mwc9725e - Posted - 05/13/2013:  09:04:58

I just watched a video demo of "how to play stroke style banjo". From what I understood, the index finger always hits just the first string, and the thumb is used on the other 3 strings --- similar to drop and double thumbing. I guess that would meant the "bum", or down stroke with the index finger is just used as a drone, and used only on the first string. Is that correct?

Edited by - mwc9725e on 05/13/2013 09:05:59

JimHenry - Posted - 05/13/2013:  09:27:08

In a word, no.  The first (or middle) finger can hit any of strings 1 - 4 on the "bum".   The string may be played open or fretted.  Which string depends on the tune, of course.

Let me suggest Rocket Science Banjo (rsb.pricklypearmusic.net) for a complete and wholly useful take on clawhammer style.  It's free and written by a Hangout member who goes by "oldwoodchuck".

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 05/13/2013:  09:58:49

Of course clawhammer, and stroke style, while they employ the same techniques, are NOT identical to each other. Rocket Science Banjo is about clawhammer and does not touch stroke style.

I do not play stroke style so I will not venture to give a definitive answer - but my understanding is that the index finger can hit any string other than the 5th and that the thumb can be used for any string other than the 1st. In stroke style (again - this is my understanding) there is not the same division as in clawhammer, with the finger playing the downbeat and the thumb playing the off-beat. The thumb is used in Stroke style to play downbeats as well, when convenient. Also, stroke style, being chiefly melodic, does not employ drones as does clawhammer.

Look for stuff by Tim Twiss (A.K.A. banjosnapper here on the BHO): banjohangout.org/myhangout/hom...?id=16667,

Joel Hooks (formerly deuceswilde on the BHO, but now going under his own name): banjohangout.org/myhangout/hom...?id=22187

and Carl Anderton (A.K.A. Old Cremona): banjohangout.org/myhangout/hom...p?id=9158

They all play stroke style, and really know what they're talking about.

Edited by - Marc Nerenberg on 05/13/2013 10:12:35

trapdoor2 - Posted - 05/13/2013:  10:25:18

Marc is correct, Stroke Style is both "different" and "similar" to clawhammer. I often refer to it as "proto-clawhammer".

Stroke style evolved along with the banjo itself. It started being codified in the 1850's and evolved into a total system (see Frank Converse's "Analytical Banjo Method") by the time it started to die out in the 1880's. Strikes with any given finger may occur from "on the downbeat" to "on every note". Irish tunes like "Bully For All" and "St. Patrick's day" are 99% index only (down, down, down, down, down...etc.). Other tunes, like "Boston Jig" use the thumb repeatedly in a similar manner. So, RH usage tends to be very different than clawhammer but then there are tunes that any drop-thumb player would instantly follow.

There are other tunes that are completely whacko from a RH standpoint (Hobson's Jig has an index-thumb crossover that is a little looney until you 'get it'). The dotted rhythms often become a problem for players unused to such stuff. ASPOs are very common in Stroke style as well.

The "Cripple Creek" of Stroke Style turns out to be "Briggs Jig" (from the Briggs book, naturally). It starts out with a couple measures of "index down, down, down, down, down, etc." Cool tune, fun to play.

rendesvous1840 - Posted - 05/13/2013:  22:42:58

Try here banjohangout.org/group/minstrelbanjo
And here minstrelbanjo.ning.com/ There's a ton of info and videos aplenty.
Paul

Steve Jeter - Posted - 05/14/2013:  07:09:16

If you want to learn stroke style, Learn Juba first,, it covers so much of the movements, just look for it at minsterel banjo, and Tim has videos that will completely walk you thru. Once you got Juba, the techniques will be there, and its a open road. good luck