I’ve tried various fingering positions during my time of playing the banjo and for the first few months of owning it i got very confused. I kept watching my dvd's of Dubliners concerts to watch barneys McKenna’s fingering and i noticed he used a 3 finger position style and used the 4th finger to go to the high b note on the 7th fret e string.. I then bought Gerry o Connors book and cd "complete guide to learning the Irish tenor banjo" and he used a 4-finger style. I was then torn between the two finger positions. I thought should i used Barney McKenna’s because he is renowned for his banjo playing but then again so is Gerry o Connors. I tried both for a few months and in my opinion the 3 finger style came out better not only cause it felt more comfortable but even though some people say u have to wrestle with your banjo to do the 3 finger style I felt I was wrestling with my banjo when I did the 4 finger position.
There is no real point to my post just that i want to pass on some helpful advice if your ever questioning which finger positioning to use. Let me say that there is no right or wrong way to position your left hand fingers in banjo playing. If tutors ever try and force you into using a finger pattern which u don’t particularly like don’t let them. Do what ever you feel is more comfortable. Ah be Jesus! if you had 6 fingers then do a 6 finger pattern whichever you like as long as u can play more efficiently and clearly with that position.. Remember tutors should be there to guide you not force you into doing a finger position you don’t like.
If you have any comments on banjo finger positioning i would very much like to hear ?
I play the 4-finger position. I find it especially handy when I want to play a reel very fast (just for practice, NEVER in sessions ) Probably came to the 4 instead of 3 because I've been playing the guitar for a long time. I think you just have to feel comfortable. If you play best with one finger, go ahead.
I have tried both. Originally a mandolin player I started with 3 fingers. I now find 4 fingers better for me on the banjo. There is definitely a lot less movement of the left hand using 4 fingers.
In my beginner banjo articles I advocate the use of four fingers mostly because I believe that it is easier to play the instrument with this style. The scale length of a 19 fret instrument is in the 23" (580 mm) range which is quite a reach for small hands if only three fingers are used. In addition, the four finger style is quicker because you are not left with the choice of playing two different frets on two different strings during a quick passage.
Players who come from the mandolin or fiddle have a natural tendency to play three fingers because they preserve all of their hard earned ornaments and are familiar with the tunes in a three finger style. If you work around the technical difficulties there is no problem with three finger style.
In fact there is very little difference between the two styles once a player is competent but it is hard to go from one to the other without a lot of work (about three months, at least that is what it took me to make the transition.) The main arguments seem to center around how the high B note is sounded. In the three finger style the little finger is used as part of the system (the seventh fret is taken care of by the little finger) while the four finger style demands a second position use of the little finger. The four finger player will be more aware of the shift that has to be made because he or she will think more of first and second position while the three finger player will always think first position. As a result the four finger player might go to second position on the A string in anticipation of a high B (Musical Priest for example) and there will be a slightly different approach to the music.
Most of the elite level players seem to switch between the two styles probably because they use whatever works for them and don't reall think about it. Look at my John Carty clip (below) and you can see him do this. Nothing is written in stone at this level.
Another thing a lot of elite players do is to tune the instrument in the original CGDA tuning and capo up two to DAEB tuning so the high B is just another string. That way they don't have to make the reach during a fast tune.
I started out with the mandolin and am learning to play the fiddle (my wife is out of town for a week <G>) and made th decision to go to four fingers after taking a course from Gerry O'Connor. For me it is the way to go and I now look at the banjo as a separate instrument from the mandolin. My styles are influencing one another but are distictive from banjo to mandolin. The tunes remain the same.
i find if u use the 3 finger way u only ever have to think about one position with almost all the irish tunes. And once the strength is built in the little finger the high b note is easy.
I was really stressed about this same question when I started playing. I actually started playing melody on a long-scale bouzouki, and 4 finger was the obvious choice.
At one point, I took a lesson from a well known player and asked the question, and his response was: "It doesn't really matter either way, but the vast majority of the good players use fiddle fingering (3 finger), so that might tell you something."
At that point in time, I tried to switch to 3 finger style exclusively, and surprisingly, the switch was not too difficult! I found the first day that I could play many tunes. I was very surprised, because I figured that the "muscle memory" would make it hard, but it really wasn't.
