About Us
The aim of the British Banjo Mandolin and Guitar Federation (BMG) is to promote the performance and education of banjo, mandolin and guitar players. It is committed to creating educational opportunities for players of all ages to learn and improve on their chosen instruments through running workshops and courses and advertising courses run by other individuals and organisations.
The Instruments
Acoustic Guitar
The guitar is the mainstay of many a band and in the BMG the classical guitar is the backbone of the fretted orchestra. At the Summer School and Festivals, and in the bar it’s steel strung brother can come out to play too.
Mandolin
The mandolin is a small, plucked instrument generally played with a pick that produces high bright notes. Mandolins are used in folk, bluegrass and classical music. There are 3 common ways of making a mandolin; folk mandolins tend to have flat fronts and backs, bluegrass mandolins have carved arched fronts and backs and classical mandolins have bowl shaped backs.
The mandolin also has larger versions, the most common is the mandola (octave mandolin) that plays an octave lower than the mandolin.
Banjo
Banjos commonly come with 4,5 or 6 strings.
Tenor banjos have 4 strings and are often used for folk and jazz. Plectrum banjos are like tenors but bigger and rarer.
5 string banjos are generally used for Americana, but they are also used for the ‘classic’ banjo music that we explore in the Summer chool.
6 string banjos are for guitar players.
