taahdeswer - Posted - 06/03/2007:  06:52:14

i don't know how to play. I Have one thumbpick on me but no fingerpicks. I push down the strings with the fleshy part of my finger. Need help quick! i've tried fingerpicks but it's so hard!!

Madgenius - Posted - 06/03/2007:  07:38:18

I didn't get on with finger or thumb picks either. These days I play clawhammer and it's very satisfying indeed.

"Music is a joy to me, sometimes living in it is the only safe place to be" Brian May

taahdeswer - Posted - 06/03/2007:  07:57:37

Those little fingerpicks annoy me. I have to play down instead of up

Music says more than a thousand pictures

chip arnold - Posted - 06/03/2007:  09:48:04

If you want to play bluegrass and sound like everyone else then you have to wear fingerpicks.

There are lots of ways to play a banjo and they don't all require picks. Clawhammer style is the most popular Old Time way of playing. It's done with downstrokes and no picks. Go to Tony Spadaro's (oldwoodchuckb) Hangout homepage and check out his teaching videos. http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango....asp?id=7417

There are several Old Time fingerpicking styles as well and picks are optional. Go to my homepage to hear some Old Time 2-finger picking without picks http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango....asp?id=6347

For Old Time 3-finger style (with picks but could be played without) listen to a couple of gail's tunes.
http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango...asp?id=16900

Listen to clawhammer and 3-finger played together by two of the best at Don's homepage. http://www.banjohangout.org/myhango....asp?id=8408

You got to figure out what kind of banjo noises you want to make then worry about whether or not to wear picks. But again, If you want to sound like the bluegrass heros, picks are a must............they do become comfortable in time. It ALL takes lots of practice.


Play with a plan
Chip

taahdeswer - Posted - 06/03/2007:  09:50:57

What i want to play is 3-finger, fast. It's not a must for me to sound like the old kings of bluegrass but i want it to sound well. The problem for me is, i pick the strings with flesh and not nails, down upwards, i can't get used to the picks!

Music says more than a thousand pictures

chip arnold - Posted - 06/03/2007:  10:30:36

Ah but you CAN get used to the picks ;-)................it does take time, misery and then a little more time after that! I used them years ago for 2-finger picking and got very comfortable with them and you can too. Just got to tough it out. Others may disagree but I say you just got to use picks for fast, crisp bluegrass. I think you should post your question on the bluegrass style forum in order to get the definitive answer. http://www.banjohangout.org/forum/f...p?FORUM_ID=2

Play with a plan
Chip

brokenstrings - Posted - 06/03/2007:  20:54:54

Why do you want to learn fast? Or do you mean you want to PLAY fast?

Jessy

Frailaway, ladies, frailaway!