cashwo_wv Says:
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 @11:25:38 AM

This is wonderful stuff Chip...THANKS!!!

RatLer Says:
Tuesday, December 9, 2008 @4:45:02 AM

Thanks for the explanation, Chip. I guess I do a form of two finger when I'm trying to learn a new tune or in a "Jam" when I don't really know the the tune they're playing, then I'll switch over to CH. My Grandma showed me her two-finger style, years and years after she had quit playing, of Cripple Creek and Pretty Polly.

KL7IGB Says:
Sunday, March 29, 2009 @3:07:40 PM

Thanks for the explanation and all the great tunes. I think your two finger stye is approximately what I've been doing for a long time but never knew what to call it.  One question: Is your index finger lead an up-pick or does it always pick down?

chip arnold Says:
Sunday, March 29, 2009 @3:26:43 PM

Hi, My index is picking up. I rest my trailing fingers on the banjo head and pick up with my finger. I do brush down sometimes for a different effect but the basis of the style is picking up.

KL7IGB Says:
Sunday, March 29, 2009 @3:54:34 PM

Thanks.  It sounds like the same approach I use; a variation of what I learned from a Pete Seeger instructional LP (back before there were DVDs or CDs or even cassettes, sigh), except it sounds better when you do it. Keep up the good picking. This sure is a nice site. I'll try posting something when my newbie-ism wears off a little.         

French Says:
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 @7:28:24 AM

beautiful stuff, chip!

David M. Says:
Monday, November 9, 2009 @12:36:54 PM

Great info, Chip. I appreciate it.

chucksull Says:
Sunday, February 21, 2010 @7:48:04 AM

Thanks very much for providing this. I loved the 2-finger style section in Art Rosenbaum's Old Time Mountain Banjo book, and this clip has really added to that.

Jugband Says:
Sunday, June 26, 2011 @6:57:20 AM

Thanks so much Chip. There's plenty of dvd and youtube instruction out there for aspiring clawhammer players but not as much for 2 finger. This is really helpful for a newbie like myself. Got a follow-up question from what KL7IGB was asking ... In your up picking, is your nail picking or the pad of your finger? It sounds just like the back of the nail in clawhammer.

chip arnold Says:
Monday, June 27, 2011 @7:18:36 AM

hi dan, i've been using my nails for years but they have become unmanagable so i'm beginning to wear picks niow.

Jugband Says:
Monday, June 27, 2011 @10:33:04 AM

Thanks Chip. With all the good stuff you and others have on this site I feel as though I've got an old time banjo teacher right here w/o leavin' the kitchen table:)

Deering Says:
Tuesday, July 23, 2013 @5:52:19 AM

Thanks for this Chip. I am working on it and I wonder if I can use a plastic thumb pick and a pick on my index, is that what you do? Would be better for volume and clarity, and since I am just starting (I play mando and some 3-finger already) I want to start out right. Lyle Nichols, met you in Dahlonega a while back with Lo

chip arnold Says:
Tuesday, July 23, 2013 @6:14:13 AM

Hi! Sure you can use picks. My old nails have been deteriorating and I often have to use picks these days. I do like to brush down away from the palm with my index and that's hard with a regular finger pick so I usually wear a brass Alaska pick which works well in both directions. Lots of OT finger pickers wear picks.

Arrowhead Says:
Thursday, February 27, 2014 @5:11:35 AM

Thanks good info! God Bless Yall.

RWJonesy Says:
Tuesday, January 6, 2015 @10:17:51 PM

Thanks Chip for the fine instruction. I'm off to practice some two finger pickin'

tucsonsean Says:
Saturday, September 12, 2015 @9:25:03 PM

Great stuff, Chip. Thank you. I was wondering about the left hand: do you form chords with your left hand and play within those like old-time flat-picking guitarists often do, or do you just grab whatever notes you need when you need them. Also, when I'm just learning this style, does down picking CH tab work for learning tunes in 2-finger index lead.

Jim Yates Says:
Monday, February 15, 2016 @9:06:45 PM

If I understand correctly, the main difference between this and up-picking is that you use the index for both up-picking the first note and the brush, while up-picking (Seeger's basic stroke) uses the middle finger to brush down.
Am I inferring correctly?

chip arnold Says:
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 @5:19:19 AM

Hi Jim, I plant my trailing fingers on the head, do very little brushing down, use an awful lot of prop thumb and cross my finger up over my thumb quite a bit. If you have a look here at the lesson section, the videos will give you a better idea ...

mountainbanjos.wordpress.com/

Jim Yates Says:
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 @7:31:39 AM

Thanks a lot Chip. That's a great site you've got there. I've not done any of the index lead, but you've got me interested.