In the 1800s, the people of the Appalachian Mountains were poor. Because of the terrain in that region, there were no real "cash crops" so they could make a living. They were hard working and scraped together whatever they could just to survive. family and community were the center of their world and they worked together, worshipped together, and played together.
Music played a large role in their lives as it brought the community together to help take their minds off the hardships they endured daily. Many of the instruments they used were handmade using whatever they had at their disposal. The dulcimer, fiddle, and banjo were instruments that ordinary folks could make, play, and enjoy. The instruments were made by craftsmen using wood, metal, and animal hides. Research shows, the dulcimer was probably the first handmade instrument in Appalachia in the 1800s.
Fast forward to the Panjo. This small instrument is along the lines of the dulcimer. It is a 3 stringed instrument, made of cake pans, cut wood, and guitar strings. The tuning is like that of a dulcimer as well. After many years of research, the Panjo was developed and priced so that ordinary folks can afford, learn to play, and enjoy music, just like the folks of Appalachia in the 1800s. When you pick up and play a Panjo, it feels like you are holding a piece of musical history.