Hi there - I'm setting up this group as there is not much content out there for those interested in playing old-time tunes in a 3-fingerpicking style. This group might appeal to clawhammer players wishing to explore fingerpicking or fingerpicking players wishing to play OT tunes in non-melodic style and in the original tunings. I'm hoping we can swap ideas and encourage some banjo exploration across the divide!
6 Comments |
 | gailg64 says:
4/20/2011 10:51:17 PM
Not sure if I am technically a 3 finger player (more like 2 with the 3rd "along for the ride" on the first string), but would love to learn some more about the rolls used by some of the old guys--Mack Woolbright, Dave Macon, Pegram, etc.
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| gailg64 says:
4/22/2011 10:21:40 AM
Thanks for the reminder. Wayne's book was very helpful to me. I came at it from the perspective of someone who'd started back in the 60s with a thumb-lead 2 finger but had abandoned the banjo for many years (first playing clawhammer & then switching to other instruments. Around 15 years ago or so, I found myself wanting another edgier sound, one with a more "country/southern" flavor than the modern clawhammer that was evolving. My old 2 finger style only worked for slow songs--I was unable to get it up to dance speed & realized I needed to either add some techniques that were awkward for me (for ex: double pulls or double downstrokes with the thumb)OR add another finger to get the sound I wanted. I also didn't want to play "true bluegrass" (continuous across-the-bar rolls) but wanted a more old-time sound. Erbsen's book is a good start for people in that boat. It is clearly written and has quite readable tablature, and a fine introduction, not only for those like me who do NOT already play bluegrass banjo but also for bluegrass banjo players who might want to play in a more elemental old-time style. When you hear actual bluegrass banjo players play with old-time musicians there's often a mis-match of volume, tone, and above all, details or ornament that clash with the old-time sound. Wayne's book, though brief and very introductory in nature, is a good overview of the techniques of 3-finger banjo, as they were before Earl Scruggs came along.
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| gailg64 says:
4/26/2011 6:53:20 PM
Right. That's exactly what makes it so interesting. There's no "orthodoxy" to stifle us and we can live happily outside the rules. It's amazing how many ways there are to play with the same musical phrases & how distinctive each person's picking style can come to be. Old-time 2 & 3 finger up-picking is almost an "outlaw" style. Even in the banjo heartlands of NC & VA judges can't always tell the difference between old-time picking and bluegrass, esp. when we have resonator banjos. But as one of my music friends who is blind likes to say, it's their loss because they "hear with their eyes!"
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 | hobogal says:
4/28/2011 10:05:52 AM
Hi there - yes, I thought it would be good to get a group going as I've found it almost impossible to find any information myself on non-bluegrass fingerpicking. I play 3finger which is why I set up the group so I could find out more about this elusive subject! I have been having lessons in bluegrass picking for a few years now, consequently I have built up a repetoire of standard licks which gives bluegrass banjo it's distinctive sound. To my ears, OT picking has a more stripped down sound (but doesn't necessarily lack drive e.g. Raymond Sweeney's John Henry. Not sure if he's playing 2 or 3 finger). I find some modern bluegrass abit 'slick' and veers more into jazz impro territory - the natural progression for me as a bluegrass player is to learn ever more complicated single-string/melodic style of playing but I'm really not drawn to this - I want to simplify! In terms of material, Nick Hornbuckle has a book called Old Time Fiddle Tunes for Banjo (3 finger arrangements in the original tunings) - he has written another book in 2finger. There's a couple of attempts of tunes from that book in my music archive. Terry McGill's 'Alternative Tunings for 5string banjo played bluegrass style' has Shady Grove and Cumberland Gap in Gmodal (both have a real OT sound).
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| hobogal says:
4/28/2011 10:14:04 AM
joemac posted a great version of Sugar Hill on the hangout - that's how I'd like to play!
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| hobogal says:
5/7/2011 4:18:59 AM
Tried to link this to our group but just ended up in the archive!youtube.com/watch?v=t3aIsJhEq8w
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