Minstrel Banjo

For enthusiasts of early banjo

Hello everyone,

    For the past couple of weeks, I've been teaching myself stroke style from Rice's book. He isn't specific about the action of the thumb when executing a half-strike with the index finger. So, I've decided to play all my half-strikes as hammer strikes, as described by Converse. This seems to be the most logical and comfortable thing to do. My question is: Is this a bad idea? I just don't see the point in landing my thumb when it isn't going to sound a string.

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depends where it goes next. got an example/

I mean an example of a spot where you would question it one way or the other?

In the second example from Rice's book, I can kinda see landing the thumb on the fifth even when it's not sounded since using a hammer stroke would create extra hand motion. However, in the sixth example, I think the first note screams hammer strike. As well as the first two notes of Camptown Hornpipe, which I've been fooling around with.

Yes. If you look at all Converse's "banjo style" tunes, you can get a sense of where he re-thought some of the earlier concepts. It does stay in line with the Rice "Strike" idea, but I think the Hammer is a refinement...and an improvement to it.

Those tunes in the Analytical are a pita to work out upon first reading, but they really are beautiful Well worth the time.

Yes....Camptown notes certainly a Hammer, as are almost all single notes...especially on the inner strings.

That move in # 6 seems obsolete, and I don't think is very practical nor used. It is worth trying it, as it may provide some insight into a style that was in use at that time. Certainly, it helps dictate the tempo and feel to use that, but I believe it proves to be impractical.

I think # 2 is just following through of an idea, and reinforcing the idea of the "plant" or Combination.

I'm still a bit confused... How about in "Where did you come from". Should the quarter note half-strikes be played with planting or with the hammer stroke technique?

Thanks for your time and help. I think I'll let VLC answer anymore fingering questions I have in the future. Only thing left to do now is practice :).

What is VLC?

My apologies. If you click on the link, it will take you to the program's site. I use it to watch videos in slow motion with pitch correction.

That must be quite helpful.

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