Many beginners to banjo may not know why some banjos feature “resonators”, while others do not, or what their purpose actually is.
Resonators depend on your musical taste and genre of choice – with clawhammer being an exception as this requires an open back resonator banjo to play effectively.
1. Foggy Mountain Breakdown – Vocal Stacking and Long Instrumental Breaks
Foggy Mountain Breakdown has long been one of the iconic banjo songs and an integral component of any bluegrass player’s repertoire. Recorded during a casual afternoon, Foggy Mountain Breakdown now defines its genre and stands as an iconic example. Thanks to Scruggs’s signature style, its distinct sound has come to define all other bluegrass players’ performances as well.
Thomas Goldsmith’s book Earl Scruggs and the Making of an American Classic: Foggy Mountain Breakdown provides a detailed account of how this iconic song came to be. As Goldsmith writes: This monumental recording encapsulated bluegrass’ essence while revolutionizing music worldwide.”
Foggy Mountain Breakdown became synonymous with banjo music due to its simple composition and Flatt and Scruggs’s trademark frantic picking style, becoming one of the genre’s hallmark pieces. Further cementing its place within this genre was its appearance in Bonnie and Clyde – further increasing its success and fame among general audiences. Many still consider Foggy Mountain Breakdown the greatest banjo song ever recorded, and numerous artists from different genres have covered this timeless tune since.
2. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – O Brother Where Art Thou
Resonator banjos can add an intriguing sonic texture to music recordings and recordings alike, providing a great opportunity to demonstrate just how good banjos can sound when played correctly.
By the early 70s, country and rock music had begun merging. The Byrds had just recorded Sweetheart of the Rodeo; Linda Ronstadt made her mark with acoustic country; while Grateful Dead members began working on Merle Haggard songs.
Will the Circle Be Unbroken was an ambitious three-LP release that bridged both musical genres through a collaboration between California-based Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (whose hit Mr. Bojangles had made them nationally known) and numerous bluegrass artists including Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, Earl Scruggs and Jimmy Martin.
3. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Back Door Man
Fifty years ago, a group of Southern California high school and college kids made their debut with a self-titled album and Top 40 hit called “Buy for Me the Rain.” Though they struggled for more than 30 seconds to settle on a name for their band, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band would go on to pioneer Americana genre music by mixing bluegrass, country, folk rock and jug band into its sound.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has undergone many lineup changes over its decades-long existence, but two mainstays remain. Guitarist-banjoist Jeff Hanna and harpist Jimmie Fadden have remained members since day one; bassist-mandolin player Ross Holmes, fiddle maestro Doug Dillard and singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist John McEuen all spent some time as well.
Lou Wamp of Nashville has been performing dobro and resonator guitar for four decades, providing lessons, workshops, performances at festivals around the southeast region, as well as founding Renfro Valley Old Time Fiddler’s Convention annually in July.
4. Foggy Mountain Breakdown – Back Door Man
Earl Scruggs probably never dreamed his song Foggy Mountain Breakdown would become such an iconic work, yet it has inspired generations of musicians and listeners to appreciate bluegrass music.
A song of community that draws people in and keeps them coming back for more, this piece also represents a peak musical experience that lifts one from their everyday existence into higher spiritual realms.
Foggy Mountain Breakdown is an easy song to learn, though some Em measures can be more challenging due to grouping of two bars together (2+2). Plus there are numerous tag rolls (in 6 out of 16 measures containing tag rolls or at least containing them as an element).
Foggy Mountain Breakdown, whether used as the chase music in Deliverance or the theme from Bonnie and Clyde, is an iconic tune that everyone knows and appreciates.