Wiffery - Posted - 01/30/2025:  19:32:59

I've been playing for a while with a book from Hal Leonard, and below each measure of tabs they have letters for with fingers you should use. For single notes they have letters I know the meaning of like T, I, and M, but for 3 or more notes they put the letter B. What would B represent in this case?

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 01/30/2025:  19:45:57

Brush

GS - Posted - 01/31/2025:  04:52:55

You're telling me it's brush?!?! I thought it was bash! That'll sure make those tunes sound a lot nicer. Thank you kindly.

reubenstump - Posted - 01/31/2025:  05:52:41

quote:

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Originally posted by mmuussiiccaall

Brush

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Just take an old toothbrush or mascara brush and tape it to a finger or slide it under a finger pick.  Experiment with brush type and stiffness.  You can buy better brushes from Dunlop, Shelor and others once you decide what you prefer. 

KCJones - Posted - 01/31/2025:  05:53:22

Those books usually have a key right at the beginning. A better source than anyone here.

Interestingly, I haven't heard the term 'brush' used a lot with 3-finger T-I-M tabs, and generally you only see it with clawhammer. Usually if you're going to do that move with 3-finger technique, it's done with the thumb, and it's called a 'rake'.

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 01/31/2025:  06:53:20

quote:

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Originally posted by reubenstump

quote:

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Originally posted by mmuussiiccaall

Brush

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Just take an old toothbrush or mascara brush and tape it to a finger or slide it under a finger pick.  Experiment with brush type and stiffness.  You can buy better brushes from Dunlop, Shelor and others once you decide what you prefer. 

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I prefer prewar brushes, which I can sometimes find in antique malls. Somewhat surprisingly, the celluloid ones sound better (to my ear, anyway) than the genuine tortoise-shell brushes. Go figure....

reubenstump - Posted - 01/31/2025:  07:00:16

quote:

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Originally posted by KCJones

Usually if you're going to do that move with 3-finger technique, it's done with the thumb, and it's called a 'rake'.

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I've read that back in the old days some players did indeed attach rakes to their fingers, but they were too bulky and heavy, and very heavy strings were required.  Lots of stories about tendinitis as a result, and more than a few ripped banjo heads as well.

There's a reason the Fuller Brush Man lasted as long as he did, and the Dunlop Rake Man went back to mining.

Edited by - reubenstump on 01/31/2025 07:01:59

KCJones - Posted - 01/31/2025:  07:03:36

Perhaps B stands for Bunyan.

A little known technique that requires lots of flexibility.

jdeluke137 - Posted - 01/31/2025:  07:51:26

This thread is the reason I like reading random posts on the BHO. You never know when the humor will kick in and just keep on going!

Wiffery - Posted - 01/31/2025:  19:41:55

quote:

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Originally posted by KCJones

Those books usually have a key right at the beginning. A better source than anyone here.



Interestingly, I haven't heard the term 'brush' used a lot with 3-finger T-I-M tabs, and generally you only see it with clawhammer. Usually if you're going to do that move with 3-finger technique, it's done with the thumb, and it's called a 'rake'.

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It makes sense that it would be brush. I've been playing the four-string combinations as a pluck with thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, but the three-string combinations with my index, middle, and ring fingers.