What is "down"? - Minstrel Banjo2024-03-29T15:40:21Zhttps://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/topics/what-is-down-1?feed=yes&xn_auth=noI think about this every day.…tag:minstrelbanjo.ning.com,2014-02-04:2477478:Comment:1061192014-02-04T03:40:44.638ZBell Banjoshttps://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/profile/TerryBell
<p>I think about this every day. I've really had to examine my strike so I can do honest comparisons of my banjos I make. My index finger hits the string at about a 30 degree angle, going slightly into the skin. The most important discovery I made was to hit the string like you would hit a drum, with somewhat of an oblique strike. This way I feel like I'm not going into the string (choking the sound), but coming off it. And this produces a clearer note and prevents the "Phht" sound or the…</p>
<p>I think about this every day. I've really had to examine my strike so I can do honest comparisons of my banjos I make. My index finger hits the string at about a 30 degree angle, going slightly into the skin. The most important discovery I made was to hit the string like you would hit a drum, with somewhat of an oblique strike. This way I feel like I'm not going into the string (choking the sound), but coming off it. And this produces a clearer note and prevents the "Phht" sound or the 'clucking' sound. This works for my fingernails, which are medium size I guess and kind of rounded. Is that what you mean?</p>