(1) He seems to have his right elbow thrust forward so it lines up with the head of the banjo, and his wrist is straight.
(2) He holds the banjo so its neck is about a 45 degree angle from horizontal.
Both of these would need a bit of re-learning on my part (especially the elbow thing - I tend to keep it by my side so my wrist is slightly bent) but at first attempt they seem to contribute to playing a little more fluidly. Is that your experience?
grego, I hold my banjo similarly. And I think if you look closely, it's not so much that his elbow is pushed out, as it is that the neck of the banjo is tilted away from his body at an angle that allows his right arm to stay relatively straight.
But I don't play anywhere as "fluidly" as he does. So my guess is that the fluidity may come more with experience than with the physical way he holds his banjo.
I think a lot of his fluidity probably comes from the rather compact right hand movement, and his noticeably relaxed demeanor. Notice how there is no elbow motion involved there.
A good way to tell just how far the banjo is angled away from his body is to look later in the clip, where you can see his whole body. The banjo is facing the audience, and his legs are almost pointing at Frankie.
Here's another clip. When he starts playing (at about 01:40) you can see how far from his body his elbow is (and also the angle of the neck away from the body, like you pointed out)
Yeah, I can see it better in that clip (which I hadn't seen before, thanks!)
His right elbow does look a bit uncomfortable there. Part of it may be how he's sitting up there. I don't play with my elbow *that* separated from my body, for sure.
I was just looking at a video clip of myself playing, and I can see how much work I need on the compactness of my right hand - bleh. Thanks for helping point that out to me, grego
Interesting - I get a (not to serious) ache in my right arm when I play the banjo or mandola for too long or too fast (ie faster than I am really able!) and I've been experimenting with angling the instrument away from my body (a la Charlie) which seems to help. Reducing right hand movement seems to be important too - watch Gerry O'C - tiny movements, big sound.
I suffer this problem too.
I get very tense in my right forearm.
I can play much better standing up. The worst thing of all, is that I never had this problem before. I didn't really play banjo in Japan as I didn't have one, so I pretty much stopped for 2 years.
When I came back to it - I couldn't play - still struggle with it.
I think technique will come though. I'm just going to keep her goin....You know what the main answers always boil down to....practice, practice, practice.
There are great players of all instruments here, who have the worst posture - of course it helps to right yourself, but it isn't everything.
I use his posture, including taking off the arm rest, and it's worked very well with increasing my triplet precision and taking away any feeling of carpal tunnel.
Yes, Hugo. I've been having problems creep in (and I haven't stopped playing banjo.) I agree about practice, but I guess you can reinforce bad habits by practising them over and over.
Excellent link, sean_og! I think Gerry is advocating exactly what I was observing Charlie doing! His picture of "incorrect wrist position" is me, exactly.
Posture is important. Not only because you look better, but good posture is ergonomically efficient. Almost every book you read on string instruments will tell you the same thing. (My take at http://www.banjosessions.com/aug05/righthand.html)
If you are having problems with cramping, carpal tunnel syndrome, or joint pains, most likely this is due to poor technique including your posture.
GO'C taught us that we had to have our arms and body lined up as he shows on his site. He also advocates the use of a strap while sitting because it helps with the placement of the banjo. Basically standing and sitting alignment should be close to the same and the strap helps with this.
Banjo Posture
Banjo Posture
Looking for a bit of advice from the tenor banjo experts out there. From the De Dannan video here:
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=EqpB7N0NPi0
I notice the following about Charlie's posture:
(1) He seems to have his right elbow thrust forward so it lines up with the head of the banjo, and his wrist is straight.
(2) He holds the banjo so its neck is about a 45 degree angle from horizontal.
Both of these would need a bit of re-learning on my part (especially the elbow thing - I tend to keep it by my side so my wrist is slightly bent) but at first attempt they seem to contribute to playing a little more fluidly. Is that your experience?
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by grego
Re: Banjo Posture
grego, I hold my banjo similarly. And I think if you look closely, it's not so much that his elbow is pushed out, as it is that the neck of the banjo is tilted away from his body at an angle that allows his right arm to stay relatively straight.
