Re: Jig accompaniment on 5 string banjo (Clawhammer)?
I know of the jig pattern for melody, but I mean for accompaniment! Is it basically the same? I've tried it a bit and it sounds too busy and it reminds me of a certain musician that I absolutely despise. </tangent>.
Re: Jig accompaniment on 5 string banjo (Clawhammer)?
A couple things about this... (Because I love playing jigs on de banjo and cant resist sharing.) Jigs on the clawhammer banjo are not new. They go back to very old traditions... "minstrel" banjo players played them. The first banjo contests required them. I gave you a link to shawncraver.com where on my music page, I play a jig clawhammer style. (all down stroke.) The other source I know of for clawhammer jigs is Ken Perlman. Probably one of the best out there. Ok, I know your asking about backing. Backing jigs on the banjo (clawhammer) is even less common than jigs but the approach is about the same for me, I just use more of the chord... strum more strings at once on the down stroke. The technique should not be much different than the melody I play on my page. There are different "patterns".. i hate that word in music but oh well...
F-finger stroke down
T-Thumb plays down
|: FTF FTF | FTF FTF| FTF FTF |
|: F2T F2T | F2T F2T | F2T F2T |
The trick for back up is on the "F" strokes grab a few strings of the chord or how many you want. Some times I even grab a few notes with the "T" on its way down. (thats harder but will come.) After practice, with control, you can get a nice strummy yet clean backup out of clawhammer.
However, I'm usually playing the melody with back up and in some cases back up is nice with "pieces" of the melody thrown in. (More traditional approach.)
You are treading where few have tread with the backing. Not sure Ive heard Ken Perlman do any jig BACKUP... his playing is choppy compared to some but he brings out the tunes nicely.
Jig accompaniment on 5 string banjo (Clawhammer)?
Jig accompaniment on 5 string banjo (Clawhammer)?
Everything else is fine, but I can't seem to find a suitable rhythm to accompany jigs. Can anyone point me in the right direction here?
Thanks in advance!
Cheers,
Armand
# Posted on February 12th 2008 by armandale
Re: Jig accompaniment on 5 string banjo (Clawhammer)?
I've found a great way to play jigs (melody) on clawhammer banjo is finger-thumb-finger, finger-thumb-finger, for 6/8 time. Works pretty well for me.
Accompaniment would be similar, incorporating more 5th string drone where appropriate...
Hope this helps some.
Alan
# Posted on February 12th 2008 by Alan B
Re: Jig accompaniment on 5 string banjo (Clawhammer)?
www.shawncraver.com
# Posted on February 12th 2008 by The Merry Highlander
Re: Jig accompaniment on 5 string banjo (Clawhammer)?
alan b,are your fingers up or down picking.
# Posted on February 13th 2008 by Dick Miles
Re: Jig accompaniment on 5 string banjo (Clawhammer)?
I know of the jig pattern for melody, but I mean for accompaniment! Is it basically the same? I've tried it a bit and it sounds too busy and it reminds me of a certain musician that I absolutely despise. </tangent>.
Cheers,
Armand
# Posted on February 13th 2008 by armandale
Re: Jig accompaniment on 5 string banjo (Clawhammer)?
A couple things about this... (Because I love playing jigs on de banjo and cant resist sharing.) Jigs on the clawhammer banjo are not new. They go back to very old traditions... "minstrel" banjo players played them. The first banjo contests required them. I gave you a link to shawncraver.com where on my music page, I play a jig clawhammer style. (all down stroke.) The other source I know of for clawhammer jigs is Ken Perlman. Probably one of the best out there. Ok, I know your asking about backing. Backing jigs on the banjo (clawhammer) is even less common than jigs but the approach is about the same for me, I just use more of the chord... strum more strings at once on the down stroke. The technique should not be much different than the melody I play on my page. There are different "patterns".. i hate that word in music but oh well...
F-finger stroke down
T-Thumb plays down
|: FTF FTF | FTF FTF| FTF FTF |
|: F2T F2T | F2T F2T | F2T F2T |
The trick for back up is on the "F" strokes grab a few strings of the chord or how many you want. Some times I even grab a few notes with the "T" on its way down. (thats harder but will come.) After practice, with control, you can get a nice strummy yet clean backup out of clawhammer.
However, I'm usually playing the melody with back up and in some cases back up is nice with "pieces" of the melody thrown in. (More traditional approach.)
# Posted on February 13th 2008 by The Merry Highlander
Re: Jig accompaniment on 5 string banjo (Clawhammer)?
Then there's this one:
| F2F z2F | FTF FTF | F2F z2F | FTF FTF | F2F z2F | FTF FTF |
Bum Bum PA jiggity jiggity
You are treading where few have tread with the backing. Not sure Ive heard Ken Perlman do any jig BACKUP... his playing is choppy compared to some but he brings out the tunes nicely.
# Posted on February 13th 2008 by The Merry Highlander