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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/297668
HerbMeister - Posted - 01/13/2015: 10:48:02
I just read through the thread discussing picks on nylon strings. All of my older banjos still have goat skin or calf skin heads. Are picks OK on natural skin or, should I keep playing the old-timers bare fingered like Grandma used to?
oldwoodchuckb - Posted - 01/13/2015: 11:25:53
I suggest you learn to avoid hitting the head, so you have no worries.
revellfa - Posted - 01/13/2015: 12:08:48
I've grown more to like bare fingers when I'm playing OT music--especially with hide heads. But if you have a hide head on a BG banjo picks are a necessity. I'd suggest not touching the head with the picks like Tony says. That's hard to do but I tell you there is no pick that will be easy on a hide head.
chip arnold - Posted - 01/13/2015: 12:29:31
I assume you're a finger picker ... My skin is thin, my nails are brittle and I'm having to use picks! I don't hit the head and there's no problem. My main banjo doesn't have a skin head, but it would make no difference.
HerbMeister - Posted - 01/13/2015: 16:12:21
Thanks for the input, folks. I learned bare finger picking when I was about ten. Never touched picks until I was in my thirties. Been bouncing back and forth ever since. Picks make BG easier for me but, I still like the sound of bare fingers on an ancient banjo. I used to use a stiff leather flat plectrum for vamping with the older banjos.
wattnboon - Posted - 01/14/2015: 19:22:53
if your playing 2 finger or 3 finger OT style i feel like the flesh of the fingers is part of the sound but if you dont grow good nails (like me) and play clawhammer and the wear down hurts your fingers, i'd suggest plastic.
edit: i've also read about people cutting ping-pong balls to shape and glueing them to their nails
Edited by - wattnboon on 01/14/2015 19:24:22
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