The Wayne Adams Old 'Classic' Banjo Collection - 1897-1952, by Gérard De Smaele

Columbia “AK” Disc Graphophone, 1903. Birthplace of Country Music Museum.
Photo: G. De Smaele, 2018.
Effects of the “classic banjo” on traditional
music from the South.
By its very nature, the five-string banjo is an instrument
far removed from the world of classical music. Although
the minstrel style made extensive use of musical notation,
it is clear that in rural areas of the South, the playing
techniques were all transmitted orally. The publication
in 1948 of How to Play the 5-String Banjo 23 (the particularly
influential Pete Seeger method), was the first of its
kind and came before the great folk revival. Before this,
tablature - also used for the lute - had remained practically
unknown 24 . In the 1920s, rural musicians such as
9
Charlie Poole (1892-1931) were exposed to the classic
banjo 25 . Ultimately, this playing technique was to be significant
in the birth of the three-finger bluegrass style
developed by Earl Scruggs (1924-2012) from the end of
the 1930s, and which was to prevail throughout the rest
of the century. Although single string style, developed
by virtuoso Don Reno (1927-1984) 26 , probably derives
from flat picking (a playing technique used in folk guitar)
it is reminiscent of the classic banjo. In general,
from the 1960s, the bluegrass banjo would evolve in the
direction of a more melodic approach, partially inspired
by classic banjoists, somewhat brought to light by the
activities of the American Banjo Fraternity (ABF).