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First of all, I've moved your post to Building, set up and repair where there are luthiers who maybe able to help you.
Next: it's normal to have problem making chords when you first start learnng to play. Your hand position may be part of the problem. Most beginners tend to strangle the neck and have the palm of their hand on the neck of the banjo. That makes it very difficult to make clear, clean chords/notes. Try arching your hand over the fretboard with only your thumb touching the back of the neck and see if that doesn't give you enough clearance to make those chords.
Other's fingers are to narrow, some too long, many too short. If you really want to play, you'll manage. Although there are banjos with different neck widths, be sure this is really the problem and not just a learning technique issue. If learning to play the banjo was easy, everyone would be able to play one.
Bobby
The standard bluegrass/old time school of left hand position is what I call "baseball bat grip". This is with a straight wrist, gripping with the thumb over the top. There is a lot of disadvantages to this despite it being prevalent.
While you won't look like you are ready for a parking lot, a little thought in your left hand position will provide you better results.
Place your thumb directly in the center or just above the center of the back of the neck. Your palm should not touch the neck. Your fingertips should curl so that the very tips come in straight contact with the string.
Once a finger is placed on a note, it must not be lifted until it is required to play another note with it. When descending, lift each finger in turn as the music indicates. When removing the last finger from the string, (to sound an open string) do not allow the finger to pop up high, but just clear the string. In this way, it is ready to use again quickly.
Place each finger firmly down and just behind the indicated fret.
Keep your fingernails well trimmed.
I recommend reading some info on how "classical" Spanish guitarists place their left hand. The info is good and fully transferable to the banjo.
Everything that has been mentioned is great advice, but something that nobody mentions is that the more you practice your fingers will change due to calluses forming on your finger. Your fingers being soft and I don't mean that in a derogatory way will flatten as you fret a chord, but once calluses form, your fingertips will not spread as much when you fret a chord.
There are plenty of enormous mandolin players who manage just fine. Pete Townshend asked Rickenbacker to make a 12 with a wider neck. (They obliged.) But plenty of classic rockers figured out how to manage with the original design.
In the long run, it's a matter of taste -- or maybe just what you've gotten used to. There's thin that I just don't like. And, for a long stretch, I had an offer of any of some fabulous banjos, but the necks were just too wide to my taste.
I had this problem at first. I have wide and flat(some call them sausage) fingers. You are probably fretting too hard, and flattening the ends of your fingers even worse. It took me a year to loosed up a bit. Also, as others have noted, stop palming the neck. Thumb on the back of the neck from mid point to the bottom.
I would suggest actually playing a banjo with a wider neck/string spacing and just see if that is what you really want. The wider neck will make it easier to only press the string you're going after but, just like all good things there are some trade offs. your left-hand fingers have to reach more to make the chord shapes; your right hand fingers have to travel further to do the picking. These differences , however small, may decrease your speed later. Another thing to be considered was alluded to before : The real reason you're having problems is the same as anyone starting out - skill. It may actually be better for you to develop accuracy with a spacing that feels too narrow to you now. after you have refined your skill at accurate finger placement would be the time to really play some different setups . When I built my first resonator banjo a year ago or so, I opted for a wide spacing. When I build my next one I will be going to a very narrow spacing ( which I've never had ). It's fun to play around with this stuff but what's really going to improve your playing is practice. More pointedly, paying attention to the things that are giving you trouble - Is it accuracy placing your fingers ? is it a certain roll pattern ? Study the masters and then study yourself. Good Luck !
quote:
Originally posted by Joel Hooks
Place your thumb directly in the center or just above the center of the back of the neck. Your palm should not touch the neck. Your fingertips should curl so that the very tips come in straight contact with the string.
Joel Hooks offered some very good advice for the left hand. I'll add that the fingertips should be perpendicular to the fingerboard, and that the angle of approach should be informed by the natural curve of the fingers.
For players with larger fingers' ends, contact with the strings is best when limited to the outside edge of the fingertips. If you hold the back of your left hand flat eighteen inches from your mug with fingers pointing toward the moon, the index finger and thumb should form the capital letter "L." The fingertip should contact the string on the corner of each fingertip that is closest to the thumb. Less surface area in contact with the string equals greater mobility.
Gold tone offers wide necks on several models. Under "variation" click on wide fingerboard
https://goldtonemusicgroup.com/goldtone/instruments/ob-150?dvid=1137
Edited by - Dean T on 01/23/2025 12:42:32
I hear you, I also have thick fingers. I’m a long time guitar player, and new to banjo. I picked up an Ome with a wider nut and I’m super happy I did. It made drop thumbing on interior strings much easier for me. (I have a hard time getting around on a mandolin too, same reason). Maybe it’s because I’m a guitar player first and I’m used to a wider nut.
You definitely need two banjos
Edited by - Andyroo0516 on 01/23/2025 17:20:35