 | The banjolele (or banjo ukulele) is a four-stringed musical instrument with a small banjo-type body and a fretted ukulele neck. "Banjolele," sometimes also spelled "banjelele" or "banjulele" is a generic nickname given to the instrument, which was derived from the 'banjulele-banjo,' introduced by Alvin D. Keech in 1917. The instrument achieved its greatest popularity in the 1920s and '30s, and combines the small scale, tuning, and playing style of a ukulele with the construction and distinctive tone of a banjo, hence the name. |
| The banjolele neck typically has sixteen frets: shorter than a banjo, but longer than a ukulele. Banjo ukuleles may be open-backed, or may incorporate a resonator. The banjolele is commonly tuned GCEA ("C Tuning") or ADF#B ("D Tuning"), with a re-entrant 4th string. The ADF#B tuning often produces a more strident tone, and is used for this reason. Both of these tunings are known as "my dog has fleas" tunings (5th, Tonic, Maj 3rd, Maj 6th). The banjolele (also commonly referred to as a ukulele or 'uke') was the instrument played by British comedian George Formby (see photo), who developed his own style of playing in accompaniment to his comic songs. His name is associated with the instrument more than that of any other musician. Other artists to make eminent use of the banjolele are Wendell Hall, and Roy Smeck in the USA, and Billy 'Uke' Scott, Alan Randall, and Andy Eastwood in Great Britain. | |
| George Formby plays "She's got two of everything" on his Banjo Ukulele "I will survive" on banjo ukulele Jazz Ukulele live 2007 at PoePoeNagoya Japan - Tatsuko Kaneda (Banjo ukulele) "Moon Over Miami" - Randall Throckmorton (Banjo Ukulele) & Bob Barnes (Bandoneon) | |
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