History of the Canjo
Playing music on the front porch with handmade instruments made from discarded items, has a long history in the United States. According to the authors of “Handmade Music Factory”, plantation slaves began singing on their front porches with instruments fashioned with cast-off parts, and many were variations of instruments from their African homelands. One of those instruments was the single string fiddle – related to the diddlebow.
The Canjo or Can-Jo appears to be a more modern variation of these earlier single-stringed instruments and is attributed to an old-time instrument maker, Herschal R. Brown of Jacksonville, NC. While the diddlebow is fretless, played with a slide, and has a tin sound box, Brown’s canjo design is fretted, played by fingering, and uses discarded food cans for the resonator.
Brown freely shared his design with anyone who was interested in building canjos, and is said to have made thousands of them for children everywhere, recouping only his costs. Mr. Brown loved the idea of making an instrument that anyone could learn to play, and refused to copyright his canjo design. His son has continued the tradition, and has sent canjo’s to the soldiers serving in Iraq.
Canjos
Porch Music Campfire Jingles Canjo
Our brand new canjo is the perfect choice for your summer campfire fun. It is an easy way for children and adults to learn to play a simple stringed instrument.
Be sure to purchase any of our canjo books below.
Wholesale opportunities are available by calling the store.
Shipping for 1 to 3 canjos is $15.
Porch Music Liberty Street Canjo
Enjoy the heritage of Liberty Street with our newest Canjo. It is an easy way for children and adults to learn to play a simple stringed instrument.
Be sure to purchase any of our canjo books below.
Wholesale opportunities are available by calling the store.
Shipping for 1 to 3 canjos is $15.
Porch Music River Ramblings Canjo
This canjo is the perfect accessory for your outdoor/camping fun. It is an easy way for children and adults to learn to play a simple stringed instrument.
Be sure to purchase any of our canjo books below.
Wholesale opportunities are available by calling the store.
Shipping for 1 to 3 canjos is $15.
Porch Music Sunshine Serenades Canjo
Add a little sunshine into your music with our new Sunshine Serenades Canjo. It is an easy way for children and adults to learn to play a simple stringed instrument.
Be sure to purchase any of our canjo books below.
Wholesale opportunities are available by calling the store.
Shipping for 1 to 3 canjos is $15.
Porch Music Mushroom Melodi Canjo
Check our our fun Mushroom Melodi Canjo. It is an easy way for children and adults to learn to play a simple stringed instrument.
Be sure to purchase any of our canjo books below.
Wholesale opportunities are available by calling the store.
Shipping for 1 to 3 canjos is $15.
Porch Music Yellow Canjo
Our branded canjo is the perfect gift. It is a fun and easy way for children and adults to learn to play a simple stringed instrument.
Be sure to purchase any of our 4 canjo books below (sold on Amazon).
Wholesale opportunities are available by calling the store.
Shipping for 1 to 3 canjos is $15.
Porch Music Red Canjo
Our branded canjo is the perfect gift. It is a fun and easy way for children and adults to learn to play a simple stringed instrument.
Be sure to purchase any of our 4 canjo books below (sold on Amazon).
Wholesale opportunities are available by calling the store.
Shipping for 1 to 3 canjos is $15.
Porch Music Blue Canjo
Our branded canjo is the perfect gift. It is a fun and easy way for children and adults to learn to play a simple stringed instrument.
Be sure to purchase any of our 4 canjo books below (sold on Amazon).
Wholesale opportunities are available by calling the store.
Shipping for 1 to 3 canjos is $15.
Porch Music Peace Canjo
Our branded canjo is the perfect gift. It is a fun and easy way for children and adults to learn to play a simple stringed instrument.
Be sure to purchase any of our 4 canjo books below (sold on Amazon).
Wholesale opportunities are available by calling the store.
Shipping for 1 to 3 canjos is $15.
Canjos Music Books
Learn How to Play & Activity Book
Our newest Canjo Music Book is perfect for our youngest canjo players. This book includes music, word searches, and coloring pages. This book is sold here on Porch Music only. Wholesale opportunities are available by calling the store. $12.00 ea + $4.00 shipping.
We have created this music book just for our canjo players. Traditional folk songs and Christmas songs from the public domain are included, so the beginner canjo player can strum right into musical action from the very first note. Sold on Amazon.com.
The “Can You Canjo” book shows how anyone, young or old, can learn to play the canjo. Many familiar traditional children’s songs are included, so the beginner canjo player can strum right into musical action from the very first note. Sold on Amazon.com.
For the advanced canjo players – The advanced player will find opportunity for improvisation, as John demonstrates in the accompanying online videos. The songs in this book have a long history in folk music tradition and are perfect for playing on the handmade canjo. We’ve included 39 songs not included in previous volumes arranged by John to play on our Porch Music Store canjo. Sold on Amazon.
John Mitchell has selected many of his favorite hymns and arranged them for the canjo. These songs touch our hearts and lift our spirit. When shared and lifted together in voice, songs bind us to one another. Traditional hymns have been central to church services for generations. If you grew up in such a church, the selections in this book will likely evoke many memories. Sold on Amazon.com.
Care of Your Canjo Instrument
Like any other instrument, you will want to avoid exposing your canjo to extreme heat or cold and keep it dry. Moisture and extreme temperatures can warp your fretboard. Strings will sometimes break, but can be easily replaced with similar gauge guitar or dulcimer string. New strings stretch, so it will need re-tuned more until you break-it-in.
We tune the canjo to a D, but you can tune it to any note if you are playing with someone in a different key. Use a guitar tuner, tuner app on your smartphone, or on-line tuner.
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to email us at porchmusicstore@gmail.com
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