gcpicken - Posted - 05/30/2023:  17:03:56

I have always had trouble getting both ring and pinky planted. I have noticed, however, that as I have improved, the ring it getting closer to being planted.



I have seen Aaron McDaris play live and on videos, but this time I was paying more attention to right hand position, and lo and behold, I noticed his ring is planted on a blackspot on his banjo head. Then I looked at another couple of videos of him and saw the same thing. I suspect, but do not know, that this spot has a tactile sensation, as a piece of velcro or sticky sandpaper or XXX? might do. I'll post the pics, and maybe someone can fill in the "XXX?" with thoughts.



Also, I do understand, and have seen many times, the comments that "Old Bob Jones never planted a damn finger and he played Carnegie Hall." This post is not about whether you should, this is just about that Aaron McDaris does, and apparently, as great as he is, he still needs a little help keeping the ring planted, which no one may find interesting but me. But there is a little piece of velcro on my banjo head as of yesterday and I noticed already that doing so stops my picking fingers from rotating away from the strings.

Edited by - gcpicken on 05/30/2023 17:10:26

McDaris 3

McDaris 2

McDaris 1

 

RioStat - Posted - 05/30/2023:  18:17:10

That is most likely a spot where the frosting has worn off the head because he keeps his finger planted there most of the time.

Pretty common phenomenom on heavily used bluegrass banjos.

Tractor1 - Posted - 05/30/2023:  18:27:39

what scott says

Will Frady - Posted - 05/30/2023:  18:57:24

Pretty sure the spot is wear, where he plants / anchors is fingers. I can’t keep my ring finger down. If you look up Dave Hum, he planted the palm of his hand above the bridge. Ron Mccoury doesn’t plant pinky most of the time. I saw a kid the other day plant his pinky on top of the bridge. What ever it takes I guess?

KCJones - Posted - 05/30/2023:  19:40:41

My banjo head finally started to develop the classic wear streak through the frosting this spring. I'll admit it excited me probably more than it should have when I noticed. Finally feel like a real banjo player.

gcpicken - Posted - 05/30/2023:  20:14:11

quote:

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Originally posted by RioStat

That is most likely a spot where the frosting has worn off the head because he keeps his finger planted there most of the time.

Pretty common phenomenom on heavily used bluegrass banjos.

---

So why not two spots? And I have seen other videos of him where there is no spot but the typical long line of wear from moving up to the neck for tone, but it does not extend down to the 'planting' area. Not disputing, just asking.

Edited by - gcpicken on 05/30/2023 20:15:23

Old Hickory - Posted - 05/30/2023:  21:24:26

quote:

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Originally posted by gcpicken

So why not two spots? And I have seen other videos of him where there is no spot but the typical long line of wear from moving up to the neck for tone, but it does not extend down to the 'planting' area. Not disputing, just asking.

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Maybe he plays more in this position and the head hasn't started to wear in the other locations yet.

And maybe he's like me and doesn't like the look of worn heads, so he changes heads when the planting spot gets to a certain size or when wear parallel to the strings starts showing up.

In my most active playing years in the 80s, I may have changed heads every two years because I didn't like performing with big wear streaks. I'd play with them for a while, but I eventually changed heads. I used to save only one or two at a time. I've thrown out several heads that had useful life remaining. They were all 5-Stars.

Culloden - Posted - 05/30/2023:  21:25:58

I have never been able to plant my ring finger when I play. I just plant the pinky and it works just fine. I figure that if Alison Brown and Sammy Shelor can play that way then it's Okay for me.

 

Edited by - Culloden on 05/30/2023 21:33:21

woodchips - Posted - 05/31/2023:  03:26:23

I have an unfrosted smooth top white 5 star head which is made from a white plastic. It doesn’t get that spot because the color is all the way through the material. I like look and this type of head makes it very bright. This is on a 1928 Tb2 conversion with an early 2000’s Gibson mystery ring and it really makes it pop. I do miss the look of a well played head because it shows people that this is what you do but I can just pick it up and play to get the same results.

Old Hickory - Posted - 05/31/2023:  07:48:41

I tried one of those way back in the '70s. My banjo needed brightening, but that was too bright. Don't remember how long I kept it on.

