Banjos Playing the Banjo

Greg Adams, Assistant Archivist at the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, is a banjo scholar and enthusiast. Smithsonian Music connected with him to ask him about the history of the banjo, how the instrument is played, and other related topics. Don't miss Ralph Stanley performing "Little Birdie." Stanley created a unique style of banjo playing, sometimes called "Stanley Style," characterized by incredibly fast "forward rolls" (a technique in banjo playing) led by the index finger. Discover banjo players who are keeping the instrument a part of contemporary music.