olderisbetter - Posted - 11/18/2009:  20:16:00

I was wondering if someone could explain the differences between clawhammer and the minstrel stroke style. It looks like the thumb floats and plays more of the melody than it would in a clawhammer style. I am interested in learning this style, can anyone recommend a good starting point? I already play clawhammer well. does anyone ever play this style on steel string fretted banjos? I traded my tackhead for my ome so that is my only playing option as off right now.

munchausen - Posted - 11/18/2009:  20:47:33

I've used a book called 'Minstrel Banjo: Briggs' Banjo Instructor' available through Hal Leonard. The original book was published in 1855, and the modern edition has performance notes by Joseph Weidlich. Songs are presented in tab form. I think if you are proficient in clawhammer, you will pick up minstrel style rather well. There are some tricky rhythmic things involved. Also some interesting right hand slides (sort of raking the strings) and lots of double thumb.

According to the instructor, the right hand index plays a sort of rest stroke--after striking a string, it rests on the adjacent string. When striking the first string, it should rest against the instrument. So, overall, there seems to be some very specific technical directions. When I play this music, I usually play the same way I do other clawhammer stuff. And I don't have a gut strung fretless. Still sounds good.

Tony Trischka has recorded some minstrel stuff. Clarke Buehling, too.

janolov - Posted - 11/18/2009:  23:28:28

I think the minstrel style in many aspects is more versatile than clawhammer. You use the thumb in another way, and even use the thumb on lead notes sometimes. The thumb is "free floating", and there are often more complex rythms than in CH.

Check out these sites
http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/ (contains a lot of discussions and videos)
http://www.milfordmusic.com/Banjo%20Audio.htm (there are a lot of sounds files, and also pdf of some other old banjo tutors. I reccommend the Converse's book from 1886 (?)- it is later than the Briggs and demonstrates that the minstrel style was developed from 1855 to 1886.
http://www.banjofactory.com/Brigg's...structor.htm (free version of Briggs banjo instructor from 1855)

Also check out www.elderly.com , they have some other tab books of minstrel music. They have tab versions of both Converse's and Briggs' books.

I play a little minstrel style on an ordinary banjo with nylgut minstrel strings. I think minstrel style requires some lower and softer strings, steel strings sounds wrong. But sure you can exercise with steel strings.

olderisbetter - Posted - 11/19/2009:  03:39:07

it dosnt seem like there is a whole lot of tab on the net for minstrel styles.

stevel - Posted - 11/19/2009:  05:44:06

i learned the minstrel style from bob flesher. the music does sound better in the lower tunings with gut strings and a skin head, but you can play it on a regular banjo if that's all you've got.

and there are some techniques not really used in clawhammer that are used in the minstrel music. (lots of triples, arpeggios, and quite an extensive use of dotted notes in the more elaborate pieces). but like clawhammer, it is a downstroke style, with the thumb sometimes taking the lead as others have mentioned.


http://www.drhorsehair.com/

trapdoor2 - Posted - 11/19/2009:  07:02:39

Probably the best books to start with (esp. if you're a TAB reader) are the two from Bob Flesher (as stevel relates above). Joe Weidlich has also produced some books based on the main tutors of the period (and in TAB as well).

Only the reenactor types and history buffs care about having a "period correct" banjo or strings (and yes, I'm one of them). The music works fine on steel, just tune your banjo to gCGBD and give it a go. There are a few tunes where the bass is raised up a whole tone but you'll see that marked on the music.

Vist the minstrel banjo forum at http://minstrelbanjo.ning.com/ If you find a particular tune you want to play that isn't in TAB, let me know. Most of these take less than 30 min to tab out, I'll be happy to do it for you (and may already have it done).

LEUllman - Posted - 11/19/2009:  12:03:02

Be careful - stroke style is addictive.

deuceswilde - Posted - 11/19/2009:  14:23:19

The banjo style appropriateness review board has reviewed the case and has written its opinion.

"It is permissible to play stroke style on a modern banjo strung with telegraph wire."

RaiseTheHatchet - Posted - 11/19/2009:  14:55:30

"it dosnt seem like there is a whole lot of tab on the net for minstrel styles."

True but the books are pretty good and not too expensive. I bought a tackhead from Eric Prust which I love, I've tried playing the style on modern banjos and too me it sounds much better on the Prust.

PF. - Posted - 11/19/2009:  16:54:46

you could make your own minstrel banjo, i did it, i used an old drum for the pot and made the neck out of a fence post using a band saw, wood rasp, and sand paper. it sounds surprisingly good. Theres also a few good books floating around on amazon or Elderly.com as far as repertoire goes. And once you learn the technique, some of it can be carried over into clawhammer to make for some interesting sounds

rendesvous1840 - Posted - 11/19/2009:  20:11:08

http://www.milfordmusic.com/Banjo%20Audio.htm
Take a look at the stroke style instructions on this site, by Tim Twiss. They come from Briggs' Banjo Tutor, written in 1855. There are reprints available, I think I got mine from Elderly Music. Some other very old instruction books have been reprinted, as well. Tim also has a lot of videos on YouTube. And check out the Minstrel Banjo site listed above. The minstrel style doesn't play a lot of fill in notes, it's mostly melody. The thumb is pretty much dedicated to the 5th string, acording to Briggs' instructions.
Paul

Edited by - rendesvous1840 on 11/19/2009 20:11:53

Mirek Patek - Posted - 11/21/2009:  05:38:33

Thanks a lot for the link to milfordmusic dotcom, it directed me to the following source of information:

On page http://www.milfordmusic.com/Pages/lectures.htm there are two audio links to the 2006 lecture of Dr. Robert Winans on Syncopation. On the website of Dr. Winans there is also the slideshow presented during the lecture.
http://sites.google.com/a/wildblue....ecture-audio
Great material.
Examples are performed by Greg Adams - watch him also on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/banjargreg
http://www.myspace.com/banjargreg

Mirek

Edited by - Mirek Patek on 11/21/2009 06:16:14