Posted - 11/09/2009 :  07:08:02  

Try using your index finger, instead of the middle one.

Andy

Posted - 11/10/2009 :  15:25:52    

East Kentucky seems open to acrylic nails.

I went to the old time festival in Morehead (Rowan County is on the edge of the Cumberlands) and there were several macho mountain boys with acrylic nails and plenty of volume.

Don.

Haul off your overcoat and roll up your sleeve.

Posted - 11/11/2009 :  15:59:52    

i don't like picks and seem to get good volume without one, picks especially for clawhammer seem awkward to me and i can't get as wide a variety of sound with them either but at a class i took with Adam Hurt he showed everybody what i guess he considered a pick a little less obtrusive and i found i agree, it's the ernie ball picky pick and has a very narrow "pick" i've pretty much tried all of them too and even though it's pretty cheap i dislike it the least .

jk

Posted - 11/11/2009 :  19:30:49        

Ive been using a finger pick made out of a pingpong ball (there are lots of links to the site, just do a search for homemade finger picks) Ive found the sound to be louder and clearer than if i used my finger nail---------and its easier to play , I love it!

Posted - 11/11/2009 :  23:02:33        

quote:

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Originally posted by stevebo

Ive been using a finger pick made out of a pingpong ball (there are lots of links to the site, just do a search for homemade finger picks) Ive found the sound to be louder and clearer than if i used my finger nail---------and its easier to play , I love it!

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Edited by - billyshake on 11/11/2009 23:05:16

Posted - 11/12/2009 :  05:03:17      

How about a mizrab?

-Joel Hooks

Success always comes to those who have the money to buy it.

-The Adventures of a Banjo Player, 1884 p.26

Posted - 11/12/2009 :  16:45:17        

The ping pong ball pick is really durable, and doesnt bend much at the tip, due to the curve of the ball----------ive been really impressed with it! (and you cant beat the price!) Also, you can trim the pick with a fingernail clippers, just like a fingernail. One thing I found is by turning the picktoward the bottom of the banjo, when it strikes the strings, the pick hits them at more of a right angle than if I was using my fingernail. I find that it makes clawhammer easier, and it sounds better! Good luck!

Posted - 11/12/2009 :  21:11:24        

quote:

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Originally posted by steveboOne thing I found is by turning the picktoward the bottom of the banjo, when it strikes the strings, the pick hits them at more of a right angle than if I was using my fingernail.

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