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“Give Me The Banjo” I just caught this show on PBS and I thought I’d give you guys a heads up in case you get a chance to watch it. It’s a look into American music history and narrated by Steve Martin. It’s especially poignant for me because I grew up and still live in the area that is the birthplace of this music. I hope you get a chance to watch it. Edit: Here is the link for the full video: http://video.pbs.org/video/2164506461
Last edited by bobcflatpicker; 05/26/12 11:13 AM.
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Steve Martin is a pretty well studied musician. After having watched him be a goofball in all those movies I was taken aback at his skill.
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Wow, Bob! I just watched the PBS video and was totally blown away. You certainly live in a musical part of the world. I would love to have you take me to meet the rural people of WV.
Q: Early in the program it said the banjo was an "African instrument" then, later, they said it was an "American instrument." Which is it?
Also, I know "hammer-ons" and "pull-offs" date back perhaps hundreds of years but I have never credited Pete Seeger with originating those terms. What had they been called prior to his book?
Anyway, thank you sincerely for giving me a fabulous, musical morning.
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Don, I thought of you when I was watching this. I knew it would be right up your alley. Quote:
Q: Early in the program it said the banjo was an "African instrument" then, later, they said it was an "American instrument." Which is it?
From http://www.ehow.com/about_4884892_what-origin-banjo.html
“Wrongly believed by many to be an American instrument, the banjo dates back centuries with its earliest origins found in the Middle East and Africa. While it slowly evolved for centuries, it was not until enslaved Africans brought the banjo to the American colonies that it received its significant gain in popularity.”
End quote.
I think it would be safe to say that the latest stage in the evolution of the banjo into a “modern” instrument happened in America, but I’m not an expert on it. I did find the documentary fascinating.
Quote:
I know "hammer-ons" and "pull-offs" date back perhaps hundreds of years but I have never credited Pete Seeger with originating those terms. What had they been called prior to his book?
When Pete said that, it was news to me. Dunno what those techniques were called before.
I’m glad you enjoyed it Don.
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regarding the origins of the banjo: Here's a link to a YouTube series called "THROW DOWN YOUR HEART", about Bela Fleck's trip to Africa. In the first of the series he states that the banjo's origin was Africa, and there is a clip of such an instrument being played. Other clips show a variety of instruments used on the continent. Interesting viewing if you have about an hour to watch all the clips. Each clip is about 5 minutes, and the very first one shows the banjo's predecessor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDCxaQhhL0A
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In America before the so-called Civil War, it was forbidden for slaves to own or use drums, because of the fear involved when it was discovered that the African Drum (some of them) could be used for communication.
The Banjo is basically a drum, with a head, but has strings stretched over the head of the drum, using a bridge to transfer the string energy to the head of the drum.
Thus the Banjo became a sort of workaround to a problem.
If you think about it, something mentioned in the NPR presentation is not quite true: The Banjo as we know it is the *only* truly native American instrument.
Well, the roots of the Banjo are indeed found on the African continent.
--Mac
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Quote:
America before the so-called Civil War <snip>
"CIVIL" WAR is a bit of an oxymoron, isn't it?
Good point, Mac...I never thought of it that way before
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Quote:
The Banjo as we know it is the *only* truly native American instrument.
The Dobro (square-neck resonator guitar) is just as American. It evolved from the guitar in the early 20th Century, but it is an entirely different animal.
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Dobro is a combination of what two abbreviated words? If'in yas gotta look it up, it's cheating! I expect Mac and Bob flatpicker to know the answer. If I remember correctly, it was invented in 1929.
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Funny thing is we used to have a duo here that did a LOT of comedy in their act. They were guitar and dobro, but sadly the dobro player passed away. He was a GREAT guy.
They called themselves "The D'oh Bros".
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Quote:
Dobro is a combination of what two abbreviated words?
Actually a name and a word: Dopyera Brothers
((what did I win?)) 
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You win a big round of applause! Take a bow. Did you cheat? You even spelt it koreck!
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Quote:
You win a big round of applause! Take a bow. Did you cheat? You even spelt it koreck!
No cheating here but I am having one built for me by Tom Warner.
So it has been recently researched. It should be ready any day now.
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I believe the folks from Virginia and other southern states refer to it as "The War of Northern Aggression," not The Civil War.  Just something I've heard... Anyway, to quote a great American philosopher Edwin Starr: WAR! What is it good for...absolutely nothing...say it again!
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Quote:
Anyway, to quote a great American philosopher Edwin Starr:
"I am SO glad my family moved to Cleveland Ohio so I could be raised in a great music city!!!"
I THINK that was the quote.....
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Thanks for posting the link, I watched the entire show last night and truly enjoyed it.
In fact this entire tread has been very educational.
Later,
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Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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