#acoustic instruments

[thorn-enterprises]

Fun Facts About Banjos: The Iconic String Instrument

The banjo is more than just a string instrument; it’s a cultural phenomenon that has brought joy to music lovers around the world for centuries. With its unique sound and vibrant history, the banjo is worth exploring in greater detail. Here are some fun facts about this iconic instrument that might surprise you!

Origins Rooted in Africa

The banjo has deep roots in African traditions, with its ancestors likely arriving in the Americas during the slave trade. The African instrument known as the "ngoni" is one of the closest relatives to the modern banjo, featuring a similar body shape and string arrangement. The banjo we know today evolved from these early designs, blending various cultural influences along the way.

The Early Banjo: A Different Look

Early banjos were quite different from the ones we see today. The first banjos were made from natural materials, such as animal skin for the drumhead and wood for the body. Some scholars believe that the original banjos had only four strings, compared to the five-string banjos that became popular in the 19th century. As the instrument evolved, its design diversified, leading to the creation of various styles and tunings.

The Five-String Phenomenon

The five-string banjo is perhaps the most recognized form of the instrument. The fifth string is shorter and usually placed near the neck, providing a unique playing style. This string is often referred to as the "drone string," and it plays a crucial role in the characteristic sound of bluegrass and folk music. The five-string banjo was popularized by musicians like Earl Scruggs, who developed a distinctive picking style known as "Scruggs style."

It’s Not Just for Country Music

While the banjo is most commonly associated with country and bluegrass music, its versatility spans multiple genres. You'll find the banjo in folk, jazz, rock, and even classical music. Artists such as Bela Fleck and the Flecktones showcase the instrument’s adaptability in progressive and experimental music. With its bright, twangy tone, the banjo can enhance any genre and surprise audiences with its range and expressiveness.

A Symbol of American Culture

The banjo has become a symbol of American culture and identity. It played a significant role in the development of American folk music and has been featured prominently in countless songs and performances. The instrument even found a place in popular culture through its appearances in movies, cartoons, and television shows, often embodying a sense of Americana that resonates deeply with audiences.

Banjos Are Still Evolving

Today, banjos are continually evolving, with modern luthiers experimenting with materials and designs to create new sounds. Some musicians have begun to explore electric banjos, while others incorporate unconventional techniques and effects. The banjo's resilience and adaptability prove that this beloved instrument is always ready for a new chapter in its storied legacy.

The banjo is more than just an instrument; it's a vital part of music history that continues to inspire generations of musicians and listeners alike. Whether plucking the strings around a campfire or jamming with a band, the banjo's joyful sound is sure to create memorable moments. So next time you hear the banjo in a song, remember these fun facts and appreciate the rich history behind this enchanting instrument!

[mymusicbias]

[ironmanrecords]

John Murry - Tour Dates 2024

“Our culture is a revolutionary culture, a revolutionary force on the planet, the seed of the new order that will come to flower with the disintegration and collapse of the obsolete social and economic forms” – John Sinclair “I am only a madman among the mad.” – Emil Cioran “Everyone must come out of his Exile in his own way.” – Martin Buber “We talk in black and white, ones and zeros and…

[doctorsiren]

Keep an eye out on Friday (7/12) for my newest song, December, set to release to all music platforms (plus a lyric video that will be uploaded to YouTube)

[residentfurry]

no matter where you are

i can still hear you when you drown

[queerprayers]

all I can say is they invented the organ for a reason.

[corvidsofthedeep]

No Context Crow #120: Guitar Playing Crow

From PaperWolfDsgn on Etsy.

[thestrangedazebouquet]

bbc merlin band au. that's it. that's the post.

[jessiethedoll]

ʙᴇᴀʙᴀᴅᴏᴏʙᴇᴇ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ ✧.* ♡like / reblog if use♡

[welloes]

bass pip

he's real trust me

[chaos-reprisal]

Little Study on The Heart Acoustic and how it contrasts The Mind Electric and the Soul Eclectic :3 (This turned into me being a band kid. I'm so sorry.)

Was listening to The Mind Electric variants and realized something. Compared to Mind and Soul, Heart's song is a lot tamer. (This is more about the music and less about the lyrics.) That's not to say it doesn't have it's moments of chaos or isn't a chaotic song, but compared to The Mind Electric and The Soul Eclectic, it's arguably calmer; the notes and chords (more so at the beginning and end) are held out longer, the pacing is slower, but it still has bursts of energy. Meanwhile Soul and Mind's songs are paced a lot faster: words are sung quicker and notes are held for shorter periods of time, the background music is all over the place, and there are more frequent punches of energy in the background vocals.

