In the Feb. 2, 1863 atricle in  which the name Mark Twain first  appears, 
the article concludes with the writer playing the piano. I can't speak  to 
the banjo, but he did claim some musical talent in that writing.
 
Bob Stewart
 
In a message dated 2/8/2013 4:36:47 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

I can't  remember ever hearing that [Sam Clemens] played the banjo.   Just 
recently a
friend lent me his copy of a Mark Twain edition in 1929  which included an
article by Cyril Clemens talking about visiting the  Gilles family in our
California foothills.  I'd love to hear that it  is TRUE Mark Twain played
the banjo.  Can any of you confirm or deny  this story?  It is the bass
voice and the banjo playing that has me  interested.

Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine  April  1929
Founded by Bret Harte in 1868; and  Mark Twain Number Vol 87 April 1929 No. 
4
Article by Cyril Clemens: "A  Visit to Mark Twain's Country"
.

Arianne  Laidlaw