pickinchik - Posted - 11/11/2009:  06:39:14

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Ok, so now I am using my middle finger to play.

The thing is now that I am using my middle, my index wants to be in the way all the time and it will randomly hit a string here and there and mess me up. I really like the way it sounds to use the middle and it just feels better and all, so I'm wondering if this is going to be a problem?

I've tried to curl it up and back, but I just can't keep it there. I end up with it sticking straight out and it does look funny, but it's what feels the most comfortable to me.

So should I try and break myself of this? Will it become a problem for me later down the road as I get better? Does anyone else do this or am I just special? LOL Or am I just worrying to much and should probably just shut up and play?

Thanks, hope you don't mind my questions. I really want to do this right.

Mandy

tynergraphics.com
tilstuff.com

August - Posted - 11/11/2009:  06:46:09

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I stick mine straight out in a relaxed sort of way, hasn't given me any problems so far. I look at it as the handle of the hammer.

-August
The banjo, half wood-work, half plumbing, all music.

RatLer - Posted - 11/11/2009:  07:02:19

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I keep my index and middle together. Actually, I keep all my fingers together. If I pick with the index, I just let the index finger 'hang down' a little lower than the others. If I want to pick with the middle, I let it 'hang down' a little lower. Sometimes I use both if I need more volume or emphasis. Usually, for me, it all depends on which finger nail is in better shape.

RatLer

pickinchik - Posted - 11/11/2009:  07:06:05

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Thanks! I'm glad to hear I'm not just weird. I mean I know I'm weird, but you never want to be too weird ya know. LOL

Ratler- Does the index ever hit the strings just by being in the way?

August- GREAT! I thought of it more as my barrel to my gun cause if I lift up my hand it looks like a play gun.

Mandy

tynergraphics.com
tilstuff.com

rjanecek - Posted - 11/11/2009:  07:34:18

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lately I have been forcing myself to use my middle finger more! (ha) just in case my index gets cut off in a farming accident or something. I have the same issue with the index being in the way. I know its a personal preference, but for the life of me cant figure out how that position got started to begin with? Why skip a finger and go to the next? whats the index supposed to do? seems un-natural...at least to me.

God Bless America

Rick

billyshake - Posted - 11/11/2009:  07:46:31

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After reading so much about it, I finally just skipped this question and decided to use my index finger from the beginning. For me, it seems a more dexterous finger; I'm not able to move it independently of the middle because both have been busted a few times so sticking it out is not an option anyway.

quote:

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Originally posted by rjanecek

lately I have been forcing myself to use my middle finger more! (ha) just in case my index gets cut off in a farming accident or something.

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Yeah, I must know 10 farmers with at LEAST one screwed up finger. Common thing for farmers to catch their wedding ring on a piece of equipment and get a ring avulsion. Could be worse, you could be livin' in the open-belt threshing machine days -- my grandpa lost his hold hand on that one!

____________________________
billyshake: The #1 Banjo Player on the Sub-Continent!
(of course, that's assuming I'm the ONLY banjo player on the sub-continent)

chip arnold - Posted - 11/11/2009:  07:48:46

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Lots of good pickers seem to leave a finger sticking out. But....at this early stage of your playing, I think it's a habit you can and should avoid. At some point you may want to involve the index finger and reeling it back in from an extended position will be far more difficult once you've trained it to stick out. There's no good reason to cut yourself off from future possibilities. I like Rattler's description. Like all of this, it just takes focus and practice.

**********************
Take what is given
Give what is taken

Chip Arnold

Voyageur - Posted - 11/11/2009:  07:59:00

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I second what Chip just said. I would not worry if your index finger occasionally hits a string by accident. With time and practice, that won't happen as often. I'll bet even the best players have that occur now and then.

Here's another thought, based on a workshop I had with Adam Hurt. Hold out your right hand with the fingers pointing up and palm facing away from you. Take note of the 2 o'clock position on your middle fingernail. Now play your banjo and hold your hand so that the first contact with the string is at that point. Many of the people at that workshop said that they were used to hitting the strings at the 10 o'clock or 12 o'clock position on their nail. It seems to me that the index finger is much more in the way if you use 10 or 12 o'clock than with 2 o'clock. Adam demonstrated the differences in tone with each position, and for most of us the 2 o'clock had the best tone.

Mary

"Do not pray for an easy life. Pray to be stronger. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks."
- Fr. Solanus Casey

jdog - Posted - 11/11/2009:  08:50:24

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I used to hold my index out and strike with the middle finger but I stopped thinking about it and it now is semi bent. It never gets in the way because muscle memory just takes over.

RatLer - Posted - 11/11/2009:  09:37:49

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Ratler- Does the index ever hit the strings just by being in the way?

Not really....By keeping my fingers together (clawhammer shape) all the time, I can easily control which finger strikes the string(s) by extending slightly the index or middle and/or tilting the hand slightly left or right.



RatLer

pickinchik - Posted - 11/11/2009:  11:26:03

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I been watchin some Grandpa Jones clips on youtube and his index finger is all over the place too, so now I don't feel so bad.

