The classical banjo is a fretted instrument fitted with five nylon strings tuned to G C G B D. (Note: this is the normal tuning for the classical banjo) The instrument is played with the bare fingers, this method of playing is known as finger style.

NOTE: Classical banjo is a type and style of banjo playing, not to be confused with the playing of classical music on other types of banjos (e.g. the tenor banjo.) Any type of music can be played on the classical banjo.

The banjo had been in existence long before it was rediscovered in America at the beginning of the 19th century. During the 19th. century the classical five string banjo as we know it today was developed in America and Britain, by various players and musical instrument makers. (For a detailed history of the banjo see the links listed on the classical banjo links page.) During the late 19th. century and early part of the 20th. century, the classical banjo became one of the most popular musical instruments to play, hence a large amount of music was composed for it, by performers and composers, such as Joe Morley, Emile Grimshaw, Olly Oakley, Alfred Cammeyer, Vess Ossman and Parke Hunter etc. (For more information about Classical Banjo Composers see the links page.) By the second part of the 20th. century, the classical banjo had started to decline in popularity, and by the end of the 20th. century it would have disappeared for ever, had it not been for the efforts and enthusiasm of a few people worldwide who still listen to, and play the classical banjo. (Information about classical banjo societies etc. can be found on this page and the links page.)

The zither banjo was developed from the open back classical banjo at the end of the 19th century, by Alfred D. Cammeyer. It was designed with a deep resonator and fitted with a mixture of steel and gut (nylon) strings to give the classical banjo a more sustained ringing tone. Today many classical banjo players, play both zither and open back classical banjos, and consider the zither banjo to be just another type of the classical banjo. For more information about the zither banjo Click here to go to a website devoted to the zither banjo, or go to the Classical Banjo Links page on this website.

( Listed in alphabetical order)

James Allgrove is a performer and teacher of the Classical Banjo. For more information Click here to go to the James Allgrove web page, or go to the Performers page on this website.

Douglas Back is a performer and teacher of the Classical Banjo. For more information Click here to go to the Douglas Back web page, or go to the Performers page on this website.

Chris  Sands is a performer and teacher of the Classical Banjo. For more information Click here to go to the Chris  Sands web page, or go to the Performers page on this website.

Probably one of the youngest classical banjo performers in the world today is Elias Sibley, who started playing the banjo when he was ten years old.  In the Millennium year he made a recording of some of the classical banjo music he performed during that year. The CD of this recording is available now. (For more information about this CD see the Classical Banjo News and CD Recording pages on this website.)

For more information Click here to go to the classical banjo webpage on Elias Sibley's website, or go to the Performers page on this website.

For information about other outstanding Classical Banjo performers, Click here or go to the Banjo Links page on this website.