Q&A: Percussive Techniques for Traditional Banjo?
Added 2019-01-31 14:00:03 +0000 UTC"I was thinking a good tutorial would be on the way you hit the drum of the banjo in a particular pattern. I've noticed that in some of your performances (Rocky Island, for example),you don't hit the drum in the natural pattern that clawhammer produces--but you're choosing to hit the drum at specific times, and when I try to do that, it kind of messes with my rhythm." - Joel
Comments
Hey Clifton! Excellent breakdown of this percussive style. I think your version is up there with the best. Little Birdie by Roscoe Holcomb was a great inspiration to me. It took me a while to figure it out, since Mr. Holcomb plays it at breakneck speed. I has to slow down the video and audio to see how he got the groove AND was able to play these melodies. I myself can't make the quick stroke downward with my index. My nail is too long and it gets stuck behind the strings. I've adjusted it a bit and am playing that stroke with my middle finger. When you control that movement, you get the best of both worlds imo: a great percussive groove and some very clear melodies. Plus it's relatively easy to go to overhand style. This original of mine is played in that style: <a href="https://youtu.be/M3ZqPaLsXac" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/M3ZqPaLsXac</a> Thanks for all the great videos!
Matthieu Brandt
2019-02-03 14:48:44 +0000 UTCJohn, at the very end of this video you should observe a pop-up link to another video: <a href="https://youtu.be/WnKOgN2KGos" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/WnKOgN2KGos</a> "Open-String Pull-Offs in Little Birdie." The latter video should answer your question in detail.
Clifton Hicks
2019-02-01 12:43:06 +0000 UTCCan you help me get a better idea here Clifton? I realise I have been focusing too much on your right hand and not your left. What I think I see is this:- Pick up on open 3rd. Pull off at the 3rd fret on the 2nd string (without plucking), then stroke down on the 3rd fret on the 2nd and open 1st together, then finish with the "ping" off the 5th? I can't really see which finger is doing what on the left hand, are you using just the ring finger to fret? Is that vaguely right? Many thanks in advance ;)
John Herd
2019-02-01 03:39:56 +0000 UTC
