Banjo

musical instrument · string instrument · American music

Special sound maker. The banjo makes its unique bright, twangy sound because strings vibrate over a thin membrane stretched tight like a drum head. This membrane acts like a resonator, bouncing the sound around inside the instrument.

From goatskin to plastic. Long ago, banjos had membranes made from goat skin, but modern banjos use a thin plastic material called BOPET instead. This makes them more durable and easier to care for.

Circle shape matters. The membrane on a banjo is almost always circular, which helps spread the vibrations evenly and creates that signature twangy sound people love.

Strung for sound. The banjo is a stringed instrument, meaning it has multiple strings that produce different notes when plucked or strummed by musicians.