Since that point in time, I have gotten much more comfortable switching back and forth. I can play anything either way, and as an exercise, sometimes switch back an forth in the middle of a tune. In general, however, I pick a particular way for each tune. If it spends a lot of time going up to the high b, then usually 3 finger, but if not, often I will opt for 4 finger.
Another interesting thing to note is that working the 3 finger style on the banjo has made it much easier to do even on long-scale 'zouks.
I use what you call 3 finger position. I use my pinky finger only when I play the 7th fret of the banjo.
My hands are not small, and my banjo is 17-fret, so it is not that difficult to play the tune without high b note. Most of the tunes with high b, I change the position by bringing my index finger to the 3rd fret.
Depending on the sequence of the notes, there still be the phrases which are quite difficult to play. I posted about this matter before (http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/5731). But I think this is true whatever fingering style you use. It is just a matter of getting accustomed to do so.
I use 3 finger b/c I started on fiddle in the same tuning. Also have a 17-fret. However, on Gminor tunes, I use 4 finger b/c of the stretch the other way. Don't stress about it. Just do what feels best to you. Sliding up with the 3rd finger to make chords is easier, to me, than with the 4th. Also, when a note is played on the same fret followed by one on the string below, I will use the 3rd on the string above and the 4th on the one below. Saves time.
Irish Banjo Fingering
Irish Banjo Fingering
I’ve tried various fingering positions during my time of playing the banjo and for the first few months of owning it i got very confused. I kept watching my dvd's of Dubliners concerts to watch barneys McKenna’s fingering and i noticed he used a 3 finger position style and used the 4th finger to go to the high b note on the 7th fret e string.. I then bought Gerry o Connors book and cd "complete guide to learning the Irish tenor banjo" and he used a 4-finger style. I was then torn between the two finger positions. I thought should i used Barney McKenna’s because he is renowned for his banjo playing but then again so is Gerry o Connors. I tried both for a few months and in my opinion the 3 finger style came out better not only cause it felt more comfortable but even though some people say u have to wrestle with your banjo to do the 3 finger style I felt I was wrestling with my banjo when I did the 4 finger position.
There is no real point to my post just that i want to pass on some helpful advice if your ever questioning which finger positioning to use. Let me say that there is no right or wrong way to position your left hand fingers in banjo playing. If tutors ever try and force you into using a finger pattern which u don’t particularly like don’t let them. Do what ever you feel is more comfortable. Ah be Jesus! if you had 6 fingers then do a 6 finger pattern whichever you like as long as u can play more efficiently and clearly with that position.. Remember tutors should be there to guide you not force you into doing a finger position you don’t like.
If you have any comments on banjo finger positioning i would very much like to hear ?
# Posted on August 31st 2005 by S.McMullen
Re: Irish Banjo Fingering
I play the 4-finger position. I find it especially handy when I want to play a reel very fast (just for practice, NEVER in sessions
) Probably came to the 4 instead of 3 because I've been playing the guitar for a long time. I think you just have to feel comfortable. If you play best with one finger, go ahead.
# Posted on August 31st 2005 by Gorgash
Re: Irish Banjo Fingering
i played guitar as well before the banjo but strangley i still find the 3 finger pos more comfy.
# Posted on August 31st 2005 by S.McMullen
Re: Irish Banjo Fingering
Three, is the 'Magic Number'!
Sorry, it's an in-joke for RTE watchers!
But I spent the last thirty odd years playing Tenor Banjo, Mandolin & Fiddle, & used the same 3 finger style for each.
Why make life more complicated?
# Posted on August 31st 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Irish Banjo Fingering
I have tried both. Originally a mandolin player I started with 3 fingers. I now find 4 fingers better for me on the banjo. There is definitely a lot less movement of the left hand using 4 fingers.
# Posted on August 31st 2005 by Martinfamilyband
Re: Irish Banjo Fingering
Fair play Martin. Horses for courses! You pays yer money & ......
