Improvement in Banjos and other Stringed Instruments of the same Class.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Banjos and other Stringed Instruments of the
same Class.
CHARLES ALFRED HUDSON, 263, Camberwell Road, S.E., Musical Instrument
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
That by constructing the arm or neck of the banjo, so that it will take eight
or ten strings, having two strings to each note "ir." GG, DD, AA, EE, I
can produce an instrument of much greater power of tone, than the ordinary
method of making the arm or neck, and tuning which is with single strings only
and tuned as follows G, C, G, B, D. That by using my improved banjo all music
can be played with perfect ease without the necessity of having to arrange it.
Suitable keys are provided as in the general style of making & tuning banjos.
My invention also dispenses with the octave or fith string G on the banjo, as
it is not required on an instrument tuned in fifths.
23rd January 1899.
Improvement in Banjos and other Stringed Instruments of the
same Class.
I, CHARLES ALFRED HUDSON, Musical Instrument Maker, 263, Camberwell
Road, S.E., do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved musical instrument of the banjo type,
and its object is to provide an instrument of this kind which will give great
power and volume of sound.
In carrying out my invention in place of providing the banjo with single
strings tuned as follows-G, C, G, B and D, I employ eight or ten strings grouped
in pairs, the pairs being tuned successively in fifths in a similar manner to the
violin. The fifth string of the banjo placed at the side and shorter than the
ordinary strings, is dispensed with in my arrangement as it is not required on
an instrument tuned in fifths.
With an instrument tuned in the manner described any ordinary music can be
played upon it without requiring special arrangement, the fingering being similar
to that of the violin.
I do not wish to confine myself to the use of two strings for each note as if

page_text: found desirable, a larger number may be employed, but I prefer to use two as
described.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had
to the accompanying drawing which shows a banjo constructed according to my
invention.
The body A of the banjo is of the ordinary shape and make or may be of any
special construction. The neck B of the instrument is slightly wider than the
ordinary banjo neck in order to receive the additional strings, but owing to the
absence of the high G string the neck is of a form somewhat similar to that of
the violin.
The strings C are in the arrangement illustrated arranged in pairs tuned
respectively to GG, DD, AA and E, thus forming four double strings.
The instrument is played in the ordinary manner with the fingers or a plec-
trum and owing to the multiple string arrangement for each note, a very much
greater volume of sound is produced rendering the instrument much more
powerful.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
The improved instrument of the banjo type, provided with a number of strings
arranged in sets of two or more, the sets being tuned successively in fifths,
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing and for
the purposes specified.
Data +1 0+1 day of Tum 1900
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37; Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.