The 11 best banjo songs

The banjo is typically reserved for folksy country songs, but the instrument can be pretty versatile (even if it still totally sounds like it should be on a folk song).

These 11 bands channeled their inner folky-ness, and churned out these bouncy banjo tunes.

1. “Do You Know What I’m Seeing?” by Panic! At The Disco

It seems like pretty much every song on Panic’s Pretty. Odd. features a different instrument, and this one has subtle banjo strums in the background.

2. “Satin In A Coffin” by Modest Mouse 

This song feels particularly rustic, partially because of the romp-stomping rhythm, but also because of the softened banjo riffs.

3. “Sort Of Like Being Pumped” by Bomb The Music Industry!

Little tiny banjo parts interrupt the melody of this song, breaking up the steady guitar strumming.

4. “Our Apartment” by Aaron West And The Roaring Twenties

The song starts out sad, but once the banjo kicks in, the song picks up into a happier mood.

5. “Piggy Bank” by Never Shout Never

This song epitomizes NSN’s Harmony album artwork, which shows singer Christofer Drew wearing overalls and a cowboy hat, strumming a banjo and playing the harmonica. “Piggy Bank” is super bouncy, full of hand claps and foot stomps.

6. “Folk Jam” by Pavement

As the song name implies, this one’s a little more folky, making it an interesting contrast with singer Stephen Malkmus’ deadpan lyrical delivery.

7. “Country Death Song” by Violent Femmes

Violent Femmes start off immediately with a bouncy bass walk, building a perfect world for the banjo improv that comes later.

8. “The Dress Looks Nice On You” by Sufjan Stevens

Stevens has a variety of instrumentation on most of his songs, and in this song, the banjo doesn’t enter until about halfway through. It adds a twangy layer to the otherwise acoustic background.

9. “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya” by Dropkick Murphys

Banjo feels right at home on this Irish anthem, along with the electric guitars. It’s a quieter instrument, blending in with the rest of the loud, in-your-face rock.

10. “Living Room” by Tegan and Sara

Tegan and Sara get surprisingly folky in this song, with country-singer vocals over the bouncing banjo riffing.

11. “Nursing Home” by Ministry

The industrial song is heavy, but the banjo brings a lightness to it right away. You wouldn’t expect Ministry to throw a banjo into their music, but when they do, it works.