My Most Popular Banjo Song, Electrified!

The electric banjo is back! I think I need to do some tinkering with it to get a better sound, but it's kinda cool as is. Also, of course this isn't MY song, it's a folk tune that no one owns, but its my version of it, I suppose. Sugar hill is such a neat tune. I play it in C tuning.
Like I said in the video, one of these days I want to get an electric guitar and string it like a banjo, and thus unlock a whole new range of sounds! I'll get around to doing that one of these days. I also want to try getting some fx pedals to plug into this guy.
Here's my original sugar hill video: • Sugar hill - clawhamme...
If you'd like to support my channel, go check out my patreon! patreon.com/PhoebeSanders And if you want a little extra banjo fun, head on over to my instagram! / phoebesandersbanjo

[@dragonforcedupon]

Great, now I want a whole 50 minute black metal album featuring a bunch of tremolo picking banjos! No such thing as too much fuzz lmao

[@actualsurfer]

You beat me to a request but I am lobbying for hour long upbeat Space Banjo. Good luck!

[@razor6552]

Steel Woods Straw in the Wind would be good on this banjo

[@piguy3point14]

🤘

[@dkmiller8420]

All I want is an electric banjo version of War Pigs. Is that too much to ask?

[@actualsurfer]

@@dkmiller8420 I can get behind that.

[@user-xc8ku1sr3o]

Old school guy here, I much prefer the acoustic banjo sound but I really like the frailing version of sugar hill!

[@nadeembitar5292]

She doesn't have to pluck on the strings so hard with amplification, like the difference between brass strings and nylon strings to save "I've got blisters on my fingers" Helter Skelter.

[@philmazzie3674]

Super cool. Never would've thought electric banjo was a thing.

[@KC9UDX]

Wait till you hear electric zither

[@Mrmisterrs]

Look up Bela fleck and the fleck tones

[@d.randal.h]

Interesting sound - part banjo, part Dobro, part sitar. It's fun that you're willing to experiment.

[@piguy3point14]

Yes! I like the resonator sound.

[@cloudhop]

Believe me, over a certain volume your banjo becomes a guitar ...hardest thing to amplify a banjo...mikes are always the best way. This girls a born entertainer.

[@WoodHippy1971]

Electric Wednesday to go with Fretless Friday I like it. Thanks for the tune.

[@gheffz]

Hey... what a great idea!!!

[@betterl8thannvr]

I have a full pedalboard here and electrified my GFs banjo and a 15w amp, it's pretty fun! For what it's worth, just sticking a piezo on like that is always going to sound a bit bad going into an amp, you really need something to match impedances, like an acoustic preamp. Valeton Dapper Acoustic Mini Guitar Multi Effects Pedal is what we use. You also run into feedback issues with a bigger amp. Rather than using a guitar strung like a banjo (not sure that would even work) you could get a "single coil sized humbucker" which often have a single strip instead of a polepiece for each string and experiment with different locations between the neck and bridge and maybe even under the head.

[@mhsandifer]

That particular amp has a megaphone quality that might be useful as an effect sometimes, but as a general rule, I personally just like the mic. Good job playing

[@MichaelBCoats]

Dr. Phoebe bringing some intense Electro-Banjo Therapy! What a great jump start for my evening!!! Much love and God's blessings to you, Doc! ♥♥♥♥♥

[@piguy3point14]

aka EBT

[@ohmbug10]

It's just fun watching you try different things, Phoebe. Makes me smile.

[@gwiyomikim5988]

I second that!👍🏼

[@paulyoung5327]

Well that was interesting. I noticed your wall of banjos is growing and looking great with the panjo slotted in and your Vangoa banjo is not really bad and it's nice to have at least one resonator banjo. A lot of the old clawhammer greats played resonator banjos. Always good to watch what new thing your going to try next. Love the suspense. Frail on.

[@Josh_Fredman]

Sugar Hill is indeed how I found your channel! Great song, and I am always interested to hear different ways of playing it.

[@erniemiller1953]

I have a six string banjo that I electrified. I turn up the reverb on the amp and play surf music. I, too, put a string of lights inside the resonator.

[@user-nf9vu3lr7t]

You'll need that when you get so popular that you'll be playing to audiences of 40 thousand. Keep working on it. :-)

[@piguy3point14]

"And I knew her when she was a Young Doctor. And now, look at here!" *sniff*

[@phillipcole3068]

That was an electrifying experience! 😂

[@aleistercrowley7515]

Love it kid...your videos make my day.!!! Much love to you and your family. ❤😎✌

[@charlottegrace6656]

That was so cool!!! I was just watching your hands, you're so good!

[@fredsavage4925]

Backlit, electrified banjo. As a drummer, this is awesome.

[@Panicagq2]

What, no Death Metal distortion? 😮 hehehe that was beautiful Phoebe!

[@kenophobiic707]

Very cool! Discovered your channel recently, big fan of fretless friday! Keep up the good work :)

[@andrewp.schubert2417]

It's refreshing to hear a young person playing Old Timey Music.

[@stevederebey]

That’s great Phoebe! Love the lighted banjo! Fun!

