For enthusiasts of early banjo
Learning Stroke Technique - Help Needed!
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Comment by Trapdoor2 on August 17, 2009 at 3:44pm
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Just some random thoughts...
Beware, micromanaging the various aspects of "the stroke" can be addictive...and counterproductive. The hand should be in a relaxed-but-controllable position. Because humans vary so much, you'll see a multitude of R/H positions...and they're all correct as long as the player isn't fighting his own fingers (and music is coming out).
I believe Carl plays with his middle finger (which was once considered "de rigeur" for Clawhammer players). Seems to work just fine.
I recently taught a lady the rudiments of Clawhammer (nee Stroke) and she finally "got it" when I made her whack the head with the tops of her fingernails at each downstroke. She got that "eureka" look on her face...which made my evening.
I do not subscribe to Converse's comment about using the wrist. I tend to use a good bit of "elbow" combined with some wrist. The point being (I think) that it is a whole body experience. If the positions of the fingers "never" change, how would one produce the "hammer movement"? I guess the thumb ain't a finger... ;-)
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>>Tim said: Let me know how the hammer works for you. I'm kind of alone on that tangent right now. It would be good to have somebody to discuss it with.
Um, I have been using the "hammer movement" for many years (without knowing it had a name) so you ain't alone! I started doing it out of necessity as my fingernails are soft and flexible. When I needed to produce some volume (in jam sessions), I started backing up my finger with my thumb unconsiously. I was told many times that I was going to clawhammer hell for doing something so outrageously "not oldtime". I never did listen well... ;-)
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Comment by Rob MacKillop on August 17, 2009 at 4:17pm
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Ha, you are right, Marc, one can get too obsessive about the slightest movement. However, I hope I'm experienced enough to weigh up all the evidence and my personal physical and musical makeup (or something like that - it's getting near bed time!).
Suggestion for the new TUNE OF THE WEEK - Carolina Reel...Anyone game?
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Converse seems to support Tim:
Analytical, p.14: In executing second (or 'Hammer') movement, the first finger only, is required to strike the strings, the thumb acting as a support or brace...The fingers are drawn more closely into the hand, and the thumb - instead of being held apart - is lowered and pressed firmly against the closed fore finger at the first joint...forming a support or brace sufficient to prevent the finger tip from yeilding when brought in contact with a string...
One thing I'm uncertain about is when using the thumb on strings other than 5 - do you play rest strokes when possible, or free, and if free, how free? I find my thumb pulling the strings up a little, and I'm not sure if this is a good thing.
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Comment by Tim Twiss on August 17, 2009 at 5:11pm
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Start playing those Rice tunes. Anything Rice fingered will have lots of thumb strokes. Your intuition will then take over and you'll hit good thumb strokes. If you must label them, they are free stokes...
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..free strokes (need this in a forum so we can correct idiot mistakes)
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Re: Marc's comment...I think that it is good to micromanage for a while. That is where skill is developed. Like Charlie Parker said "First master your instrument. Then forget all that shit and play".
A relaxed and musical approach will take over once the hands and mind are properly trained.
Enjoyment of this instrument is experienced on a wide spectrum. A lot of the music requires minimal skill, form, or practice. Then there is the huge body of stuff that is much more difficult to play...it takes a lot more work. Both are great!
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Yah, we need an "edit" mode...
It is good to micromanage...but like I said, don't go crazy. I have had a number of students who go completely OCD on things like "exact finger position" only to end up really frustrated. Rob isn't going to go whacko on us but there are many lurkers out there learning from our notes/experiences. It took me a long time to learn to relax and just play (which I still cannot do in front of a mic/vid/audience).
Rob, when you say you're pulling the strings "up a little" with your thumb, is this sort of a 'rolling' movement of your wrist? As I alluded to earlier, there are many 'right' ways of doing the movement, a rolling attack is pretty common (well, for clawhammer) and I find myself doing it a lot in the Stroke Style.
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Well, my thumb plays the other strings pretty much the way it plays the 5th, maybe not so exagerated.
I've figured out an editing proceedure for here. Highlight and copy your text. Delete the entire comment with that little X on the right-hand side of your comment. Then paste into a new comment and make changes. Only takes a couple of seconds.
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PS Just been told my gourd banjo arrives tomorrow...
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