What family does the banjo come from?

The banjo belongs to the lute family of stringed instruments, which are characterized by their neck, body, and strings. Specifically, it is often classified under the category of plucked string instruments. The banjo has African roots, deriving from similar instruments used by enslaved people in the United States, and it evolved into the form we recognize today in the 19th century. Its distinctive sound and construction, featuring a circular body and a long neck, set it apart from other lutes.