ART

INTEGRATED
PROJECT
Physics behind banjo
GROUP MEMBERS
1. Arnavgarhwal
2. Rahul Padhee
3. V Pranay Dharhas
4. Rishab
5. Aaryan
6. Ravi
 The body, or “pot”, of a modern banjo
typically consists of a circular rim
(generally made of wood, though
MATERIAL metal was also common on older
banjos) and a tensioned head, similar
USED IN to a drum head. Traditionally, the head
was made from animal skin, but today
BANJO is often made of various synthetic
materials.
PHYSICS BEHIND
BANJO
In contrast to a guitar, the strings of a
banjo are fixed at the instrument’s rim
by means of an adjustable tailpiece,
resulting in a ‘floating bridge’
(pictured). Sound is produced through
the combined vibration of the strings
and the drum.
 The thin, drum-like head of the banjo creates the “popping”, “snappy”
sound of a banjo. This “membrane” that is activated by the bridge
and strings, responds quickly because of its thin, sensitive, easily
responding nature. A guitar sound board can be around an eighth of
an inch thick, with spruce braces almost an inch tall and a bridge
about one by six inches and almost three eighths of an inch thick.A
plastic banjo head is around twelve thousandths of an inch thick,
stretched over an open 11 or 12 inch (depending on the model for
most modern banjos) braceless expanse with a bridge that is about
one eighth inch thick at the bottom, five eighths of an inch tall and
only two and a half inches long. Yes, there is more to the banjo than
just the tight drum head and light, slender bridge, but this illustrates
some of the mechanical differences between a guitar and a banjo.
Because the guitar top is so much thicker and braced to carry to the

HOW
load of heavy guitar strings and banjos have a thin “membrane” that
makes its “soundboard” or sounding member, the guitar is naturally
softer and mellower than the snappy sparkle of a banjo.The banjo’s
“thin membrane” head, like an ear drum, is one secret to the

BANJOS
expressive nature of a banjo. The lightest touch of a finger on a
string makes a beautiful, delicate, musical sound. A strong attack on
the strings makes a very powerful, driving tone that can be heard
over long distances. This kind of “dynamic response” is one of the
most gratifying aspects of playing a banjo. To be able to play very

WORK
quietly and to play with great power is what every musician dreams
about as the “perfect instrument.”But what about the effect of all the
“stuff” on a banjo like the tone ring, the tailpiece, the various flange
designs, the effect of the neck wood and the adjustments like head
tension, kind of head, etc.?