Tenor Banjo started its association with jigs and reels when adopted by US Irish immigrants. Its snappy sound makes it a perfect addition at any session. In its current form the Irish Banjo is tuned the same as a mandolin (and fiddle) but with a longer neck requiring a bit more of a stretch than the smaller stringed instruments. Many have a wooden resonator on the back while others are open backed, each offering a different sound quality.
Who you should listen to: Gerry O’Conner, Barney McKenna, Cathal Hayden, Enda Scahill, Pauline Conneely, Stevie Dunn, Damien O’Kane, Theresa O’Grady, Angela Usher, Demaris Woods