Today I popped into Waltons and picked up a tenor banjo for the first time. Using the same technique as above I played a couple of tunes. However I had difficulty hitting the 7th fret with my pinky. I presume regular practice on a banjo would make the stretch achievable?
I started playing this music on bouzouki, so originally learned the 4 finger style (1st finger - fret 1&2, 2nd finger - fret 3, 3rd finger - fret 4, 4th finger - fret 5), and used to have to find an appropriate place in the tune to shift my hand up on the E string to go above the 5th fret. And I was so used to that, I would do it on mandolin even! LOL
I had an instructor several years ago that suggested I switch to "fiddle fingering". I was able to do that, and actually sort of detached my brain from requiring a particular finger to hit a particular fret. So I can switch back and forth without any problems in the middle of a tune if I want.
The problem that I used to have with that is that I would anchor my hand pretty solidly against the neck, and then pivot on the ball of the knuckle of my first finger to reach up above 5. I used to get a bruise there from doing that even. Now, I float my hand a bit more, which allows me to reach up to the 7th, and sometimes 8th frets, without having to pivot against that knuckle.
I didn't do anything specific to make this change, it just happened on its own from practice, and the constant pain that I was experiencing when I played a lot. So I can't tell you any exercises to work on. But if you're aware of it, that can help.
The technique works well enough that I can play long scale bouzoukis that way now too.
I used to play guitar constantly, but very seldom now. I'm using the fiddle fingering (i.e., "the pinky shalt not be used below the 7th fret") on both my tenor banjo and octave mandolin and I like the sense of flow it seems to give. However, I find my pinky to be much weaker than it used to be in the guitar days since it's called into action much less frequently.
I'm going to set aside regular practice time specifically to try to srengthen up the pinky.
Try the B part to Fred Finns on tenor banjo - that bounces between Fsharp and B in a most excruciating way. I can just about do it on a 17 fret, but a 19 fretter is too much stretch. If you bring your thumb down a bit in readiness it helps
Yep, Ships are Sailing is on my list for pinky torture/practice. Arthur Darley's too, because of the stretches on the G string. Some day Musical Priest might happen - Barney McKenna used to do it (and our own Mike Keyes as well, so it is possible.)
i think it really frees up the hand for reaching those notes that are a stretch when you put a strap on the banjo, you're not holding the neck in position with your hand so it doesn't have to hold on so tight. don
My teacher saw me putting my pinky finger on the 7th and told me that its hard to hit the 7th spot on every time and get a clear note with out buzz So now i move up every time ,To start with i found it very hard but now i dont think about Des
Tenor Banjo - 7th Fret
Tenor Banjo - 7th Fret
Hi,
I am learning the mandolin and play in the following style:
1st Finger - fret 1, 2
2nd Finger - fret 3, 4
3rd Finger - fret 5
Pinky - fret 7
Today I popped into Waltons and picked up a tenor banjo for the first time. Using the same technique as above I played a couple of tunes. However I had difficulty hitting the 7th fret with my pinky. I presume regular practice on a banjo would make the stretch achievable?
Thanks!
# Posted on September 12th 2007 by ireland78
Re: Tenor Banjo - 7th Fret
"I presume regular practice on a banjo would make the stretch achievable?"
Yep.
Some older players don't use their pinky at all. It's a case of sliding up and down.
Either way, I regular practice on a banjo would make the stretch achievable?
# Posted on September 12th 2007 by Hugo Chavez
Re: Tenor Banjo - 7th Fret
Yep, practice helps a lot in this case.
I started playing this music on bouzouki, so originally learned the 4 finger style (1st finger - fret 1&2, 2nd finger - fret 3, 3rd finger - fret 4, 4th finger - fret 5), and used to have to find an appropriate place in the tune to shift my hand up on the E string to go above the 5th fret. And I was so used to that, I would do it on mandolin even! LOL
I had an instructor several years ago that suggested I switch to "fiddle fingering". I was able to do that, and actually sort of detached my brain from requiring a particular finger to hit a particular fret. So I can switch back and forth without any problems in the middle of a tune if I want.
The problem that I used to have with that is that I would anchor my hand pretty solidly against the neck, and then pivot on the ball of the knuckle of my first finger to reach up above 5. I used to get a bruise there from doing that even. Now, I float my hand a bit more, which allows me to reach up to the 7th, and sometimes 8th frets, without having to pivot against that knuckle.
I didn't do anything specific to make this change, it just happened on its own from practice, and the constant pain that I was experiencing when I played a lot. So I can't tell you any exercises to work on. But if you're aware of it, that can help.
The technique works well enough that I can play long scale bouzoukis that way now too.
Good luck with it!
Pete
# Posted on September 12th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Tenor Banjo - 7th Fret
I used to play guitar constantly, but very seldom now. I'm using the fiddle fingering (i.e., "the pinky shalt not be used below the 7th fret") on both my tenor banjo and octave mandolin and I like the sense of flow it seems to give. However, I find my pinky to be much weaker than it used to be in the guitar days since it's called into action much less frequently.
I'm going to set aside regular practice time specifically to try to srengthen up the pinky.
# Posted on September 12th 2007 by grego
Re: Tenor Banjo - 7th Fret
Greg, just practice a bunch of tunes that spend time up there... Like Star of Munster, Ships are Sailing, etc...
Pete
# Posted on September 12th 2007 by Reverend
Re: Tenor Banjo - 7th Fret
Try the B part to Fred Finns on tenor banjo - that bounces between Fsharp and B in a most excruciating way. I can just about do it on a 17 fret, but a 19 fretter is too much stretch. If you bring your thumb down a bit in readiness it helps
# Posted on September 12th 2007 by RichardB
Re: Tenor Banjo - 7th Fret
If you have a fattish hand with shortish fingers like me, you just have to get used to moving your hand and changing position often.
# Posted on September 12th 2007 by Bren
Re: Tenor Banjo - 7th Fret
Yep, Ships are Sailing is on my list for pinky torture/practice. Arthur Darley's too, because of the stretches on the G string. Some day Musical Priest might happen - Barney McKenna used to do it (and our own Mike Keyes as well, so it is possible.)
Fred Finns I haven't tried yet.
# Posted on September 12th 2007 by grego
Re: Tenor Banjo - 7th Fret
Oh, and how about the B part of Sheehan's?
# Posted on September 12th 2007 by grego
Re: Tenor Banjo - 7th Fret
Mug of Brown Ale/Apples in Winter has a c# on the ninth fret in it, which is a lot of a stretch if you stay in first position.
Have heard a few banjo players talk about American Oldtimey fiddle tune Quince Dillon's High D, too, as it goes up to d'.
I find it's not so much the stretch to the high frets with the pinky that causes me problems, it's rapid switching between middle and pinky.
# Posted on September 12th 2007 by Ceratonia
Re: Tenor Banjo - 7th Fret
i think it really frees up the hand for reaching those notes that are a stretch when you put a strap on the banjo, you're not holding the neck in position with your hand so it doesn't have to hold on so tight. don
# Posted on September 12th 2007 by Dont
Re: Tenor Banjo - 7th Fret
My teacher saw me putting my pinky finger on the 7th and told me that its hard to hit the 7th spot on every time and get a clear note with out buzz So now i move up every time ,To start with i found it very hard but now i dont think about Des
# Posted on September 14th 2007 by DES RYNNE