Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 05/21/2012:  13:41:11

quote:

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Originally posted by minstrelmike



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What does the raw number or percentage matter?

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From what i remember the OP saying in another thread - she is trying to simulate the usual clawhammer sound but plays left handed with her banjo upside down. It means that she has to invent her own way of playing. Perhaps she's wondering if there's any percentage in spending a lot of time on drop thumb.

Edited by - Marc Nerenberg on 05/21/2012 13:42:32

captbanjo - Posted - 05/21/2012:  13:42:38

Just a joke. Guess I should have used this:

Wayne

quote:

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Originally posted by minstrelmike

We don't even have a handle on how many folks clawhammer the banjo.

OF those who do, drop off all who have played for less than 5 years and don't drop thumb because they may decide to do so soon.

After 5 years of playing, you might still advance but you probably have discarded the technique for whatever reason

So of all the folks who have been clawing hammered (hee hee) for more than 5 years, what percentage of them do drop thumb?

I dunno but I'd suspect it is more than half because I've only heard of one pro and one well-known amateur who actually discourage the technique. Most everybody else views it as something optional you can do for the song and not some sort of thing you do or not do for philosophic/traditional reasons. It's merely a musical technique that actually works for most folks.

And here's the analyst's question back at you. 

What does the raw number or percentage matter?

If it's just curiosity, fine. But if you're going to base your actions on it, I'd like to know why. Just because I'm curious. 

imo, people who take up banjo are -not- trend followers (otherwise they'd take up piano or guitar) hence I'm always curious about the banjoists who do want to 'obey' trends.

Even the justification that "I'd like to know what most banjoists are doing and do that" doesn't hold water for me because if you're into what most folks are doing, why'd you pick up banjo? It's a general question and not targeted only at the people who asked.

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steve j. - Posted - 05/21/2012:  14:01:49

if you drop thumb in the forest....................

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 05/21/2012:  14:06:18

quote:

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Originally posted by steve j.

if you drop thumb in the forest....................

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... will anybody pick it up and put it in their pocket?

minstrelmike - Posted - 05/21/2012:  14:41:34

quote:

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Originally posted by Marc Nerenberg



From what i remember the OP saying in another thread - she is trying to simulate the usual clawhammer sound but plays left handed with her banjo upside down. It means that she has to invent her own way of playing. Perhaps she's wondering if there's any percentage in spending a lot of time on drop thumb.

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 I like that explanation but even then, I'd say go for the sound you want and imo, it ain't that hard to tell if they're dropping thumbs or not.

If you're playing a left-handed banjo, then it's all the same so go for the sound you want and if you aren't and are doing it upside down, ain't nothing the same so then you're stuck with going for the sound you want because there really ain't nothing to copy.

captbanjo - Posted - 05/21/2012:  16:25:59

The beauty of this is that it could be used for SO many different things!

Wayne

Plus, brevity counts.

Wayne

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Originally posted by oldwoodchuckb

Some do. Some don't. They have their reasons.

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5steve - Posted - 05/22/2012:  17:22:43

 I also think that people drop thumb because they can. Then again some don't drop thumb because they can't . Likewise those that can don't have to. This should clear it all up.   Steve

captbanjo - Posted - 05/22/2012:  17:49:07

But do some who don't won't?

Wayne

quote:

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Originally posted by 5steve

 I also think that people drop thumb because they can. Then again some don't drop thumb because they can't . Likewise those that can don't have to. This should clear it all up.   Steve

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5steve - Posted - 05/22/2012:  17:52:14

Exactly. and we all know     a nods as good as a wink to a blind bat ...

5steve - Posted - 05/22/2012:  17:53:20

I hope the rain stops I have to get out of the house tomorrow and go to work. no drop thumbing for me

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 05/22/2012:  17:55:53

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Originally posted by 5steve

Exactly. and we all know     a nods as good as a wink to a blind bat ...

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Can you imagine a bat that wasn't blind? If you played baseball with it, you'd probably get a hit every time!

Oh ... not that kind of bat? Never mind.

countryman99 - Posted - 05/23/2012:  02:14:24

quote:

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Originally posted by Marc Nerenberg

quote:

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Originally posted by minstrelmike



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What does the raw number or percentage matter?

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Surely if a banjo were played left handed upside down, you would use UP thumb not DROP thumb.

Mac 

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From what i remember the OP saying in another thread - she is trying to simulate the usual clawhammer sound but plays left handed with her banjo upside down. It means that she has to invent her own way of playing. Perhaps she's wondering if there's any percentage in spending a lot of time on drop thumb.

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chip arnold - Posted - 05/23/2012:  08:26:47

Here are the roan mtn hilltoppers with bill birchfield playing a right handed banjo upside down and over the top. he's a 2-finger picker and is leading with his thumb and drop fingering. if you reverse what he's doing, you'd have index lead 2-finger with drop thumb!

youtube.com/watch?v=27dRVxvAuhY

Coonskin - Posted - 05/23/2012:  09:09:44

You guys are starting to scare me... :)

captbanjo - Posted - 05/23/2012:  10:01:37

Goes to show you can have less notes as long as you have that rhythm and groove! 

Wayne

quote:

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Originally posted by chip arnold

Here are the roan mtn hilltoppers with bill birchfield playing a right handed banjo upside down and over the top. he's a 2-finger picker and is leading with his thumb and drop fingering. if you reverse what he's doing, you'd have index lead 2-finger with drop thumb!



youtube.com/watch?v=27dRVxvAuhY

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oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 05/23/2012:  20:32:03

I had forgotten about Bill Birchfield. He was the group guitarist when I saw them, but I gather he is now their fiddle player, and is playing a right hand fiddle left handed. He also went through a period of being the group's banjo player, but I never got to see that version of the Hilltoppers.

I remember their sets at Brandywine back around 1981 or 82. They emptied out the campgrounds. I swear you could probably have gone through the campgrounds stealing everything from instruments to vehicles when the Hilltoppers were on stage. No one would have noticed.

There is an excellent DVD of the 80s Hilltoppers available from Field Recorder's Collective.

Edited by - oldwoodchuckb on 05/23/2012 20:33:25

SteveColby - Posted - 06/14/2012:  17:30:21

I think the earlier statement of do whatever makes the piece sound musical is the most important. As a long time teacher of clawhammer I rarely use drop thumb and prefer the pull/hammer approach to flesh out the melody.

captbanjo - Posted - 06/14/2012:  17:32:31

If it sounds good, it must be good!

Wayne

quote:

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Originally posted by SteveColby



I think the earlier statement of do whatever makes the piece sound musical is the most important. As a long time teacher of clawhammer I rarely use drop thumb and prefer the pull/hammer approach to flesh out the melody.

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Edited by - captbanjo on 06/14/2012 17:35:06