Miscellaneous

The fourth class includes instruments related to the guitar but seldom used by a bandsmen.

Ukulele Portuguese in origin. It resembles a miniature classical guitar with four strings. Although it is still popular in Hawaiian folk music, its use is very limited.

Steel Guitar Used primarily in country bands. It is a box-like apparatus having no acoustical amplification. It is capable of long sustained tones and a characteristic glissando.

Banjo Once very popular but now generally restricted to Dixieland, bluegrass, or nostalgia groups. The thumb is used in strumming, as well as the fingers, and the highest string (high G) is placed next to the lowest (low G) for this reason. The instrument has little sustaining capacity and requires a completely different playing technique from that of the guitar.

Lute Still used somewhat in classical literature. Its descendant, the mandolin, is often used in Mediterranean-style music. Its technique is characterized by rapid single-note strumming.