the popularization of the new society craze of its four-string replica. It took its time and most folk and country singers followed the trend by always using the banjo in every single performances they had. It did not take long until the instrument was replaced by the guitars of today.

Unlike the guitar, learning the banjo was much more easier. It is a string instrument that did not need a lot of effort and strength when you use it. It was very convenient to learn and play. It lets out a very organic and metallic sound that is slightly different and softer from that of a guitar.

Underestimated might have been the term used by most people of the Banjo but what they do not know is of its wide contribution to the country and folk scene. It has also a great contribution to the singers who had made an impact as they are performing with their banjos on the stage.

I would say that this stunt in promoting Banjos again in the market is really something we could look forward to. Not only that we are preserving just a part of a culture but we are advancing in a length-waive of an empowered generation that is aware of an advocacy and of cultural musicality.

It is extremely exciting to hear more. I wish to have more promotions of ethnic instruments in any ways possible such as these as an example. The next time you think of learning an instrument do not forget to bring yourself to the nearest shop that offers you their custom made banjos.




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