[@susansanders9159]

Glad you are willing to try new things! Glad that banjos are not electric. 😂😂

[@NexxuSix]

@Phoebe Sanders: Electronic musician here. I think it’s pretty cool to experiment with pedals as well. Have a look at the Zoom CDR70. It’s a fun little pedal that has a lot of versatility. You can also load patches into it with a computer. Yeah, a Crybaby Wah would sound pretty interesting on the Banjo 😮 Liked the video! Interesting sound as well 😊

[@GenWivern2]

I quite like the lo-fi feel - sounds a bit like a shellac disc played on a wind-up gramophone.

[@ralphwest8156]

Loved it ' that overdriven sound will cut through a layered mix. Great idea with the E guitar, think Telecaster would be a great place to start ' but keep up that Banjo pickin' you are wonderfully unique '

[@DolfoLicks]

A banjo that lights up is really cool! Keep it up Phoebe, regards from Brasil

[@andyperkins8620]

This was very innovative, and I love the lights on the banjo. I love that mic too. Can't wait to see what you bring us tomorrow!!!!

[@tsopuaifa]

Ozma brought me to this channel but it is right now my favorite here on youtube. You bring so much joy.

[@Harrydewulf]

To get a "metal" distort sound without an amp, I wedge a metal clip bridge mute under the strings just behind the mute. It creates an amazing buzz.

[@Gewehr43]

Rock on, Phoebe. Delightfully awesome!

[@jaredshaw8163]

Very cool! I love that it glows! I really want to hear it through a wah, and other pedals 🙂 Thank you for the fun video!

[@redryder8622]

That was sweet. Thank you for sharing your talent with us.

[@Magpie7070]

Well, that was a wild ride. I've been watching your chanel for a while now. You've become the banjo friend that I never had.

[@daverow49]

Phoebe, it sounds great whichever way the sound is produced. The pickup gives a fuller sound so the softer notes are more easily heard. It gives you more scope to play with other instruments in an ensemble situation. I feel that an electric guitar would be a huge challenge to get close to the sound of a banjo but there is nothing stopping you from trying. I have an electric 4 string cigar box guitar tuned D,G,B,E so I can play guitar chords on it but it doesn't sound even close to a banjo.

[@erniemiller1953]

In the back, I see a resonator stuffed with cloth to make more of a thud. I used to do that until Cliff suggested nylon strings. I switched to them and it has that great "old timey" sound.

[@--RJ--]

Always fun. Thank you from Seattle.

[@tommylitchfield3450]

Now you need to play "I Saw The Light" with that lit up banjer!

[@tcro58]

Hi Phoebe, I enjoyed this very much...thanks!

[@juleswins3]

Pretty cool! Love the backlight.

[@Karen-ov8lh]

I enjoy listening to the music you create

[@karlforster4907]

Nice! I enjoyed it. Also, I've never heard of an electric banjo, so that was cool too.

[@CptJakeSpearow]

Really cool!

[@gheffz]

I loved the acoustic sound, but it sounded tinny to me when the amp was turned on... your electric guitar and with decent amp and plugging your banjo into that setup, sounds a good idea in more ways than one. Thank you for the 'daily dose'... it's almost Fretless Friday time! (Well for me in OZ as it's Thursday.)

[@andradenslow108]

Fun experiment! I like the plain banjo best. Keep up the great playing!

[@kevinallen1699]

Very cool !

[@edprince9079]

Love it

[@Alaska_Engineer]

Very cool, and I love the light! Makes it look like “Money For Nothing”

[@6lu5ky86]

That little amp is givin' its all!

[@user-cc6mc9ec3c]

Sounds good

[@jimcrews8951]

Another fun video.

[@robertjoyce5629]

Its fun to experiment with all kinds of gadgets, but there is nothing like the acoustic qualities of the banjo, especially in your capable hands.

[@bxnnyblues6033]

Pretty cool. I do like open back and the haunting sound.

[@ricardoarroyo1828]

Te felicito por ampliar el horizonte musical , experimentar trae sorpresas sin perder la esencia. Bravoooo 🪕🎶👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@rogermcadams8806]

Where oh where did you find the Moonpie banjo head???😊 That's just too cool!

[@roccorodriguez6653]

Very nice

[@irishpsalteri]

A wah pedal would be fun. This is fun.

[@seancline8130]

heck ya! that is way cool!

[@PaulOfThebesMC]

Quite interesting. Looking forward to added effects :)

[@ngriffin100]

Thank you again, nice banjo lady

[@mr.miyazaki5082]

It's MY Moonpie and I want it NOW! (Cool video)

[@supperwelder]

This is so cool 😂the electric was weird but in a good cool way😮 it resonates like crazy adding a peddle would be really interesting ❤❤

[@michaeldeloatch7461]

There are like 5,000 plug-ins in the computer world for guitarists trying to get that fuzzy, over-driven, crappy 3 inch speaker amp sound you achieved today. Me, I prefer old school acoustic banjo. That is a nice little tune.

