David M - Posted - 09/12/2022:  23:40:27

Many thanks Mike, I appreciate that.

Yes, I think 3 finger thumb lead is an accurate explanation of my style. It's pretty easy to fit the melody in with the thumb. Last night I looked at what my right hand was doing and the melody is picked with the thumb probably 90% of the time. The index finger butts in now and again too and any melody required on the first string though can be played with any of the 3 fingers, but mainly the thumb and middle fingers. Fortunately, the right hand becomes a bit automatic after a while at picking what's needed.

RG - Posted - 09/13/2022:  10:37:53

quote:

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Originally posted by David M

Many thanks Mike, I appreciate that.



Yes, I think 3 finger thumb lead is an accurate explanation of my style. It's pretty easy to fit the melody in with the thumb. Last night I looked at what my right hand was doing and the melody is picked with the thumb probably 90% of the time. The index finger butts in now and again too and any melody required on the first string though can be played with any of the 3 fingers, but mainly the thumb and middle fingers. Fortunately, the right hand becomes a bit automatic after a while at picking what's needed.

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That pretty much sums up how a lot of old-timers would play, check out George Pegram who essentially played with this approach... Ralph Stanley is another one too, his early stuff is very two finger thimb lead influenced...

Bill Rogers - Posted - 09/13/2022:  14:40:22

Was any of Ralph’s early stuff actually two-finger?

Bill Rogers - Posted - 09/13/2022:  14:41:34

Here’s a nice 3-finger example:

youtube.com/watch?v=_xkBBZ480To

David M - Posted - 09/13/2022:  14:55:40

That's great clear picking on that video Bill, I think he's picking with his nails though for that clean note which sounds superb. Better than the click I used to get when I tried metal and plastic picks.

RG - Posted - 09/13/2022:  21:20:40

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill Rogers

Here’s a nice 3-finger example:

youtube.com/watch?v=_xkBBZ480To

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Joseph is such a great player.  Regarding Ralph Stanley, I've been told that some of the Rich-R-Tone stuff was 2 finger, but I've never listened close enough to say yes or no... I should clarify that I believe Ralph played a Wade Mainer style index lead, not thumb lead as I mistakenly stated earlier.

janolov - Posted - 09/13/2022:  22:27:56

Mike Seeger made a DVD with Ralph, and Ralph is demonstrating several styles: two finger index lead, up-picking ("Seeger style"), clawhammer, and three-finger.

Ralph's three-finger style seems to be influenced by index lead. He plays a lot of melody notes with the index finger, even on fourth and third string. Earl Scruggs, on the other hand, was more a thumb lead player. He often chose to play melody notes by thumb, and he probably started with two-finger thumb lead when he started playing banjo.

Edited by - janolov on 09/13/2022 22:28:17