Smaller detail, but in The Heart Acoustic, you can hear Heart audibly take a deep breath and release it right before the chorus. It's almost like he's steeling himself for what's to come, or trying to calm himself down before he does something he regrets.

Heart, the emotional side, the creature that hardly resembles a man, has a song variant slower than Mind's or Soul's. Heart is the one to stop and breathe before he does or says something rash. And the style/pacing of his song reflects that. But not only is this song about Heart being more collected than the other two put together, this song is also about Heart giving up. About Heart letting Mind have what he wants: control over their vessel. And once Heart gives that control over, chaos ensues. Because as much as Mind may hate it, he needs Heart to help balance him.

(Bit more in depth talk about the instrumentals down here)

Heart has outbursts, sure, but Mind has explosions. The Mind Electric is nothing if not Mind saying "Fine, I'll do it myself, and I'll do it better than you." Mind's words are punctuated by what sounds like static and glitching as well as heavy hits on the drums and a heavy, robotic bass. In faster parts, the background music consists of a lot of quick arpeggios. Think of those arpeggios from Fate of the Stars, if you've listened to it.

By the time we get to The Soul Eclectic, Soul is desperate for the two to at least cooperate instead of fighting constantly. "Call me your host or call me insane, if that will help you stay in line." Moving on, the bass is pretty heavy on this song as well, as are the drum hits, which are sporadic, much like in The Mind Electric. When the background music is prevalent, for most of the song, it's pretty unison with the notes Soul is singing; but it's really, for lack of any better words, 8-bit sounding. The arpeggios in parts parallel to where they stand out in The Mind Electric are still there, but they're a lot fainter. Overall, Soul's song sounds the most dissonant, and I think that's because this song is essentially Soul panicking and looking for any way to get the attention of Heart and Mind, even if it means threatening the lives of all of them.

(I've now realized that the scratchy sound I'm probably hearing alongside the base is the electric guitar. Also like before you read below here I get a little off track with the instruments MY BADD)

In comparison to the other two, Heart's song is a lot brighter and harmonious. I want to point out that Heart's song utilizes saxophones (whether tenor or alto I can't tell, but I've played the beginning on alto and it's pretty high. My knowledge of tenor range is limited.), which is a lot lighter compared to the electric guitar and bass. Similar to the other two, there's arpeggios, but they're slower at the beginning and faster near the middle of the song. Played by some sort of percussion instrument (I'm hesitant to say it sounds kind of like a marimba?? The soft tones make me think so. But there might be another one, possibly a xylophone. And I think there's some sort of string instrument playing staccatos layered over it, but it's really hard to tell because they're unison. Each instrument is easier to pick apart at the very end of the song. And of course near the middle of the song he's playing the arpeggios on his keyboard. But at this point I'll get off topic beginning to name every instrument I can hear). TLDR; Overall, Heart's song is a lot less bass-heavy and has a brighter sound because of it. Despite having a brighter sound, though, the song is still overall dark due to chord progressions (I think please don't quote me on that I have basic knowledge of chord progressions as of right now). The song is slower paced than the other two, and while there is definitely bursts of energy, they are less frequent than they are in the other two.

In the end, all three of them have hit their lowest points by now. Also I got WAY too into the instrumentals my fault guys but uhh yeah. Didn't expect to dig into it that much :33333 Thank you for coming to my rambles!

[noosphe-re]

The sound of ether is self-contained, and it holds all forms and colors. It is the base of all sounds, and is the undertone that is ever continuous. Its instrument is the human body, because it can be audible through it. Although it is all-pervading, yet it is unheard.

Hazrat Inayat Khan, The Mysticism of Sound and Music

[ironmanrecords]

John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay (Gatefold CD)

TENOR VOSSA CD / TV022CD / RELEASE DATE : 20/09/24 **Pre-order now for an Estimated dispatch between Thu 19 Sept and Fri 20 Sept 2024** Gatefold CD. The Soundtrack to accompany the Award winning Documentary “The Graceless Age: The Ballad Of John Murry.” Written and performed by John Murry and Mike Timmins (Cowboy Junkies). The film has already won Best Irish Documentary at the 35th Galway Film…

[fruity-pontmercy]

Modern AU Feuilly would play the banjo send post.