I personally like to use thin soft plectrums when playing the guitar but harder thicker picks when I play my Mandolin. I would buy an assortment if I were you and experiment. It's all down to personal choice as to what feels good, and what produces the best tone and response from your instrument. I guess though most people playing in sessions with tenor banjo's will prefer harder or thicker plectrums, but again this has to be personal choice.
I've usually got a selection in my back pocket, and rooting through them now I can see that the one that was just right last night was a rather grubby Jim Dunlop nylon .80mm
Plectrum choice is usually a personal one based on a lot of experimentation. Gerry O'Connor has some hints on his website (http://www.gerryoconnor.com) but to save you the trouble, he uses the Dunlop nylon .60 mm for almost everything but jigs (and then he used the .73.)
Pletrum choice hassome effect on tone. As a general rule, thicker plectra bring out more bassy notes while thinner plectra have a more trebly tone. This works on banjos to some extent, but there are many factors that determine the tone of a banjo and most of them can be changed out. Plectra are way down the list as far as I am concerned.
You don't need to use a lot of force to make a banjo sound and the thin nylon picks work well. Mostly it is a matter of choice as with good technique you can use a coin if you have to, but I like the Dunlop nylon .60 mm myself.
As for how to hold the pick, there are several schools of thought. The bottom line is the production of good tone and that involves more than grip. Most experts will tell you that you should have a very light grip because that promotes tone and speed but is hard to achieve because everyone wants to use the Tasmanian Death Grip on the pick in order to be louder and faster (which doesn't work, by the way) but ends up not doing as well as they like. Barney McKenna and John Carty use a bent thumb grip that looks very tight but really is not. They also leave a lot of the pick point showing which gives the pick more flexibility. Others use a "natural" grip and show only a small part of the pick point. You will have to see what works best for you.
I have a number of links to articles on right hand position and grip in my personal web site. Just follow the links to "Irish Tenor Banjo" and go from there.
Well, I do like a big rounded equilateral 1mm or close to it for mandolin and I'm not sufficiently well-organised to keep a selectra of plectra on me at all times. So, although it imposes some limitations, the "one-size-fits-all" approach means, whether it be mandolin, guitar or banjo, I can just dip in my pocket until I feel something hard and I'm ready to engage in acts of musical miscegenation. What I lose in precision or proprietry, I gain in spontaneity.
I’ve noticed a trend over the years, and others have mentioned it. A lot of people start out with a relatively thin pick, but eventually gravitate toward something relatively thicker. And, to repeat once again, you really have to experiment a lot. Buy a bag full of various picks and try them all. And keep trying them all for as long as you play, if only to remind yourself why you settled on a particular type.
I used the Dunlop 60s on banjo for years, but recently decided to go to a lighter pick. I found that a lighter pick helps me keep the motion a bit more compact. And I am going for somewhat lighter strings too. When I first made the switch, it was tough, because I am not as loud. I have my banjo set up a bit louder in response to that, but I am trying hard not to overplay (which is very difficult to do with a lighter pick).
I am now completely hooked on the Snarling Dog "Brain Picks". (http://www.snarlingdogs.com/products/brain.html) they last as long as the Dunlops, and they have a texture almost like sandpaper. They feel almost creepy when you first grab a new one, because they will not move in your hands, so you can lighten your grip significantly.
gauge of plectrum for tenor banjo or tips etc
gauge of plectrum for tenor banjo or tips etc
Does anyone have any preference for gauge of plectrum for playing tenor banjo. Equally any tips on holding the plectrum?
# Posted on May 22nd 2007 by jamiebanjo
Re: gauge of plectrum for tenor banjo or tips etc
I personally like to use thin soft plectrums when playing the guitar but harder thicker picks when I play my Mandolin. I would buy an assortment if I were you and experiment. It's all down to personal choice as to what feels good, and what produces the best tone and response from your instrument. I guess though most people playing in sessions with tenor banjo's will prefer harder or thicker plectrums, but again this has to be personal choice.
# Posted on May 22nd 2007 by Jon_bailey
Re: gauge of plectrum for tenor banjo or tips etc
Jim Dunlop .73mm seems to be popular, but I like holding a big stiff one myself.
Like a Gibson or Fender Heavy.
# Posted on May 22nd 2007 by Bren
Re: gauge of plectrum for tenor banjo or tips etc
I've usually got a selection in my back pocket, and rooting through them now I can see that the one that was just right last night was a rather grubby Jim Dunlop nylon .80mm
# Posted on May 22nd 2007 by RichardB
Re: gauge of plectrum for tenor banjo or tips etc
Plectrum choice is usually a personal one based on a lot of experimentation. Gerry O'Connor has some hints on his website (http://www.gerryoconnor.com) but to save you the trouble, he uses the Dunlop nylon .60 mm for almost everything but jigs (and then he used the .73.)
