"Converse, in 1886, claimed that there are but 2 movements to Stroke Style banjo...the Hammer and the Combination. I have found this to be a truth 99% of the time. "

"Exactly...it seems like comfort and reinforcement....I can see why he does it. Every now and then it feels like my thumb gets lost, so it's always there and in tune (no pun intended) w/ the rest of the stroke..."

"I don't know if this is what Tim does or not but your description (Strum) sounds like what I do when/if I back up someone on guitar.  I hold my thumb against my index finger as if I were holding a pick but instead, use my finger nail, down…"

"I remember reading long ago Tim discussing how he 'reinforces' his index finger hits with his thumb resting against his index finger (Tim can you find where you wrote about this a few years ago?) ...especially when hitting multiple notes…"

"Great! Thanks!...I've been trying to figure that out. Tough to see in videos. I'm trying to refine my stroke and not be so sloppy from typical clawhammer chord playing. This takes a lot more precision...thanks again!!"

"No...all finger. The "Hammer Stroke" BAM"

"Maybe so Stumelia! You might be right! I’m certainly not an etymologist, I just know that the small ones we grew up with in the later half of the 20th century are “tambourines” ... but I also know that in Italy today they play very…"

"Probably shouldn't post your password here haha!"

"^X@P)\*%*_$h!"

"很大的铃鼓！"

"Or why not just call it a frame drum... they've been described and depicted around the world, in all sizes with and without zils, ...since pre-2000 BC.   :D"

"Paul, I bet you know the Chinese name, as well(?)"

"I don't understand.... why call it by an Italian name? Why not "gros tambour de basque" for that matter, or "one big huge tambourine"?"

"A tambouron or tamboron, perhaps?  (on being the 'big' suffix in Spanish)    :D"

"Tambour is “drum.” Tambourine is the little guy. Mark has the BIG one."

"A brief lesson in Italian. Saying “large tambourine” is like calling a cello a large violin. The correct name is Tamburello. “Tambourine” is the little one. ;-)"