Though the banjo is best-known today as a bluegrass instrument, its history runs deep. In this video, musician and educator Bill Evans gives us a crash course on 250 years of banjo evolution and playing styles in just under 15 minutes. He starts with the African akonting and moves through the minstrel era, bluegrass music and ends with a well-loved pop tune played on his Allan Beardsell-built electric banjo.

Thanks to players like Evans, Bela Fleck and Danny Barnes, the banjo continues to evolve.