In skateboarding lingo it might be referred to as railsliding or grinding a rail, depending on the orientation of the board. (Note I’m not one of those darn skate boarder hoodlums, it was just the closest comparison I could think of :-)
Basically when you use a fretting finger to slide down the top of a string, not producing a slide (glissando) sound but as a silent guide to a new fretting position.
Railing? Trailing? Pathing? Guiding?
Sound or no sound it's still "Sliding"
Maybe you should consider publishing an article that contains banjo terms and slang.
Edited by - Pick-A-Lick on 12/07/2024 10:24:49
I would call it either "guiding" or "sliding." I'm not aware of any specific musical term for the act of one finger leading the rest of the fretting hand into position.
I remember this from my classical guitar studies
“ A guide finger is a finger on a classical guitar that stays in contact with the string while shifting to a different fret. Guide fingers can help with accuracy and security, and can even allow the player to avoid looking at their left hand. ”
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Originally posted by Pick-A-LickSound or no sound it's still "Sliding"
Maybe you should consider publishing an article that contains banjo terms and slang.
I'm kind of fond of the term "railing". Good idea RE: article. Will a YouTube video work?
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Originally posted by chuckv97I remember this from my classical guitar studies
“ A guide finger is a finger on a classical guitar that stays in contact with the string while shifting to a different fret. Guide fingers can help with accuracy and security, and can even allow the player to avoid looking at their left hand. ”
Yes guide finger pretty much sums it up nicely
I do it all the time. Or maybe it’s a variation, I slide one finger up or down to the desired fret then I group my other fingers around it to form the cord.
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Originally posted by Laurence DiehlI do it all the time. Or maybe it’s a variation, I slide one finger up or down to the desired fret then I group my other fingers around it to form the cord.
Is that the real Diehl? Sorry I couldn't help myself!
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Originally posted by The Eclectic Banjoquote:
Originally posted by Laurence DiehlI do it all the time. Or maybe it’s a variation, I slide one finger up or down to the desired fret then I group my other fingers around it to form the cord.
Is that the real Diehl? Sorry I couldn't help myself!
That's a pun. - right? I've actually heard that one. (Yeah, and that is sarcasm which is quite difficult to get across in print). 
I just called moving my hand. I guess moving my hand while maintaining contact. So, "ContactRelocating"?
I was taught to call it "riding" the string, a useful way to distinguish it from sliding with pressure.
Now let's all grab our banjos and SING!
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Glide Finger!
That's the one, the one with the magic touch.
Won't get lost, much!
Golden note that you do want to play....
That's the finger that shows you the way!
And if you don't find a way to find and pluck it,
You might just as well say
"Doggone it!"
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Originally posted by Pick-A-LickSound or no sound it's still "Sliding"
Maybe you should consider publishing an article that contains banjo terms and slang.
You could title it "The Darn Banjo Hoodlum's Guide to Jargon"
Actually, I'd like to rename this whole website as "The Darn Banjo Hoodlum's Hangout"!
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Originally posted by CeeBeeBanjoI was taught to call it "riding" the string, a useful way to distinguish it from sliding with pressure.
I really like that monicker, it rhymes with slide but does not confuse it with the slur of a note slide. "Riding the third string down from the 17th to 10th fret."
sometimes i plant one as a pivot--
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Originally posted by randybartlettI just called moving my hand. I guess moving my hand while maintaining contact. So, "ContactRelocating"?
Too wordy, won't catch on
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Originally posted by Tractor1sometimes i plant one as a pivot--
OT but yeah, useful to change fret positions such as going from a shape to a bar chord
