Abstract: A stringed musical instrument is disclosed, taking the form of a banjo in the preferred embodiment. Securing means 205 are provided for securing ends of strings 203 and a bridge 206 supports the strings to facilitate the playing of the instrument. The bridge is supported by a flexible sheet-like material 302 to facilitate the production of the distinctive banjo sound. Transducers 403 and 404 are placed in physical contact with the sheet-like material and physical properties of the material are configured so as to reduce the influence of ambient acoustics when compared to an exclusively acoustic instrument. In this way, a substantially banjo-like sound can be produced when an electrical signal derived from the transducers is amplified.