Pletrum choice hassome effect on tone. As a general rule, thicker plectra bring out more bassy notes while thinner plectra have a more trebly tone. This works on banjos to some extent, but there are many factors that determine the tone of a banjo and most of them can be changed out. Plectra are way down the list as far as I am concerned.
You don't need to use a lot of force to make a banjo sound and the thin nylon picks work well. Mostly it is a matter of choice as with good technique you can use a coin if you have to, but I like the Dunlop nylon .60 mm myself.
As for how to hold the pick, there are several schools of thought. The bottom line is the production of good tone and that involves more than grip. Most experts will tell you that you should have a very light grip because that promotes tone and speed but is hard to achieve because everyone wants to use the Tasmanian Death Grip on the pick in order to be louder and faster (which doesn't work, by the way) but ends up not doing as well as they like. Barney McKenna and John Carty use a bent thumb grip that looks very tight but really is not. They also leave a lot of the pick point showing which gives the pick more flexibility. Others use a "natural" grip and show only a small part of the pick point. You will have to see what works best for you.
I have a number of links to articles on right hand position and grip in my personal web site. Just follow the links to "Irish Tenor Banjo" and go from there.
Mike Keyes
http://www.mikekeyes.com
http://www.banjosessions.com
# Posted on May 22nd 2007 by mikeyes
Re: gauge of plectrum for tenor banjo or tips etc
I use a .73 for tenor banjo, a .46 for guitar and a 2.0 hog for mandolin.
I find the thin pick for the banjo allows me to play with speed. Using too stiff of a pick on the banjo seems to cause me to lose speed.
P.S. Bren said "I like holding a big, stiff one".
P.P.S. Which makes Beavis and Butthead say: "Uh-huh-huh-uh...you said 'big, stiff one'...uh-huh-uh-huh..."
# Posted on May 22nd 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: gauge of plectrum for tenor banjo or tips etc
Well, I do like a big rounded equilateral 1mm or close to it for mandolin and I'm not sufficiently well-organised to keep a selectra of plectra on me at all times. So, although it imposes some limitations, the "one-size-fits-all" approach means, whether it be mandolin, guitar or banjo, I can just dip in my pocket until I feel something hard and I'm ready to engage in acts of musical miscegenation. What I lose in precision or proprietry, I gain in spontaneity.
The ones I like look like this: http://www.musik-schmidt.de/osc-schmidt/catalog/images/Fender-346-Heavy.jpg
sometimes known as an "electric bass plectrum/pick"
hope that helps
# Posted on May 22nd 2007 by Bren
Re: gauge of plectrum for tenor banjo or tips etc
I’ve noticed a trend over the years, and others have mentioned it. A lot of people start out with a relatively thin pick, but eventually gravitate toward something relatively thicker. And, to repeat once again, you really have to experiment a lot. Buy a bag full of various picks and try them all. And keep trying them all for as long as you play, if only to remind yourself why you settled on a particular type.
# Posted on May 22nd 2007 by Bob himself
Re: gauge of plectrum for tenor banjo or tips etc
.60mm seems to be popular with the many banjo players I know.
Back in the 70s Tony Sullivan had a pick which went over the finger, more like a thimble than a finger pick.
# Posted on May 22nd 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: gauge of plectrum for tenor banjo or tips etc
I used the Dunlop 60s on banjo for years, but recently decided to go to a lighter pick. I found that a lighter pick helps me keep the motion a bit more compact. And I am going for somewhat lighter strings too. When I first made the switch, it was tough, because I am not as loud. I have my banjo set up a bit louder in response to that, but I am trying hard not to overplay (which is very difficult to do with a lighter pick).
I am now completely hooked on the Snarling Dog "Brain Picks". (http://www.snarlingdogs.com/products/brain.html) they last as long as the Dunlops, and they have a texture almost like sandpaper. They feel almost creepy when you first grab a new one, because they will not move in your hands, so you can lighten your grip significantly.
I am playing the green .53s
Pete
# Posted on May 22nd 2007 by Reverend
Re: gauge of plectrum for tenor banjo or tips etc
Jim Dunlop .73mm all the way....gently hold hand in fist shape put pleck on outside of index finger and put the tumb down over the joint at the nail
# Posted on May 23rd 2007 by Irish Mandolin
Re: gauge of plectrum for tenor banjo or tips etc
I play with a Dunlop .60mm plectrum but I still sound crap. Must be using the wrong strings or my head is too tight or something ...
# Posted on May 23rd 2007 by dogbox