A question for all you thumb lead 2 fingers

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Two Finger Pickers

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For the eclectic banjo player who counts 2-finger styles among their tools of the trade.

515 Members, Created 1/31/2011 -

Administrators: stigandr5 (owner) , Marc Nerenberg , revellfa

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From banjofish on 12/13/2012 4:51:34 AM

Loved all the videos of you guys playing..Are you using picks or just your finger tips or fingernails?? I use picks on a deering maplebloosm but I think they are too loud..I thought I might try a plastic pick on not only my thumb but also my finger.

5 Comments
	Pluckin Mutha says: 12/13/2012 7:05:04 AM I sometimes use picks, but mostly I prefer the sound I get with bare thumb and middle finger. The nails don't come into play. I use Nylgut Classic strings and a calf head.
	Banjoduffer says: 12/15/2012 4:35:29 PM It is a matter of the ear and taste in the sound for me. I truly appreciate the more mellow sound of the finger and thumb and those who use that method of playing. I found the flesh of my finger and thumb somewhat sensitive to playing over time so, I use a thumb pick shortened down and I shape a plastic finger pick to the contours of my index finger for two finger playing. I get an appreciable amount of volume from my Wildwood Heirloom open back with a Kevlar head and metal medium gage strings. I like the brighter sound and volume when playing with a group.
	Paul R says: 12/19/2012 6:42:20 PM While I've messed with picks, I use bare fingers. Either way I have a problem: I sometimes begin a tune/song playing 2f-tl, but switch to clawhammer part way through. The difference in volume is huge! If I tried to "even it out" by using picks, I'd have to find a way to ditch them quickly when I make the switch, and that's not going to happen.
	gailg64 says: 1/10/2013 1:55:04 PM I use picks on thumb & fingers except when playing by myself. I need them to be heard with a band. Another consideration is if you like to enter contests, the price you'll pay if you choose to wear picks is disqualification. Things are changing a bit, but still most contest judges can't tell the difference between old-time & bluegrass picking. Switching styles: Clawhammer is usually going to be louder than bare fingered picking unless you have unusually strong fingernails, fingers & a powerhouse banjo (Oscar Jenkins was a case in point). When your typical player switches styles mid-tune there's going to be a noticeable increase volume when transitioning from picking to clawhammer (the usual sequence). Better to do it that way than to switch from c-hammer to picking and have the sound just disappear.
bart_brush says: 1/29/2013 10:15:40 AM Interesting--my thumb lead-two finger is louder than my clawhammer (both without picks). Two finger is my main style, and I used picks for many years before switching to finger tips for a more mellow sound.
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