Bill Evans: Classic Banjo

Bill Evans performs "Ragtime Episode" from Paul Eno (1908) on an 1890's Cole Eclipse banjo, with nyglut strings, skin head and no fingerpicks. This example is typical of the written music played on the five-string banjo from the 1870's through the early 20th century. Today, the American Banjo Fraternity continues to play this virtuosic and exciting banjo repertoire.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk
• classical
• bluegrass
• banjo
• world
• music

[MrWildbanjo]

Hi Bill, great playing I really enjoyed hearing someone else playing classical style. Now a question , is the body of your banjo made by Cole or is it just the neck ? thats it I guess , except to say lets have more of your superb classical playing on You Tube . all the best and be well ... Mike....

[BillEvansBanjo]

It's all Cole - dating from around 1907. I purchased it from Jim Bollman. Thanks for your interest!

[BillEvansBanjo]

Good luck Dynamo!

[krushnoi]

Great job. I was wondering if the clawhammer type banjos could be used for this kind of music? And is it possible to wear plastic fingerpicks, like guitarists sometimes wear, on these banjos or is there too much pick noise?

[BillEvansBanjo]

Hey there! Sorry to take so long to respond! The "real" classic players mostly all use open back banjos - the same kind of banjos usually used for clawhammer style. However, you can play any kind of music on any kind of banjo - don't let the instrument you have stop you from playing what you want to play. The real classic players never use fingerpicks of any kind - many of them use fingernails, like classical guitarists. I play with my fingers, using no picks.

[KnownastheMoss]

@creepsneedtodie Yup. You need to develop calluses on your right hand fingertips which act as "natural fingerpicks" and good right hand strength to get that characteristic Classic-style sound -- short, sharp and bright.

[creepsneedtodie]

do you have to pluck harder without finger picks to get that brilliant sound?

[14SLR]

@blindboybutler

i can read sheet but i feel lazy haha so i would love a copy

[Whiskers1949]

Very interesting! I'm still looking for the right term to use for my dad's playing style. Some have called it "classical", some clawhammer. I think it's somewhere in between.

[blindboybutler]

I've just finished writing the tab for the Van Eps version, which is what Bill is using in this version. If anyone who can't read sheet music would like a copy then contact me.

[blindboybutler]

I have the Eps arrangement as well.

[blindboybutler]

I have a sheet of this, arranged by Joe Earle. Not sure which version Bill is working from. If anyone wants a copy message me.

[A1BanjoMan]

Your five-string work is most enjoyable. I came from a classic banjo family, I`m 75 years old now and had a fairly good twenty years of success as a capable tenor banjoist, specializing in classical ragtime. My dad was a five-string classic banjo artist and I still have his Van Eps flush fret banjo, which he bought from Fred for $185.00 with a fine case in 1949. It`s in new condition. How times change. I still have my original "Ode" style "F" tenor banjo, which I had Chuck build me in the 60`s.

[MrWildbanjo]

Hi Bill, Mike here again, can you let me know where i might get hold of a copy of this music ? I just love it and must learn to play it ......... Hope you can help, all the best , Mike.......

[ComradeMorshu]

@joshuacash The nylon strings tend to stretch over a day or two, but once they set in the tuning will be stable. I used to play on steel strings, now I've got Chris Sands brand heavy-gauge nylons on all my banjos (including my bluegrass cannon). The trick is using a thin maple bridge with no ebony top, and fingerpicks for the bluegrass sound. Works great!