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Having its beginnings in African-American traditional music, the banjo has become a cultural American icon. It has found a solid footing in musical genres ranging from indie rock, folk, country, and of course, bluegrass. Among others, musicians like Bela Fleck have expanded the use of the instrument even more while bringing it into the contemporary jazz fusion genre.
The banjo is one of the most unique-sounding instruments in the Western world, and although not all of the instrument’s fame has brought it a positive image (cough Deliverance cough), the instrument nevertheless has a huge “awe” factor and an incredibly unique sound that people absolutely love.
The modern-day banjo evolved from similar-styled African traditional instruments but the instrument’s trajectory still seems to be in motion. A lot of really interesting instruments have sprung up in recent years that riff off of the instrument’s unique traits, and some of the results have been really astounding. Here are a few of the coolest hybrid-style instruments in the modern banjo family that are totally worth checking out.
1. Banjo Ukulele (Banjolele)
A unique instrument called the banjolele was initially introduced in 1917 and was pretty popular in the 20s and 30s, but it seemed to lose some of its prominence over time. For a while, antique stores seemed to be the only place to find a banjolele. Luckily, they seem to be in a bit of a resurgence. Luckily, manufacturers are now releasing new models of the banjo ukulele and many music stores around the country have them in stock.
2. Banjo Guitar (Banjitar)
The banjitar is another popular hybrid instrument. It can be tuned in any number of ways. However, most people tune it to the standard EADGBE tuning of a guitar. This makes the banjitar a great instrument to transition to for guitar players. A number of popular musicians use the instrument including Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, and Kasey Musgraves.
Click here to see our list of the best banjitars and guitjos on the market today.
3. Mandolin-Banjo (Banjolin)
The banjolin is a great alternative to the banjolele if you’re looking for a smaller hybrid instrument. The banjolin plays like a mandolin and has 8 strings in total. This allows for some very unique and refreshing sounds that you haven’t quite heard before.
4. Banjo Mandola (Banjola)
The banjola is the only instrument on this list that has 5 strings and can be played like the modern 5-string banjo. Whereas the banjolin is a hybrid of the mandolin, the banjola merges the banjo’s personality with the mandola, the mandolin’s older, bigger cousin.
5. Electric Banjola
This one is so cool, I had to give it a heading all its own. This electric instrument takes the banjitar to the next level and adds the power of electricity. Feel free to rock out. Plug this instrument in and you’ll have plenty of sound possibilities to choose from and you’ll be sure to turn plenty of heads.
Final Thoughts
If you want to have a unique instrument in your hands that is sure to turn heads, you may just want to get one of the banjo hybrids listed above. These instruments aren’t as typical as the guitar or even a normal banjo. Having one of these instruments in your band or performance may just change everything.
Hi, I’m Harrison! I created this website to help musicians navigate the ins and outs of their craft and to help them choose new instruments and gear to add to their collection. I have 15 years of experience as a guitarist and singer and have also played many other instruments throughout the years including the bass guitar, piano, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica.