Attack of the Mistrel Banjo.

[Brian Glass]

As the AEBG wound down I headed off into the woods to play my banjo in an appropriate setting and I started to realize that my greatest weekness is my lack of attack when I play these tunes. If i really go after a tune and, for lack of a better discription, really bang on the strings, I start to play some of these songs the way I heard them being played at the gathering. It seams like there is a need to drive through the strings as each note is struck in order to get the proper tone. Perhaps a better analogy is the need to strike each note not pluck each string? Am I onto something here? Thoughts?

[Dave Culgan]

Hi Brian - I'm just one player but I know I have a pretty strong attack 90% of the time I'm playing. Anytime when I'm playing with other instruments and for most of the stuff I'm playing by myself I tend to come down pretty heavy on the strings. Heavy enough that I have frequently had problems with strings hopping out of bridge slots and also nut slots when I really get to making a racket. My banjos need a strong break angle over the bridge and even then I tend to anchor the feet with the smallest dot of glue otherwise I find them swimming around on me while playing. I guess I do this to get the volume I'm looking for but I also like the percussive tone I get. I've heard great players here that don't beat so hard on the strings but I think you thoughts about driving through the strings as you strike them is something to try as you play. A lot may be a result of set-up though. I've been playing a relatively short scale (25") with gut strings that are fairly floppy. I'm working on one of Terry's banjo kits right now with a 27" scale and I anticipate it may result in some changes to my right hand technique as well as learning the new intonation with my left. I'm thinking this new setup might give me the sound I'm looking for with a little less energy in on my part. Good thing - I'm gettin' older faster. Dave.

[Matthew Mickletz]

While I'm a newbie, I get what you mean Brian.  I found if I put more into a stroke it simply felt better while acentuating each note that needed to be.  I also found that as I grow in confidence and feel comfortable with a song I tend to attack them with more vigor applied to each stroke.  Like you said, I think you get a more proper tone as well.

 

The concept of "attacking" a note/phrase takes me back to drumline.  My instructor brought out my big flaw in my playing style:  I wasn't driving through the phrases or attacking, I was playing the notes, sure but lacked that feel of being on top of lick or exercise or what-have-you.  Feeling a note prior to actually playing it.  Like a wind-up in a quarter of a second, then bam! energy exerted! again and again.  BUT, doing so without OVER anticipating and finding yourself thinking about how two notes coming up that are fun to play LOUDER - usually ending up with a sub-par rest of the song or one that lacks accents to certain notes and just sounds loud all round.

 

Another point from drumming to keep in mind, as you get louder you typically sacrifice speed.  All in the distance you hand must travel, wind-up, follow-through and such, then recovering and playing the next note. 

 

OK well, sorry to ramble, this all made sense to me while writing out haha! :)