Mandy

tynergraphics.com
tilstuff.com

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 11/11/2009:  11:37:33

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One technique that requires the index finger to be curled back under is the "cluck" - at least the way I play it. I'd agree with Chip. I think the chances are that eventually the index sticking out may limit you as regards additional techniques and it would be better to get a handle on it early. You can of course play with your current hand position, lots of folks do. In the long-run the completely closed hand is preferable. The main thing though is to stay relaxed. If bringing your index back in causes you to tense up, it is not good. In the closed fist, allow your middle finger to be just a bit forward of the index.

Good Luck.

R.D. Lunceford- "Missourian in Exile"
Model 1865 Bowlin Fretless Banjo
****************************************************
"Drink from the Musselfork once, and you'll
always come back." -Dr. Bondurant Hughes, 1917

clawforlife - Posted - 11/11/2009:  14:08:53

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i try to use my index finger for different things. like r.d. mentioned useing it to make the cluck, sometimes i use it for extra strum or an up-pick, or let it hang down and rap on the head a bit like ive seen roscoe holcomb do. depends on the song i guess, but i think if you let it hang down in time you will get used to it and it will stay out of the way. seems a waste of a finger if you can use it for some variety or a different sound here and there, but i try to do things a little different rather than play it exactly as a heard it. good luck

majikgator - Posted - 11/11/2009:  14:54:56

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my index finger sticks out sometimes, i sure don't worry about it, i don't use my index finger for clawhammer at all just for regular fingerpicking, for some reason it just doesn't work for me on downstrokes maybe because it's shorter than the middle and ring fingers or something, my index finger doesn't always stickout but i just don't care what it does other than relax, it doesn't seem to get in my way, wouldn't worry too much about wasting a finger, i mean i have picked with my pinky but it's not a regular habit.

jk

oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 11/11/2009:  18:15:18

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My index used to always be in "ready" position, curled with the middle finger and able to take over at a moment's notice. I usually frail with my Index when "clucking", O doing any sort of Galax Lick type op. Other times I tend to use the fingers interchangebly or according to which has the better nail.

Lately (I guess a few years now) I've just been letting the Index hang forward in a relaxed way when frailing with the Middle. I can do this longer before the arthritus starts to get going. I suspect people can get used to it either way but I still think I suggest the curled - ready to play position, for healthy hands.



rocketsciencebanjo.com
Rocket Science Banjo - Advanced Clawhammer Techniques for beginners and long time players alike. Plus videos and 25-40 EZ Clawhammer Tunes.
& check out "How To Mold A Mighty Pinky" at:
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Alan Hill - Posted - 11/11/2009:  19:30:37

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Because I have a twisted index finger its not much use even for pointing so I use my middle and the index sticks out and keeps out of the way this works for me

alan

Alpha Omicron - Posted - 11/11/2009:  19:34:06

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I point my index. I don't get much volume if I curl it. I don't care for "the cluck", so I'm not too worried about it.

pickinchik - Posted - 11/12/2009:  06:19:23

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I would rather go back to using my index finger completely to avoid this problem, but that would start to get real painful up the finger and in the wrist for me after playing awhile.

I'll work it out. I've been trying to curl it up some and now it's sometimes curled a little and sometimes still straight as a board. I'm gonna keep at it and see what happens.

Thanks for all your help everyone.

Mandy

tynergraphics.com
tilstuff.com

arthurj - Posted - 05/08/2010:  20:09:55

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I found this thread just now in an effort to see it had been addressed. I took a class and was corrected for having my index finger sticking out. I didn't think to ask what the thinking was about keeping it curled. It now occurs to me that the middle finger might have less capablity of independent movement when the index is not extended. This I am thinking might prevent a person from flicking with the middle. Am I even close? If not can someone tell me what the rationale for this might be?

lillebroer - Posted - 05/09/2010:  12:17:28

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I am a beginner as well, started playing last autumn. At first I used my middle finger, simply because in most of the books and online tutorials I watched that was the finger people used there... it worked okay and my index finger didn't really get in my way while playing, in terms of touching strings or so... for some reason I held it the way you seem to do, kind of strung-out, away from the other fingers. It felt the easiest and most comfortable position to me, but looked odd, like you say. Then one day I hurt my middle finger real bad and couldn't use it, finding myself forced to play with my index finger... and it came to me so naturally, things that I had been working on for weeks using my middle finger just seemed to happen "all by themselves" using my index. I never thought about it again and kept using my index. A while ago I lost a nail working in the garden, it broke so close to the flesh that it was impossible to play with it, it simply wouldn't make a proper sound, playing a string. I switched back to my middle finger. It feels odd and my playing is less confident, but still better than not being able to play at all until the nail grows back.

I spent a lot of time thinking about which finger to use and how to do it "right" or "best". In the end, my fingers answered the question without taking the detour through my head. I bet your's will tooif you play around with both alternatives a bit...

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Edited by - lillebroer on 05/09/2010 12:20:32