sourdiesel - Posted - 07/16/2025:  05:47:28

Hello all-first time posting here.

Fairly new to banjo and clawhammer, been self teaching for a couple of months. Recently been noodling with Redwing in gDGBD, using the Brainjo tab. I'm struggling with the 2 circled measures in the attached picture, trying to figure out the best finger placement if I want to play it smoothly and quickly. Watched a few videos of Josh at Brainjo playing it but wasn't able to suss it out.

I've been fretting the 3/4 string pair of notes at the start of the first measure on the second fret with my third finger, but should I be fretting both strings at the same time with two fingers?

I assume the answer is just practice it slowly until it's drilled in that I can speed up but wanted to put it to the group in case I'm doing this in an inefficient manner. 

Edited by - sourdiesel on 07/16/2025 05:48:57

 

jack_beuthin - Posted - 07/16/2025:  07:03:52

I would bar across strings 3 & 4 at the 2nd fret with my index finger, then use either my ring or pinky finger to play the note at the 4th fret of the 4th string. The tab shows a Dmaj chord for the entire 2 measure passage, but to me that first measure is an A chord. Hence, barring across the second fret. If I was backing with a guitar, I would certainly play an A chord there.

Dan Gellert - Posted - 07/16/2025:  07:21:28

The first measure of that first ending "should" have an A Major or A7 chord over it. It isn't wrong to accompany both measures with the indicated D chord, but the melody clearly implies the A.

I'd start that measure with my index finger across all 4 strings at the 2nd fret (an A chord). Not only is that less clumsy than either using two fingers, or moving the index finger from the 3rd to 4th string between notes, but if you brush the 2nd and/or 1st string there (intentionally or not), it will harmonize correctly.

sourdiesel - Posted - 07/16/2025:  07:25:19

Thanks much to both of y'all!

LyleK - Posted - 07/16/2025:  07:25:33

I agree with the previous comments. But I watched the video at 0.25 of its normal speed and I think there is more going on than is actually shown in the tab. As someone who writes tabs I'm very familiar with this problem. I've attached a *.pdf where the first measure has a pull-off that I think Josh is doing. I've marked the left hand fingering above where 1=index, 2=middle, 3=ring, and 4=pinky. If you do the pull-off then you can't do the barre chord. In the second measure I've gone back to the original tab where you could do a barre chord with the index or move the index from the third string to the fourth string, something that is more natural feeling if you've done the pull-off. I vacillated on whether to use the ring or pinky for the fourth fret so the first measure has the ring finger and the second measure has the pinky.

Edited by - LyleK on 07/16/2025 07:33:42

Measure 8 Red-wing

 

sourdiesel - Posted - 07/16/2025:  07:46:06

Thanks so much!!!

Eric A - Posted - 07/16/2025:  07:56:28

Every time I see Red Wing, I laugh because I grew up in a union household and the tune was known as Union Maid. Only as a grown up did I find out it was Red Wing. LOL.

jsinjin - Posted - 07/18/2025:  12:30:02

When I see redwing I think of a sturdy pair of boots.