But I don't play anywhere as "fluidly" as he does. So my guess is that the fluidity may come more with experience than with the physical way he holds his banjo.
I think a lot of his fluidity probably comes from the rather compact right hand movement, and his noticeably relaxed demeanor. Notice how there is no elbow motion involved there.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Reverend
Re: Banjo Posture
A good way to tell just how far the banjo is angled away from his body is to look later in the clip, where you can see his whole body. The banjo is facing the audience, and his legs are almost pointing at Frankie.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Reverend
Re: Banjo Posture
I see what you mean, Rev. Though his elbow is still probably extended futher from the body than mine is usually.
I also notice how the banjo is tipped back on his lap, as if he wanted to see the fretboard (which I'm sure wasn't the case.)
Of course, we all had a "noticeably relaxed demeanor" in those days - except Ringo, maybe. He looks a bit agitated when he's not bashing something.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by grego
Re: Banjo Posture
Here's another clip. When he starts playing (at about 01:40) you can see how far from his body his elbow is (and also the angle of the neck away from the body, like you pointed out)
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=aUnSUfw0WGc
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by grego
Re: Banjo Posture
Yeah, I can see it better in that clip (which I hadn't seen before, thanks!)
His right elbow does look a bit uncomfortable there. Part of it may be how he's sitting up there. I don't play with my elbow *that* separated from my body, for sure.
I was just looking at a video clip of myself playing, and I can see how much work I need on the compactness of my right hand - bleh. Thanks for helping point that out to me, grego
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Reverend
Re: Banjo Posture
Interesting - I get a (not to serious) ache in my right arm when I play the banjo or mandola for too long or too fast (ie faster than I am really able!) and I've been experimenting with angling the instrument away from my body (a la Charlie) which seems to help. Reducing right hand movement seems to be important too - watch Gerry O'C - tiny movements, big sound.
# Posted on May 22nd 2008 by bodatcha
Re: Banjo Posture
Good post Greg.
I suffer this problem too.
I get very tense in my right forearm.
I can play much better standing up. The worst thing of all, is that I never had this problem before. I didn't really play banjo in Japan as I didn't have one, so I pretty much stopped for 2 years.
When I came back to it - I couldn't play - still struggle with it.
I think technique will come though. I'm just going to keep her goin....You know what the main answers always boil down to....practice, practice, practice.
There are great players of all instruments here, who have the worst posture - of course it helps to right yourself, but it isn't everything.
# Posted on May 22nd 2008 by Hugo Chavez
Re: Banjo Posture
Gerry O'Connor has a couple photos of his posture on his web site.
Here's the link: http://www.gerryoconnor.com/tech2.html
I use his posture, including taking off the arm rest, and it's worked very well with increasing my triplet precision and taking away any feeling of carpal tunnel.
# Posted on May 22nd 2008 by seán_óg
Re: Banjo Posture
Yes, Hugo. I've been having problems creep in (and I haven't stopped playing banjo.) I agree about practice, but I guess you can reinforce bad habits by practising them over and over.
Excellent link, sean_og! I think Gerry is advocating exactly what I was observing Charlie doing! His picture of "incorrect wrist position" is me, exactly.
# Posted on May 22nd 2008 by grego
Re: Banjo Posture
Banjo Posture ??? I usually find slumped in the corner works for me !!
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by SeanMc
Re: Banjo Posture
Posture is important. Not only because you look better, but good posture is ergonomically efficient. Almost every book you read on string instruments will tell you the same thing. (My take at http://www.banjosessions.com/aug05/righthand.html)
If you are having problems with cramping, carpal tunnel syndrome, or joint pains, most likely this is due to poor technique including your posture.
GO'C taught us that we had to have our arms and body lined up as he shows on his site. He also advocates the use of a strap while sitting because it helps with the placement of the banjo. Basically standing and sitting alignment should be close to the same and the strap helps with this.
Mike Keyes
http://www.mikekeyes.com
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by mikeyes
Re: Banjo Posture
I always use a strap, it just feels more stable.
# Posted on May 23rd 2008 by jig