The History of the Banjo Unplugged: Its African Birth and Irish Legacy

• Where the banjo really comes from
• African instruments that inspired the modern banjo
• How the 5-string banjo evolved in America
• When the banjo came to Ireland — and how it changed
• Playing styles & cultural influence across time
• What makes the banjo such a unique musical instrument

Embark on a captivating journey through the history of the banjo, an instrument that speaks volumes about cultural fusion and musical evolution. From its humble beginnings as a gourd instrument in Africa to its vibrant resonance in the pubs of Ireland, our blog weaves a tale that captures the essence of the banjo’s transformative journey.

Unlock the secrets of its African roots, American innovations, and Irish rhythms. This isn’t just a historical exploration; it’s an insightful guide that enriches your understanding of the banjo’s unique place in world music. Join us in discovering how this seemingly simple instrument became a symbol of cultural confluence and a beloved icon in folk traditions.

The Early African Origin of the Banjo

The banjo is far more than a bluegrass icon. It is a fascinating instrument that bridges continents, cultures, and centuries. Originally handcrafted in Africa, carried to the Americas by enslaved people, and later adopted and transformed in the U.S. and Ireland, the banjo today stands as a powerful symbol of musical fusion and innovation.

Understanding the Banjo’s Path: Its Evolution From Africa to Ireland

• Originated in West Africa, brought to the Americas via the slave trade
• Adopted by Black musicians and transformed in the U.S.
• Popularised in minstrel shows, jazz, bluegrass, and folk
• Still central to Irish traditional music today
• From the akonting to modern 5-string and 4-string styles
• A symbol of resilience, cultural fusion, and musical heritage

Where Did the Banjo Come From?

The akonting, ngoni & other gourd-based resonators

Despite banjo-like instruments being independently invented in various cultures (such as the Chinese Sanxian, or the Japanese Shamisen), the first instrument that showed any sort of resemblance to modern-day Western banjos can be traced back to Central and Western Africa. There, the local indigenous people made a number of stringed instruments using hollowed out gourd bodies as a sort of resonator, similar to the body of a guitar. 

One of these instruments however, the ‘Akonting’, certainly shows the prototype instrument of what modern banjos evolved from. The akonting was a 3 to 5 stringed instrument played by plucking and pressing the strings on the circular neck shape fretboard. Since fretboards weren’t a thing in Africa though, all of these akontings were/are fretless instruments. The sound produced was amplified by a gourd body with an animal hide stretched over it underneath the strings.

How the Banjo Traveled to the Americas

Unfortunately, the history of the banjo (as you can imagine) has some dark details involved with its development. Banjos were first introduced to the U.S. by their slave trade a few hundred years ago. This led to depictions and descriptions of a particular stringed instrument sounding very similar to banjos (sometimes referred to as a banza, bandore, or bangoe), popping up in different parts of the U.S. and the Caribbean.

That being said, as a result of the connotation made between African slaves and banjos in general, it was seen as a lower class instrument and rarely received interest from the upper class.

However, over time this began to change. This may have been due to older slave generations teaching banjo playing skills to the younger generation. One of these children to eventually end up popularising banjos by playing them on stage was Joel Walker Sweeney. Sweeney was the first person to replace the gourd body with a wooden sound box with a tone ring instead. This development brought the instrument one step closer to the modern incarnation we know today as banjos.

However, it should be noted that Joel Sweeney became famous playing at ‘minstrel shows’ which were a series of crude shows that took place all across America at the time. Through these shows however, banjos became very popular instruments and started getting recognition from the general southern U.S. population. It is unfortunate that banjos gained notoriety through these shows, but it’s important to acknowledge this dark period in the banjo’s history as well as how it was responsible for the banjo’s widespread popularity.

Fingerpicking Styles That Changed Everything

It was during these times that the banjo evolved into its classic format of having 5 strings (4 strings with one drone string) and being in tune in open G – GCGBD and being plucked with the fingers by players such as Earl Scruggs and Bill Keith. 

The banjo was also changed from traditionally being an open backed instrument to adopting the resonator design, making it much louder and more present in a musical group as a result. This was huge at the time as being loud was a crucial component for instruments, and especially being in a Dixieland jazz band, as banjos had to be powerful enough to still be heard over the brass instruments playing the melody (purely because brass instruments are obnoxiously loud).

In time, the banjo became recognised as an ‘American Instrument’ which follows the general perception of the banjo. It has often been used in genres such as bluegrass and folk, which carry on to this very day.

Bluegrass and Beyond — The Rise of the 5-String

At the turn of the century, the banjo began to be played differently in ragtime and later jazz groups. The birth of Dixieland jazz in New Orleans, Louisiana in the early 1900s meant that the banjo had to evolve to keep up with the changing times. Eventually, the banjo started to be used as more of a rhythm instrument designed for strumming and playing chords (similar to how a guitar is often played). This led to it losing its fifth string (as it got in the way of strumming) and being used with a plectrum. Thus, being known as a ‘plectrum banjo’.

This variation of the banjo eventually made its way across the Atlantic to Ireland in the 1920s, where it started to be used as a melodic instrument instead. It was tuned down as well and became known as the Irish tenor 4-string banjo, which is the most commonly used variation in traditional Irish music today.

However despite the 4-string version being commonplace in Irish music nowadays, 5 string banjos are sometimes still used and can absolutely be used for playing traditional Irish music. The most famous example is the legendary folk singer Luke Kelly of ‘The Dubliners’, as he was well known for playing a 5 string banjo instead of the typical 4 string tenor banjo.

Playing Techniques of Five String Banjos

Did you know that five-string banjos are super versatile instruments? They offer a wide range of playing techniques to explore. Let’s talk about the two dominant styles: the “clawhammer” and “bluegrass”.

• The clawhammer approach (a.k.a. “frailing”), has you strike the strings downward in a rhythmic and percussive style using your thumb and index or middle finger. It’s perfect for old-time and traditional folk music, bringing that awesome rhythm to life!
• On the other hand, the bluegrass style, (also called “Scruggs style” after the legendary Earl Scruggs) is a technique that involves a unique fingerpicking method. You use a thumb and two fingers (usually index and middle) with picks to pluck the strings in a rolling, cascading pattern. That’s what gives the banjo its distinctive, rapid-fire twang! It’s perfect for fast-paced genres like bluegrass and country.
• Another cool technique called ‘two-finger style’ has your thumb and index finger pick out the melody while the other fingers stabilise the instrument. It creates a smoother, more melodic sound, often heard in early country and gospel music.

Banjo Styles Through Time: How Culture Shaped the Instrument

As the banjo travelled from Africa to the Americas and beyond, it adapted — in shape, materials, tuning, and playing style. Each type of banjo reflects a cultural moment and musical purpose.

From Gourd to Tone Ring, a Structural Evolution

African gourd banjos were rhythmic and raw. European and American makers later added frets, wooden pots, and tension heads — leading to the louder, metal-enhanced banjos heard in bluegrass today.

4-String vs. 5-String, built for Different Styles

The 5-string banjo, with its drone string, became the voice of bluegrass and Appalachian music. Meanwhile, 4-string tenor and plectrum banjos carved their niche in jazz bands and Irish trad sessions.

Modern Twists: Electric & Hybrid Designs

Today’s banjoleles, banjitars, and electrified models blend banjo tone with other instruments’ playability; perfect for guitarists or stage performers seeking that signature twang.

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If you’re a banjo playing beginner, be sure to check out our other blog posts on tuning and holding the banjo as well as the 3 best beginner tunes for Irish tenor banjo.

Banjo History: Frequently Asked Questions