Fingerstyle Banjo Song and Tab of the Week: “Shady Grove”

People love the banjo because it is different. 

It looks different than other instruments. It sounds different than other instruments.

And it’s played differently than other instrument – the 5-string banjo in particular.

Contemporary music is all about chords. That’s because the guitar, an instrument well suited for chord-based playing, has played such a prominent role.

But much of the traditional repertoire of the banjo isn’t about chords. It’s about melody and drone.

That’s because the banjo, with the aforementioned short 5th string, is a drone instrument.

Fortunately, it’s also versatile enough to be played in “modern,” chord-based music (like bluegrass).

But there’s a reason the old, pre-chordal songs, like Shady Grove, sound especially great on the banjo.

I’m always a little reluctant to include chord progressions on these modal tunes. Some consider it sacrilege – I think that’s taking things a bit too far.

But I do think we should take advantage of the opportunity these “modal” tunes provide to shift into the “melody-drone” mentality. It opens us up to new musical ideas, and keeps us connected to the banjo’s roots.