Basic Up-Picking/"Seeger Style"
Added 2018-02-27 00:43:09 +0000 UTC(relative gCGCD)
Here's the basics of old school, traditional up-picking. This archaic style was most recently popularized by Pete Seeger in his 1950s banjo tutors. Other great up-stroke banjo players are Matt Kinman, Roscoe Holcomb and (my personal favorite) Creed Birchfield of Roan Mountain, Tennessee.
Tell me what you think about up-stroke banjo playing; can you think of some other good up-pickers that I didn't mention?
Comments
Yes, there were some in the beginning as well.
Clifton Hicks
2018-05-01 08:06:18 +0000 UTCAt the end of your picking there, (7:16) are you doing some alternate string pull offs?
Dwayne Strohm
2018-04-30 04:25:35 +0000 UTCAhhh mate only just see, great mate thanks
louie goodwin
2018-03-07 10:19:10 +0000 UTCA guy on youtube named nashvolk5 does a version of sally ann influenced by cliftons playing. The guy is mostly a 3 finger scruggs style player but he does a pretty good job.
Mike Gager
2018-03-01 15:12:18 +0000 UTCTheres a kid on youtube by the name of canaan myskowski who does a pretty neat up-picking style using drop thumb. His version of sourwood mountain is really awesome
Mike Gager
2018-03-01 15:09:59 +0000 UTCI play overhand (my new preferred terminology for clawhammer) 😀 and two finger. Can't wait to give this style a go. Absolutely love the sound of it. Your playing of Sally Ann in this style is probably my favorite banjo performance ever!
Alan
2018-03-01 14:08:43 +0000 UTCYou are not alone, Mo. Straight overhand has become my least-used playing style over the years. I still use it all the time (on certain pieces) but, yes, for me two-finger picking and up-picking are more natural. I also find it easier to flow back and forth between two-finger and up-picking.
Clifton Hicks
2018-03-01 13:13:11 +0000 UTCGlad to hear it. We will be playing and talking about this style quite a bit for sure.
Clifton Hicks
2018-03-01 13:09:05 +0000 UTCThanks, never heard of Adams before. He does sound a bit like P. Seeger now that you mention it--at first listening he also reminded me of Jack Elliott for some reason.
Clifton Hicks
2018-03-01 13:08:21 +0000 UTCExcellent, this is the style that has most fascinated me from your youtube channel. Thanks for this
Jackson Niall
2018-03-01 03:29:48 +0000 UTCA further thought. Another resource for up-pickers is the playing of Derroll Adams, who died in 2000. Derroll was an Oregonian who spent most his career in the UK and Belgium so he isn't very well known in the U.S. His style is similar to Pete's but with some interesting twists. Demonstration videos can be found on the website derrolladams.org. And by the way, the Abraham Lincoln Brigade hat is very cool and also relevant in this time of resurgent fascism. Where did you get it?
Mo Bernstein
2018-03-01 02:13:33 +0000 UTCThanks for this video. I've been playing clawhammer for a number of years now but have never gotten to the point where I can consistently produce a sound I'm happy with. This up-picking approach just feels more natural.
Mo Bernstein
2018-03-01 02:04:22 +0000 UTCThat's awesome! Keep playing that upstroke. When done right it's some of the best-sounding music there is, and it sounds like you're doing it right!
Clifton Hicks
2018-02-28 09:24:22 +0000 UTCupstroke/seeger style has, so far, been how i can make my banjo sound the best. It just is easier and for some reason what rythym I have is better than when I just play overhand/clawhammer. It was cool to hear what Matt Kinman had to say about upstroke (in a reply above) about how it sounded the best and was most comfortable. It really is just opening and closing yer hand! never thought about it that way! It sure is cool watchling yall playin it up the neck in that upstroke style and have been trying to imitate it for a while now. Thanks for this one!
Taylor Davis
2018-02-28 01:21:35 +0000 UTCWise words!
Clifton Hicks
2018-02-28 00:27:36 +0000 UTCAnd so far I think this set up looks promising. I would create an independent mailing list though just in case you migrate to another platform later. Once you reach a critical mass of subscribers you might want to set up your own website or something.
Micheál Mac Labhrás
2018-02-27 21:14:36 +0000 UTCWell you could just start with a basic glossary to cut down on repeated questions and add stuff as you go (things like "relative tuning").
Micheál Mac Labhrás
2018-02-27 21:10:13 +0000 UTC
