singing Scruggs style

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Chicks Who Pick or Frail

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63 Members, Created 3/7/2011 -

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From DobroDiva on 9/21/2011 8:02:47 AM

I'm having trouble finding a method of singing while I play Scruggs style. Due to arthritis I have difficulty with chords, so I use 2-finger versions along with rolls.

I sing fine using above method on the dobro, but that missing string makes it hard to get the sound nice with the voice.

any ideas re books or recordings? tabs? seems all the singers are frailers...

9 Comments
	JanetB says: 9/22/2011 3:11:19 PM I do lots of mixed rolls or play one string with my thumb, pinch two others (from my guitar days). Using partial chords is a great idea. I think it's practice, practice, practice until it's easier.
	JanetB says: 9/22/2011 3:13:54 PM If you want to hear a sample of my simple accompaniment to singing, go to my Homepage music files and listen to Good Night Hurricane Irene. Not exactly bluegrass, but it's singing and 3-finger picking.
	Janna says: 10/1/2011 7:45:24 AM I was listening to your song, JanetB, very nice playing and singing! But someone tell me please, what means the word "frailing" and who is "frailer"? what it means?
	JanetB says: 10/1/2011 8:31:57 AM Frailing means clawhammer, the older style of playing banjo where your fingernail strokes the string downward and your thumb (on its left side) strokes the string as it goes up. Maybe you already know what clawhammer is. If you don't, it's a fun way to play and Paul Roberts does it well on his latest video post of Johnson Boys (without singing). A simple "bum-ditty" clawhammer (frailing) stroke is great for accompanying your singing.
	Janna says: 10/1/2011 9:13:38 AM Thank you, JanetB! I never new about it! Sometimes I also have troubles with singing and play rolls with 5 string banjo, and I saw how people sing and play clawhammer - it's very nice sounds as the accompaniment to voice! But I wonder, how girls and women plays clawhammer banjo using their fingernails, I think that frailing can damage your manicure? Or not? :)
	Janna says: 10/1/2011 9:15:09 AM not "new" but "knew")) Sorry for mistakes))) I'm Russian))
	JanetB says: 10/1/2011 12:28:10 PM No problem with mistakes--I'm human:? (I think that's a new sideways face; just learning these modern text tricks.) I used to play clawhammer almost all of the time. My middle finger nail would break and it never was strong enough. I use a pink now on that finger--either an "Alaska" finger pick or a "Freedom" finger pick. There's free video on-line to teach clawhammer.
	DobroDiva says: 10/4/2011 1:36:45 PM Janet B, thank you so much for your help here and for everything you do! I met you at Banjo Camp North last May. What a wonderful event. I bought the Kel Kroyden Wood E
	barbbanjo says: 10/16/2012 7:26:01 PM I do a lot of singing and playing in our family band and I do the same thing Janet B. does. Thumb and picking is really easy to keep going while you sing. Sometimes I jump down and vamp the chorus or do a forward roll. A lot of people have trouble doing a roll and singing at the same time. If it doesn't work for you keep trying things till you find what works for you.
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