Banjolin

"The three instruments described below are named "banjolin." It should not be mistaken for the mandolin-banjo, nor is it to be confused with the Banjoline."

Four instruments (of which three are banjos) are called banjolins:

* A "banjolin" is a type of 4 string banjo, pitched in the same register as a mandolin popularized in the 1920s. It is tuned and played the same as a mandolin.

:The major difference it has from a Mandolin is a 10.5- to 11-inch banjo-body which serves to amplify the instrument relative to a standard mandolin (especially important in the days before widespread electric amplification).

:The banjolin has 4 strings (as opposed to the mandolin and mandolin-banjo which have 4 courses). The scale length and tuning are identical to the mandolin (low to high: GDAE).

:The instrument was designed for use in banjo orchestras. Later it appeared occasionally in jug bands. It is now rare; current prices range from about 200 to 700 of U.S. dollars.

* A "banjolin" is a type of banjo, the 'younger brother' of the tenor banjo. Banjo hybrids normally take their names from the Banjo- prefix, and then the second half of the other instrument's name, such as banjocello and the banjitar, which has led to the belief that the banjolin is a sort of Mandolin/Banjo hybrid. The Banjolin is actually a 'violin banjo'. Fretless banjolins are therefore more likely to crop up. Banjolins should not be confused with the Banjo Ukelele (Ukelele), due to their larger head size and shorter scale length in comparison.

* A "banjolin" is a type of banjo patented by John Farris in 1885, available then in soprano, alto, tenor, and bass models, all either "quartette" (four-string) or "quintette" (five-string) (see external link below).

* A "banjolin" is a type of bowed fretless zither (see fret and external link below).

External links

* [http://www.banjolin.co.uk/banjolin/ The Banjolin Page]
* An [http://www.mugwumps.com/farris_1.gifadvertisement] for Farris's banjolin.
* [http://www.fretlesszithers.com/bowed.html Bowed] instruments at [http://www.fretlesszithers.com fretlesszithers.com]