[@gwiyomikim5988]

Fun! But maybe a skosh “too avant-garde😂”, as you say, because of amp distortion. I love all your new banjo ideas so keep ‘em coming.🥰

[@gwiyomikim5988]

And BTW…love your shirt! Its mélange of colors and shapes has an almost tactile feel to it. Very “avant-garde”! See you on “Fretless Friday”!!

[@willythkid]

You are the best thing on utube! ❤

[@fosteranimation4616]

Love the "without" amp. But both were well played.

[@SanteeVermont]

yeehaw! this was absolutely electric!

[@Dropshock20XX]

Sick

[@SPLENDIDZEN]

Please Phoebe more experimentations!... Cordial greetings from Madrid-Spain!...

[@jamescopeland5358]

Pretty cool Phoebe, my nephew plays 5 string as do I. I play an old Flatiron. My nephew recently bought a banjocaster. Pretty cool

[@edwardschmitt5710]

LOL your hard work and practice is what blew your channel up.

[@Chewman31]

You're so good! I love claw hammer banjo. My favourite style. And also, do you know Skating on the Harbourfront by Chris Coole?

[@karolskakes388]

I would loose the light thing , when you are that close to the camera - it created a lot of glair in the center of your setup. I do like what you do with music!

[@karolskakes388]

Looks like scammers have grabbed your channel. I got message for urgent reply to your channel. This seams to be one of their stepping stones.

[@piguy3point14]

It's cool how electric banjo still has banjo timbre. The resonator might be part of it (Buddy Bill plays a National Resonator guitar). And the light... I'm already trying to figure out how to get a light inside my Taylor! I'm not a gearhead but I assume there some people who use effects pedals or amp patches to make different tones. Nifty!

[@Musikkeller-Innsider]

Sounds lo-fi great, could use even more distortion and of course fx pedals (delay, chorus, wah, ...). I love your experiments!

[@glvarner]

Electrifying.

[@BigCheeseRumble]

The electric banjo - full of possibilities. You ought to check out Kyle Tuttle, the banjo player with Molly Tuttle (not related). He uses pedals and effects some times - cool sounds.

[@Dave.watching]

I never got over Bob Dylan or Bruce Cockburn going electric…. Phoebe, please, NOOOOOOOO!!!

[@josiahsterling7308]

Molly Tuttle had a video about "clawhammer guitar" her song "take the journey" uses it. You might find it neat.

[@-dirk-65]

I'm a fan & a sub. Why wouldn't EVERYONE want to get as close to a 'Scruggs' style as humanly possible as Earl IS hall of fame to say the LEAST. All spoken from a guy that plays no instrument, but if you'll forgive my true curiosity & boldness to ask?

[@froggyvids5050]

That's the exact same banjo I have. I've tried this exact idea with that same pickup too but I couldn't figure out how to get distortion without it sounding horrible. I must say you did fine job here

[@SteveCondron]

Cool

[@gurp8051]

makes me wanna find the most deafeningly resonant spring i can find at the scrap yard and make it a canjo

[@Kickinpony66]

Yep, I dig it! I agree, a bigger amp, a wa pedal and reverb.

[@1ralton1]

Interesting! I personally don't think that type of distortion or ' fuzz' suits the banjo but there are many other types out there. Maybe try using a multi effects pedal which has a range of different distortion types and other effects including Wah wah. Oh to be young again...But keep it up it's great!

[@charleshenderson1174]

Thanks beautiful

[@hueyiroquois3839]

2:40 That's approximately how that type of filter was invented. But you probably already know that.

[@bosthebozo5273]

That electric banjo really sings

[@sodothehivesonhisleg]

You could try putting a single string pickup on the top string and running it through an octaver to get some lower bass notes to put through dustortion. Then send the regular mix through a delay or shimmer verb. Would sound great :)

[@frankthorne11]

Wah Wah that thing...

[@kevinallen1699]

I believe that you and Dan Gryder ( Probable Cause ), would get along great.

[@user-xv4cv3sb7d]

Отличное шоу! Браво! :-) Но, это и отличный урок, - о том, как по-разному может звучать одна и та же пьеса. :-)

[@luckyjinx9474]

I recently got a banjolele and have thought about making it electric.

[@snickersammy100]

🤠

[@FCFDave]

Need a heavy metal distortion pedal now 😁

[@0HARE]

It’s great to experiment with new ways to play. I found the amplified sound a bit off-putting, though. Rock On!

[@RascalKyng]

This is such a good channel. It's like how KZbin used to be in the early 2010s! No politics, no divisional social rhetoric -- just someone sharing their art and all us viewers watching someone in the zone.

[@paulmartin8212]

Great job. Tell us more about tuning and claw hammer style techniques. I thought I was pretty good at finger picking guitar. A friend had a banjo that he handed me. WOW totally different animal. Where are the dogs and chickens today?

[@user-ig8pd9qn5h]

Concerning your future plans: You would need to somehow combine an electric drum pad with an electric guitar to create the next generation electric banjo...

[@DanG802]

that's really cool! Can you play some Slayer next?

[@robinsonflip]

Metal heads love Phoebe the banjo chicken girl. 🤘