RioStat - Posted - 05/31/2023:  09:04:15

quote:

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Originally posted by gcpicken

quote:

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Originally posted by RioStat

That is most likely a spot where the frosting has worn off the head because he keeps his finger planted there most of the time.

Pretty common phenomenom on heavily used bluegrass banjos.

---

So why not two spots? And I have seen other videos of him where there is no spot but the typical long line of wear from moving up to the neck for tone, but it does not extend down to the 'planting' area. Not disputing, just asking.

---

Why not two spots? Probably because he doesn't plant his pinky, or doesn't plant it enough to wear the frosting off.

If you look at the close-up photo of Aaron's fingers (the photos you posted) you can see that his pinky is pushed up against his ring finger, and is not touching the head.....you can also see a little "shadow" under the tip of his pinky, which would suggest that it's not touching the head.

Edited by - RioStat on 05/31/2023 09:04:56

gcpicken - Posted - 05/31/2023:  09:11:23

quote:

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Originally posted by RioStat

quote:

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Originally posted by gcpicken

quote:

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Originally posted by RioStat

That is most likely a spot where the frosting has worn off the head because he keeps his finger planted there most of the time.

Pretty common phenomenom on heavily used bluegrass banjos.

---

So why not two spots? And I have seen other videos of him where there is no spot but the typical long line of wear from moving up to the neck for tone, but it does not extend down to the 'planting' area. Not disputing, just asking.

---

Why not two spots? Probably because he doesn't plant his pinky, or doesn't plant it enough to wear the frosting off.

If you look at the close-up photo of Aaron's fingers (the photos you posted) you can see that his pinky is pushed up against his ring finger, and is not touching the head.....you can also see a little "shadow" under the tip of his pinky, which would suggest that it's not touching the head.

 

 

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Thank you for that. Good observation. But I wonder if that is wear from his ring finger plant, why there are not the typical long wear lines from playing up by the fretboard.

Stu D Baker-Hawk - Posted - 05/31/2023:  09:36:15

If planting just the pinky finger was good enough for the likes of Doug Dillard and John Hartford, then by golly it's good enough for me!  Besides, I've always been physically unable to plant both ring & pinky fingers due to the unique structure of my right hand; and I suspect the same to be true for many others who plant just their pinky finger.

Edited by - Stu D Baker-Hawk on 05/31/2023 09:37:34

Doug Dillard

John Hartford

John Hartford (2)

 

RioStat - Posted - 05/31/2023:  10:02:57

quote:

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Originally posted by gcpicken

quote:

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Originally posted by RioStat

quote:

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Originally posted by gcpicken

quote:

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Originally posted by RioStat

That is most likely a spot where the frosting has worn off the head because he keeps his finger planted there most of the time.

Pretty common phenomenom on heavily used bluegrass banjos.

---

So why not two spots? And I have seen other videos of him where there is no spot but the typical long line of wear from moving up to the neck for tone, but it does not extend down to the 'planting' area. Not disputing, just asking.

---

Why not two spots? Probably because he doesn't plant his pinky, or doesn't plant it enough to wear the frosting off.

If you look at the close-up photo of Aaron's fingers (the photos you posted) you can see that his pinky is pushed up against his ring finger, and is not touching the head.....you can also see a little "shadow" under the tip of his pinky, which would suggest that it's not touching the head.

 

 

---

Thank you for that. Good observation. But I wonder if that is wear from his ring finger plant, why there are not the typical long wear lines from playing up by the fretboard.

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There are.......this photo appears to be the same banjo (though not necessarily the same head !)   

 

gcpicken - Posted - 05/31/2023:  12:55:45

quote:

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Originally posted by Kahuna Grande

If planting just the pinky finger was good enough for the likes of Doug Dillard and John Hartford, then by golly it's good enough for me!  Besides, I've always been physically unable to plant both ring & pinky fingers due to the unique structure of my right hand; and I suspect the same to be true for many others who plant just their pinky finger.

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Original post: "Also, I do understand, and have seen many times, the comments that "Old Bob Jones never planted a damn finger and he played Carnegie Hall." This post is not about whether you should, this is just about that Aaron McDaris does,"

gcpicken - Posted - 05/31/2023:  12:57:08

quote:

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There are.......this photo appears to be the same banjo (though not necessarily the same head !)   

