Q&A: Magic Wish Banjo, Fingernails & OLD Wood
Added 2018-05-30 15:36:03 +0000 UTC"If you could snap your fingers and have any banjo, what would you get and why?" - Lindsay
"To my ear, you seem to get quite a deep, bassy tone from your banjo. Banjos aren't really associated with a deep, bassy sound but I wondered whether things like a skin head, tuning down, heavier strings or older wood might contribute to that. I play a goodtime and though it sounds good I wonder if there's a bit more 'belly' on older banjos like your weymann." - Joseph
"First I'd like to say that I've really been inspired by your style and your work on Patreon has been a goldmine of resources to me. I was feeling quite discouraged by the ridged dichotomy of Scruggs vs clawhammer and seeing your own authentic voice and playing has in a way given me permission to just play the way I like and not worry about the 'rules'. That being said I'm curious about your overhand playing. Looking at the videos you don't seem to have the long fingernail/s that most people seem to employ for that technique. Do you find that you can play without a fingernail? or maybe I just misinterpreted the video. Anyway thank you so much for the great content, I can't wait to hear more." - Zackariah
https://patreon.com/cliftonhicks
http://cliftonhicks.bandcamp.com
Comments
I'd also take Archibald Ferguson's banjo--he was a white (or possibly mixed-race) Appalachian who taught Dan Emmett how to play.
Clifton Hicks
2018-05-31 16:34:01 +0000 UTCI'll try that!
Micheál Mac Labhrás
2018-05-31 08:30:27 +0000 UTCI till strike the string with the back of my finger nail. With short nails you can strike the string allowing it to then slip off the nail onto the meat of your fingertip giving a nice *click* sound as the finger goes completely off of the string and raps against the drum head.
Clifton Hicks
2018-05-30 21:11:49 +0000 UTCSo what part of your finger do you hit the strings with? I've been trying to keep a good long finger nail (or two sometimes so I have a back up) to pick with because it gives me more volume, but learning to play loud and clear without it would be optimal as you say. Any tips? (I usually play overhand btw)
Micheál Mac Labhrás
2018-05-30 19:32:39 +0000 UTC
