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Why don't we hear the banjo in all types of music?

posted 2 years ago by Dogiswhite (1318)
36 replies | jump to latest

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't recall ever hearing the sound of a banjo on any hip hop or rap record. Come to think of it Heavy Metal groups don't use the ? banjo either. Every rock band has a guitarist, why not a banjoist? Okay I know they are called banjo players, but it sounded good with the -ist. You don't hear the banjo on jazz or blues records. Beethoven didn't write a concerto for banjo. What do people have against this great musical instrument?

[–] GlenEllyn (21577) 2 years ago

More harmonicas, please.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxEPV4kolz0

We need more harmonizing, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMkQExuzL_0
And bagpipes chime in here that same video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMkQExuzL_0&t=2m30s

[–] Dogiswhite (1318) 2 years ago

Cool. Now can we add harmonica to the 2nd video and some banjo.

[–] GlenEllyn (21577) 2 years ago

A lot of folks hate bagpipes, but they have their place. I'm no arranger, so you'll have to add the banjo and harmonica. 🤭

[–] Dogiswhite (1318) 2 years ago

If used properly the bagpipes can be a special addition to any song. I don't feel that there is much demand for the bagpipes in popular music these days, even less so than the banjo and certainly a lot lesser than the harmonica.

[–] GlenEllyn (21577) 2 years ago

I agree with your viewpoint. They fit well with only certain songs.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 2 years ago

Because the banjo has “hick” written all over it. It’s as classy as a mouth harp or the spoons.

[–] Dogiswhite (1318) 2 years ago

The banjo has a very unique sound. Sure it is mainly associated with bluegrass music, but bluegrass is not hick music. Many commenters have mentioned songs in rock and other music which have used the banjo. So you may identify it with so called hick music, but I think others would disagree.

[–] R_Kane (15828) a year ago

You cannot qualify the word “unique,” as in “most unique” or “very unique.” “Unique” means “one of a kind.” Something cannot be more singular than something else.

Only a hick would think that, Rufus.

[–] 778alan (5) a year ago

I also thought about this question, I love this instrument. Also, in my opinion, the ukulele is an underrated instrument, especially since learning to play the ukulele is quite simple and you can find many chords https://www.ukulele-tabs.com/uke-songs/deliverance/dueling-banjos-uke-tab-22886.html and even compare the ukulele with the banjo