 

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I'm going to try to get a close look, or even talk to him the next time I catch the Rage at a festival.

Old Hickory - Posted - 05/31/2023:  15:27:02

quote:

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Originally posted by gcpicken

Thank you for that. Good observation. But I wonder if that is wear from his ring finger plant, why there are not the typical long wear lines from playing up by the fretboard.

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Because his technique is such that he doesn't make those wear lines?

Because he hasn't been using this head long enough to create those wear lines?

Because he cleaned them up?

Link to this video of JD Crowe playing at home was shared earlier today. Exact same anchoring wear spot. And some kind of discoloration from right hand movement adjacent to the strings. Note that he doesn't appear to "anchor" when picking close to the neck. His pinky seems to touch the head just enough for stability.

gcpicken - Posted - 05/31/2023:  18:54:44

I did enjoy that video. I know someone who knew him personally for years, and I sent the person a pic I snapped from the video, so I suspect that I will get the answer you expect, you and everyone else will be right, and I can get this all out of my head. I’ll probably have a response tomorrow, and will share it here.

phb - Posted - 06/01/2023:  02:01:23

quote:

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Originally posted by RioStat

There are.......this photo appears to be the same banjo (though not necessarily the same head !)   

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I'm relieved to see that there also are some thumb pick scratch marks. I tend to be happy about the finger planting marks (my main banjo took a long time to develop those because I only play it when I want to be heard, not during practice for which I have a silent banjo) but ashamed of the thumb pick scratch marks. Perhaps someone could make a business out of "reading" banjo heads and giving practice advice...

gcpicken - Posted - 06/01/2023:  04:13:51

quote:

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Originally posted by Old Hickory

quote:

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Originally posted by gcpicken

Thank you for that. Good observation. But I wonder if that is wear from his ring finger plant, why there are not the typical long wear lines from playing up by the fretboard.

---

Because his technique is such that he doesn't make those wear lines?

Because he hasn't been using this head long enough to create those wear lines?

Because he cleaned them up?

Link to this video of JD Crowe playing at home was shared earlier today. Exact same anchoring wear spot. And some kind of discoloration from right hand movement adjacent to the strings. Note that he doesn't appear to "anchor" when picking close to the neck. His pinky seems to touch the head just enough for stability.

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I got my answer this morning. I was sent an extreme close-up of JD's right hand in his primary banjo (I wasn't given authority to release it)  showing the wear mark, and also told that the banjo in the video was not his main banjo.

I have found that, for me, I am getting cleaner hits on the "i" in a lick with "mit", if I focus on planting the ring. Thank you all!

81goldstar - Posted - 06/01/2023:  16:05:48

quote:

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Originally posted by gcpicken

quote:

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Originally posted by RioStat

quote:

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Originally posted by gcpicken

quote:

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Originally posted by RioStat

That is most likely a spot where the frosting has worn off the head because he keeps his finger planted there most of the time.

Pretty common phenomenom on heavily used bluegrass banjos.

---

So why not two spots? And I have seen other videos of him where there is no spot but the typical long line of wear from moving up to the neck for tone, but it does not extend down to the 'planting' area. Not disputing, just asking.

---

Why not two spots? Probably because he doesn't plant his pinky, or doesn't plant it enough to wear the frosting off.

If you look at the close-up photo of Aaron's fingers (the photos you posted) you can see that his pinky is pushed up against his ring finger, and is not touching the head.....you can also see a little "shadow" under the tip of his pinky, which would suggest that it's not touching the head.

 

 

---

Thank you for that. Good observation. But I wonder if that is wear from his ring finger plant, why there are not the typical long wear lines from playing up by the fretboard.

---

This one's easy but you can still talk to Aaron. His main axe right now and probably forever is Sonny's Rocky Top. It has heavy frost wear "lines" from bridge to neck. The pic you posted shows that he simply has a newer head or a newer banjo and has not worn the lines in yet. Also that he puts less pressure on the head with pinky as compared to ring. My banjo heads always wear this spot first before creating heavy lines up to the neck. Trust me Aaron plays close to the neck a whole bunch which is why your pic tells me what it does. Hope this helps but to most of us long time pickers it's pretty clear what the story is.