Left hand finger position - Minstrel Banjo2024-03-28T19:24:49Zhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/left-hand-finger-position?commentId=2477478%3AComment%3A172946&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThanks guys for your contribu…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2018-06-07:2477478:Comment:1729462018-06-07T16:47:14.493ZDavide Scozzihttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/DavideScozzi
<p>Thanks guys for your contributions. My sense is that John is right when he says that index ring is a more modern approach and index middle a more traditional approach. I'm interested in the historical reason for this shift over the time and my personal impression is that nowadays, for a beginner, it is more easy to come in contact with old time music for banjo simply because there is more knowledge about it and because it is a more "popular" kind of music to play on jam and so on. So you…</p>
<p>Thanks guys for your contributions. My sense is that John is right when he says that index ring is a more modern approach and index middle a more traditional approach. I'm interested in the historical reason for this shift over the time and my personal impression is that nowadays, for a beginner, it is more easy to come in contact with old time music for banjo simply because there is more knowledge about it and because it is a more "popular" kind of music to play on jam and so on. So you develop a style which is clawhammer in which the second finger is important to be free to do a lot of stuff on the third and fourth strings. Then going deep in the study of the banjo, you may get in contact with minstrel music and you may decide to apprach it. At that time you already have some fingering set up and you just keep it. Most of the attention is at that point focused on the stroke style of the right hand, and the left fingering appear to be less important as long as you can take the note. Personally i can play both ways and i practise both. I admit that index ring is more practical and i prefer it when i play but index middle is from a stylistic prospective probably more autentic. </p> ...but I can't say that the o…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2018-06-07:2477478:Comment:1727522018-06-07T16:18:03.814ZPaul Draperhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/PaulDraper
<p>...but I can't say that the occasion arises often with the minstrel tunes. I'll have to pay closer attention...</p>
<p>...but I can't say that the occasion arises often with the minstrel tunes. I'll have to pay closer attention...</p> Al - yes, frequently esp. whe…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2018-06-07:2477478:Comment:1729452018-06-07T16:02:45.223ZPaul Draperhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/PaulDraper
<p>Al - yes, frequently esp. when playing out of low-bass tuning for "old-time" tunes. </p>
<p>Al - yes, frequently esp. when playing out of low-bass tuning for "old-time" tunes. </p> Tim, I think I asked you abou…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2018-06-07:2477478:Comment:1729412018-06-07T15:08:42.613ZAl Smitleyhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/AlSmitley
<p>Tim, I think I asked you about your approach in the past. If I recall correctly, you said that you use both methods. If so, how do you decide from one tune/song to another? Paul and John, do you ever hammer on with the 2nd finger on the 2nd "fret" of the 3rd string? I can't say I hear that in minstrel music but Pete did that constantly, and I guess I did, too, before minstrel music came into my life. Maybe, if I picked up a banjo, I still would just from habit......not sure. I'd have…</p>
<p>Tim, I think I asked you about your approach in the past. If I recall correctly, you said that you use both methods. If so, how do you decide from one tune/song to another? Paul and John, do you ever hammer on with the 2nd finger on the 2nd "fret" of the 3rd string? I can't say I hear that in minstrel music but Pete did that constantly, and I guess I did, too, before minstrel music came into my life. Maybe, if I picked up a banjo, I still would just from habit......not sure. I'd have to try it but then I wouldn't be playing without thinking about it.</p> I use the third finger as wel…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2018-06-07:2477478:Comment:1727482018-06-07T14:27:33.172ZJohn Mascialehttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/JohnMasciale
<p>I use the third finger as well. In part it was because of Mike Seeger's instruction videos on claw hammer, and in part I agree with Paul Draper, I find pull offs easier with the third finger. It is also more comfortable to me. Clark Buehling saw me playing like that and told me that I learned from a modern teacher, and pointed out that the instructors call for using the second finger (which he does). I agree with Tim, however you get the right note and can get to the next note is what…</p>
<p>I use the third finger as well. In part it was because of Mike Seeger's instruction videos on claw hammer, and in part I agree with Paul Draper, I find pull offs easier with the third finger. It is also more comfortable to me. Clark Buehling saw me playing like that and told me that I learned from a modern teacher, and pointed out that the instructors call for using the second finger (which he does). I agree with Tim, however you get the right note and can get to the next note is what matters.</p> Well, Tim, I'm more accustome…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2018-06-07:2477478:Comment:1728412018-06-07T13:44:08.911ZAl Smitleyhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/AlSmitley
<p>Well, Tim, I'm more accustomed to razzing each other than disagreeing! ....and who am I to argue with your banjo playing?!? But wouldn't it make sense that proper intonation would be easier if one were not picking up fingers to form a new chord? The first and third finger G chord (with a free second finger) allows one to do that easier and works kinda as a template for other chords.</p>
<p>Well, Tim, I'm more accustomed to razzing each other than disagreeing! ....and who am I to argue with your banjo playing?!? But wouldn't it make sense that proper intonation would be easier if one were not picking up fingers to form a new chord? The first and third finger G chord (with a free second finger) allows one to do that easier and works kinda as a template for other chords.</p> I use 3rd finger on 2nd fret…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2018-06-07:2477478:Comment:1728382018-06-07T13:40:15.307ZPaul Draperhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/PaulDraper
<p>I use 3rd finger on 2nd fret because it makes pull-offs easier (for me). </p>
<p>I use 3rd finger on 2nd fret because it makes pull-offs easier (for me). </p> Granted, I learned to keep th…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2018-06-07:2477478:Comment:1727082018-06-07T10:50:58.070ZAl Smitleyhttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/AlSmitley
<p>Granted, I learned to keep the 2nd finger free from Pete Seeger's book and watching him on "Rainbow Quest". I haven't been playing minstrel banjo much since Tim asked me to play fiddle but keeping the 2nd finger free still makes sense to me. It offers the ease of hammering on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string which Pete often used. I don't hear it much in minstrel banjo, but I think having the 2nd finger free makes for an easier and smoother chord change (from G or D) to C, D, D7, D6, Em, G,…</p>
<p>Granted, I learned to keep the 2nd finger free from Pete Seeger's book and watching him on "Rainbow Quest". I haven't been playing minstrel banjo much since Tim asked me to play fiddle but keeping the 2nd finger free still makes sense to me. It offers the ease of hammering on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string which Pete often used. I don't hear it much in minstrel banjo, but I think having the 2nd finger free makes for an easier and smoother chord change (from G or D) to C, D, D7, D6, Em, G, A7, B7, etc. From the G chord, it minimizes the need to lift the fingers from the G chord to form the other chords listed, thus, it's not only less work but you can begin to form the next chord while playing the previous, for a smoother transition.</p> Ps: i have used the word "fre…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2018-06-07:2477478:Comment:1725162018-06-07T04:48:44.094ZDavide Scozzihttp://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/DavideScozzi
<p>Ps: i have used the word "fret" which in fretless instruments is not accurate only to indicate the position on the fingerboard. So for second "fret"according to briggs i mean a B and for third "fret" i mean a C on the first string. </p>
<p>Ps: i have used the word "fret" which in fretless instruments is not accurate only to indicate the position on the fingerboard. So for second "fret"according to briggs i mean a B and for third "fret" i mean a C on the first string. </p>