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 Other Banjo-Related Topics: Clawhammer/Old-Time
 ARCHIVED TOPIC: Doc Watson—Mole in the Ground


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/392839

Bill Rogers - Posted - 09/14/2023:  22:03:21

Watch his right hand.  Comments?



youtube.com/watch?v=SSy3Tq49KJI

heavy5 - Posted - 09/15/2023:  05:12:09

Thks Bill -- loved it , as did the audience !

janolov - Posted - 09/15/2023:  05:24:32

Clawhammer or up-picking, that's the question.

banjered - Posted - 09/15/2023:  05:59:10

Even when you set the speed at the slowest setting it's tough to say. Looks like he is brushing up and down with his index finger, more as a rhythm technique rather than melody. Let's see what sharper eyes and brains say on this one. banjered

Tim Jumper - Posted - 09/15/2023:  07:40:13

I always thought Doc played mostly index-lead two-finger.
This looks like basic up-picking -- done real well.

dbrooks - Posted - 09/15/2023:  12:00:02

John Walkenbach posted this video 13 years ago on YouTube about Doc's alleged avoidance of drop thumb. It looks like downstroke in this instance.



Doc Watson on Drop-Thumb Banjo - YouTube



David

Bill Rogers - Posted - 09/15/2023:  12:39:49

If you look carefully at the very start, before the tune begins, he seems to be wearing picks which points back to Tim Jumper’s comment about index-lead two finger. That’s the style Doc played when he came on the scene—and he used picks. His playing was index up, index up, thumb down (on fifth), though he would imitate Scruggs style on occasion. Dig up “Froggy Went a-Courtin’” to hear snatches of that. HIs sound was that of really clean clawhammer, and it’s what you hear on the Folkways and Vanguard records.

hbick2 - Posted - 09/16/2023:  07:56:12

In the "Doc Watson on Drop Thumb Banjo" it looks like he is doing all down picking with his index finger. It's harder to tell on the first video. Virgil Anderson used a combination of up and down picking with his index finger. He would literally swing his finger up and down. That's what gave him his unusual rhythmic style.

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