Banjo Description

Hal the banjo guy for Nevah has been playing instruments since his youth and has settled on the banjo. his quick finger picking style helps to keep the bluegrass, prograssabilly style in the nevah bands music. Hal has studied the Banjo with several of the worlds top Banjo players and merges there styling into his own. Hal has played with Nevah for the past 6 years and under his guidance the band has developed into one of the best new bands on the music scene

                                                   
The Banjo is considered a true american instrument introduced in the United States by the early slave population brought over from Africa. Throughout the years it had "spurts" of popularity primarily heard in the Minstrel shows of a by-gone era. Most of the banjos of that time period were "Plectrum," four string banjos, which are still popular today. The plectrum banjo is played with a "pick" strumming or plucking individual notes. The plectrum banjo is also heard a great deal in celtic and irish music.

The modern five string Bluegrass banjo became extremely popular after Earl Scruggs introduced his version of the fast three finger picking style. His "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and "Ballad of Jed Clampet"are two of the most popular banjo tunes ever released. Of course, when dueling banjo's came out it along with Earl's two songs because one of the most requested Banjo tunes ever.

The Banjo in numerous forms is very popular today, whether four or five string. Gibson, Deering, Stelling, and Ome are just a few of the manufacturers of top quality banjos.

If you want a real treat, listen to Tony Trischka, Bela Fleck or Yens Kruger to hear some of today's true masters of the modern five string banjo.