Tecky banjo query
I play with my wrist bone (the one below my little finger) against the head just behind the bridge but I’ve found the tone improves when I turn the wrist more flatter against the head ie the other wrist bone (below the middle finger) also connects with the head. The problem is drifting back to rocking the hand and pitching the hand away from the banjo (ie palm turning towards my face); usually as the tune progresses.
The natural fun rhythmic playing I get is from the one wrist bone playing and is not there yet with the two wrist bone action and I wondered if anyone has persevered with this position or compromised or done your own thing.
This thread title sounds horrible.....
I play with flatpick with my palm just touching the top corner of the bridge( I actually sanded this round so it won't bother me too much) for a reference but I keep it just "Hovering" there so that I can twist for flex. Also I keep my fingers which aren't holding the pick ( pinky to the middle finger) open, this allows more movement with my pick fingers.
It sounds to me that what you are doing is damping the head with the heel of your hand. If this is the case, it might be possible to achieve the same result by placing a rolled-up cloth, like a yellow duster or similar, between the wooden brace and the head, and that would leave you free to position your picking hand the way you want.
Sorry about the title. I realise there is no definitive right or wrong here but I was under the impression most players play with the heel of the hand on the drumhead evident by the tell tale worn patch above the bridge which does dampen the sound but I always assumed was a necessary evil.
I am not much of a banjo player, but I have always tried to keep my hand off the head precisely because it has a damping effect. If that is what you want, all well and good. Maybe someone with a bit more authority could advise. There are plenty of them around
I rather firmly plant my pinky and third finger ends on the head, varying the position and pressure slightly to optimize the sound I am after. I have heard since I started that that is bad form, and that my tone will suffer, but I have not found that to be the case at all, and know of at least one other good tenor banjo player who does the same, for the same reasons. It does not seem to impede my dexterity, but I have very big hands. Incidentally, I have been playing guitar and mandolin longer, and do not touch anywhere downstream of my forearm to the face-edge of those instruments.
Thanks Will. Nice to hear a different view. I’ve often wondered about some of the advice regarding tone myself. It seems to be split. Maybe there is someone out there with ideas for beginners trying to adopt a traditional style of playing.
There's a guy called Michael Jackson ( no ! not that one ! the other one ! the australian ) who plays all sorts of instruments and entertains ( I hope that's not a dirty word ).
Well, anyway, he's entertaining this group of pensioners,and he comes out on stage and he's playing three bones in each hand ( I thought that was what this thread might be about from the title ).
Anyway, he has this spiel about minimalist music so he keeps discarding bones till there's only one left in one hand and it's still clicking. He said they were still talking about this two hours later. Nobody saw his wife in the wings playing another pair.........
My hand rests slightly on the strings behind the bridge, touching the tail pc ever so slightly. I think you just need to put your hand were it feels most comfortable and were you get the best outta your playing. That last part's the tricky one....
Two bone wrist action
Two bone wrist action
Tecky banjo query
I play with my wrist bone (the one below my little finger) against the head just behind the bridge but I’ve found the tone improves when I turn the wrist more flatter against the head ie the other wrist bone (below the middle finger) also connects with the head. The problem is drifting back to rocking the hand and pitching the hand away from the banjo (ie palm turning towards my face); usually as the tune progresses.
The natural fun rhythmic playing I get is from the one wrist bone playing and is not there yet with the two wrist bone action and I wondered if anyone has persevered with this position or compromised or done your own thing.
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by Eòsaph
Re: Two bone wrist action
This thread title sounds horrible.....
I play with flatpick with my palm just touching the top corner of the bridge( I actually sanded this round so it won't bother me too much) for a reference but I keep it just "Hovering" there so that I can twist for flex. Also I keep my fingers which aren't holding the pick ( pinky to the middle finger) open, this allows more movement with my pick fingers.
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by Jwalkert
Re: Two bone wrist action
It sounds to me that what you are doing is damping the head with the heel of your hand. If this is the case, it might be possible to achieve the same result by placing a rolled-up cloth, like a yellow duster or similar, between the wooden brace and the head, and that would leave you free to position your picking hand the way you want.
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by gam
Re: Two bone wrist action
Sorry about the title. I realise there is no definitive right or wrong here but I was under the impression most players play with the heel of the hand on the drumhead evident by the tell tale worn patch above the bridge which does dampen the sound but I always assumed was a necessary evil.
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by Eòsaph
Re: Two bone wrist action
I am not much of a banjo player, but I have always tried to keep my hand off the head precisely because it has a damping effect. If that is what you want, all well and good. Maybe someone with a bit more authority could advise. There are plenty of them around
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by gam
Re: Two bone wrist action
Thanks Gam. Yes. Maybe they're out or there's a convention. At least it gives me time to think.
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by Eòsaph
Re: Two bone wrist action
I rather firmly plant my pinky and third finger ends on the head, varying the position and pressure slightly to optimize the sound I am after. I have heard since I started that that is bad form, and that my tone will suffer, but I have not found that to be the case at all, and know of at least one other good tenor banjo player who does the same, for the same reasons. It does not seem to impede my dexterity, but I have very big hands. Incidentally, I have been playing guitar and mandolin longer, and do not touch anywhere downstream of my forearm to the face-edge of those instruments.
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by will morgan
Re: Two bone wrist action
Thanks Will. Nice to hear a different view. I’ve often wondered about some of the advice regarding tone myself. It seems to be split. Maybe there is someone out there with ideas for beginners trying to adopt a traditional style of playing.
But while we're waiting...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqbqbUrIWjw&feature=PlayList&p=5EE8BE2018F0F510&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=33
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by Eòsaph
Re: Two bone wrist action
Just changing the record
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRKfs5kjceo&feature=PlayList&p=5EE8BE2018F0F510&playnext_from=PL&index=34&playnext=1
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by Eòsaph
Re: Two bone wrist action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAjyBLZwjrg&feature=related
# Posted on May 22nd 2010 by Eòsaph
Re: Two bone wrist action
There's a guy called Michael Jackson ( no ! not that one ! the other one ! the australian ) who plays all sorts of instruments and entertains ( I hope that's not a dirty word ).
Well, anyway, he's entertaining this group of pensioners,and he comes out on stage and he's playing three bones in each hand ( I thought that was what this thread might be about from the title ).
Anyway, he has this spiel about minimalist music so he keeps discarding bones till there's only one left in one hand and it's still clicking. He said they were still talking about this two hours later. Nobody saw his wife in the wings playing another pair.........
# Posted on May 23rd 2010 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Two bone wrist action
Eosaph: That first one was a trip - my eyes were glued to the image, waiting for something to happen, till I got it.
# Posted on May 23rd 2010 by will morgan
Re: Two bone wrist action
My hand rests slightly on the strings behind the bridge, touching the tail pc ever so slightly. I think you just need to put your hand were it feels most comfortable and were you get the best outta your playing. That last part's the tricky one....
# Posted on May 23rd 2010 by shanty