I recently started playing with a mute, and I realized that when I drop my thumb onto the 5th string, I'm hitting the banjo head pretty loudly.
Is this normal? Is this something that I need to work to overcome?
Yes most of the time but not very hard. It's like a light thump.
Edited by - RDP on 04/17/2025 11:49:17
Depends. If it doesn't detract, but actually contributes ~something~ to the tune, I'll tap the head for a percussive effect.
I do it when the music calls for it. Develop it as a technique you can use just like anything else.
Yep! Percussion and strings all in one.
quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Berry BanjosYep! Percussion and strings all in one.
I mean, it DOES have a drum head on it.
I would suggest being able to control it so that you can cease doing it when you want. Being able to have more than one attack is good.
My thumb contacts the head all the time; I rarely slap it though. There’s a difference.
When I first started playing CH, I found that I was slapping the banjo head with my thumb, and it was loud. It actually took me quite some time to realize this, as such subtleties were not on my radar when I was learning the technique. Over time, and with a little practice I found that I could easily play without such a loud, percussive slap (something like Bill mentions above). As others have already mentioned, for some songs a percussive slap sounds right, and for some songs, not so much.
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