# Posted on August 31st 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Irish Banjo Fingering
In my beginner banjo articles I advocate the use of four fingers mostly because I believe that it is easier to play the instrument with this style. The scale length of a 19 fret instrument is in the 23" (580 mm) range which is quite a reach for small hands if only three fingers are used. In addition, the four finger style is quicker because you are not left with the choice of playing two different frets on two different strings during a quick passage.
Players who come from the mandolin or fiddle have a natural tendency to play three fingers because they preserve all of their hard earned ornaments and are familiar with the tunes in a three finger style. If you work around the technical difficulties there is no problem with three finger style.
In fact there is very little difference between the two styles once a player is competent but it is hard to go from one to the other without a lot of work (about three months, at least that is what it took me to make the transition.) The main arguments seem to center around how the high B note is sounded. In the three finger style the little finger is used as part of the system (the seventh fret is taken care of by the little finger) while the four finger style demands a second position use of the little finger. The four finger player will be more aware of the shift that has to be made because he or she will think more of first and second position while the three finger player will always think first position. As a result the four finger player might go to second position on the A string in anticipation of a high B (Musical Priest for example) and there will be a slightly different approach to the music.
Most of the elite level players seem to switch between the two styles probably because they use whatever works for them and don't reall think about it. Look at my John Carty clip (below) and you can see him do this. Nothing is written in stone at this level.
Another thing a lot of elite players do is to tune the instrument in the original CGDA tuning and capo up two to DAEB tuning so the high B is just another string. That way they don't have to make the reach during a fast tune.
I started out with the mandolin and am learning to play the fiddle (my wife is out of town for a week <G>) and made th decision to go to four fingers after taking a course from Gerry O'Connor. For me it is the way to go and I now look at the banjo as a separate instrument from the mandolin. My styles are influencing one another but are distictive from banjo to mandolin. The tunes remain the same.
Mike Keyes
http://www.banjosessions.com/aug05/righthand.html
# Posted on August 31st 2005 by mikeyes
Re: Irish Banjo Fingering
i find if u use the 3 finger way u only ever have to think about one position with almost all the irish tunes. And once the strength is built in the little finger the high b note is easy.
# Posted on August 31st 2005 by S.McMullen
Re: Irish Banjo Fingering
I was really stressed about this same question when I started playing. I actually started playing melody on a long-scale bouzouki, and 4 finger was the obvious choice.
At one point, I took a lesson from a well known player and asked the question, and his response was: "It doesn't really matter either way, but the vast majority of the good players use fiddle fingering (3 finger), so that might tell you something."
At that point in time, I tried to switch to 3 finger style exclusively, and surprisingly, the switch was not too difficult! I found the first day that I could play many tunes. I was very surprised, because I figured that the "muscle memory" would make it hard, but it really wasn't.
Since that point in time, I have gotten much more comfortable switching back and forth. I can play anything either way, and as an exercise, sometimes switch back an forth in the middle of a tune. In general, however, I pick a particular way for each tune. If it spends a lot of time going up to the high b, then usually 3 finger, but if not, often I will opt for 4 finger.
Another interesting thing to note is that working the 3 finger style on the banjo has made it much easier to do even on long-scale 'zouks.
Pete
# Posted on August 31st 2005 by Reverend
Re: Irish Banjo Fingering
Hi guys,
I use what you call 3 finger position. I use my pinky finger only when I play the 7th fret of the banjo.
My hands are not small, and my banjo is 17-fret, so it is not that difficult to play the tune without high b note. Most of the tunes with high b, I change the position by bringing my index finger to the 3rd fret.
Depending on the sequence of the notes, there still be the phrases which are quite difficult to play. I posted about this matter before (http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/5731). But I think this is true whatever fingering style you use. It is just a matter of getting accustomed to do so.
# Posted on September 2nd 2005 by lowdens
Re: Irish Banjo Fingering
I use 3 finger b/c I started on fiddle in the same tuning. Also have a 17-fret. However, on Gminor tunes, I use 4 finger b/c of the stretch the other way. Don't stress about it. Just do what feels best to you. Sliding up with the 3rd finger to make chords is easier, to me, than with the 4th. Also, when a note is played on the same fret followed by one on the string below, I will use the 3rd on the string above and the 4th on the one below. Saves time.
# Posted on September 6th 2005 by banjobabe