Open String Pull-Off | Lesson
Added 2018-02-17 01:25:35 +0000 UTCOver the years one of my most asked-about banjo techniques is what might easily be called the "Knott County Lick" or "Knott County Roll." Although probably once a more widespread technique, this sound was preserved and passed down mostly through the prolific playing of George R. Gibson of Knott County, Kentucky. Gibson learned the banjo in the 1940s by watching and listening to his father and neighbors, most of whom sang along with their music.
My tuning here, which we will discuss in further detail on a future episode, is fCFAC. While that looks like an unusual tuning it's merely standard gDGBD tuned down one "full step" (in other words G is lowered to F, D to C and your B is lowered to A).
Comments
<a href="https://www.appalshop.org/store/june-appal-recordings/george-gibson-last-possum-up-the-tree/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.appalshop.org/store/june-appal-recordings/george-gibson-last-possum-up-the-tree/</a> will take you to June Appal Records where this CD is currently "out of stock." Maybe if enough of us contact them asking for it the album will finally get re-issued?
Clifton Hicks
2018-02-22 08:40:06 +0000 UTCThank you Jonas. Tunings would be a great subject to cover in a live Q&A. I will probably bring it up tomorrow during our live stream, here at 2pm eastern US time. Thanks again for your contribution.
Clifton Hicks
2018-02-17 21:43:07 +0000 UTCThanks a lot, Adam, your generous support is no small thing to me. We "inspire" each other.
Clifton Hicks
2018-02-17 21:41:44 +0000 UTCYeah, I like slower. Great start!
John Buhrman
2018-02-17 18:14:05 +0000 UTCI look forward to the tuning episode. I tune my banjo by ear to your videos, what works but also takes some time...and sometimes is impossible for me to figure out.
Jonas Nottbeck
2018-02-17 13:09:44 +0000 UTCYour passion, skill, and knowledge are invaluable resources. I am proud to be supporting you in sharing all of this with the world. Thank you for inspiring me and helping me fall in love with playing music.
Adam Segar
2018-02-17 11:48:14 +0000 UTCCan you please spend more time on describing the technique. maybe play it a bit slower. Thanks for starting this up!
Callum Lee
2018-02-17 11:25:14 +0000 UTCYou might consider becoming an Amazon affiliate and provide links to the CD's (or strings that you use... etc.) that you describe in your the YouTube description. Then, you can receive a commission anytime anyone makes a purchase via your link.
Milwaukee Matzen
2018-02-17 05:55:54 +0000 UTCI just posted a link to your online lessons on my Facebook page. I like how you have developed your own playing style after learning from George Gibson and others. I play clawhammer and 2 and 3 finger depending on the tune. I am interested in learning more about upstroke style.
Robert T. Gibney
2018-02-17 03:45:29 +0000 UTCI agree.
Will Coppage
2018-02-17 02:49:27 +0000 UTCWow, that's a great detail to catch on an old instrument. Gibson once told me, "There's more music in the first string than any other string on the banjo."
Clifton Hicks
2018-02-17 02:47:52 +0000 UTCwould love to learn more about the up-picking technique you mention in there at some point
L Z
2018-02-17 02:32:41 +0000 UTCGreat kick-off! I agree it was wider used in the past. Two of my old banjos have the side of the fretboard worn off there. One belonged to a West Virginian coal miner, I bought off the family. I have been practicing it on "Little Sadie" after hearing Clarence Ashley use it.
Alan
2018-02-17 02:13:21 +0000 UTCIn Pt. 2 of this discussion we will further dissect the open-string pull-off and examine how it is used in the song "Morphine."
Clifton Hicks
2018-02-17 01:39:14 +0000 UTC
