As I said in the above referenced URL, I doubt there's enough interest to support a forum for just fingerstyle. However, the decision is Eric's to make, not mine. We'll see what he has to say.

I would post here more often if we had a fingerstyle forum.

What exactly is finger style picking ?

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Originally posted by Will Frady

What exactly is finger style picking ?

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Will, short answer is it is the most common way banjo was played pre-WW2. If you've heard of Vess Ossman, Fred Van Eps, Joe Morley...finger-style players. Typically 3-finger up-picking + thumb on nylon or gut strings. But there are variations, especially players that use this method on steel strings. Finger-style never died out and this method continues today though it has been eclipsed in popularity by Scruggs-style and clawhammer.

the name for that style has been put forth a lot as Classic style in the last few years-- and there is a in depth web site already ---not to say it can't exist here -or other places

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Originally posted by Tractor1

the name for that style has been put forth a lot as Classic style in the last few years-- and there is a in depth web site already ---not to say it can't exist here -or other places

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Classic is a U.S label originating in the the 1950's. In practice it relates to genre and a specific period of fingerstyle playing, with a particular emphasis on early recorded players. This background would naturally form a solid foundation of any new fingerstyle forum, but the common denominator would be broader; the technique in all its forms old and new, rather than a singular focus on the historical element in isolation. The purpose? A realisation of connection and continuity.

But, yes plenty to interest those whose main enjoyment is the classic period.

I don't see it that way of classifying--
I once went to the library of congress website's newspaper archives and sub filed the late 1800s up thru early 1900s--using the keyword banjo showed a large amount of banjo players--it was very popular-

In my opinion though I don't ask for agreement--If one was going to stipulate that it is more than those in the style of Van Epps etc. --they would have to name all of the exclusive properties allowed or not allowed--things such as single line melodies or multi line melodies, plectrum types ,string types --etc.
above all keep picking--and pushing on

quote:

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Originally posted by Tractor1

In my opinion though I don't ask for agreement--If one was going to stipulate that it is more than those in the style of Van Epps etc. --they would have to name all of the exclusive properties allowed or not allowed--things such as single line melodies or multi line melodies, plectrum types ,string types --etc.
above all keep picking--and pushing on

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Fingerstyle is not too difficult to define - pads of the fingers plus thumb, usually on nylon or gut string but bare fingers on steel is still within the finger-style family. There is a fair amount of scope for variations and personal quirks. 

Quite a few fingerstyle players also played plectrum style in the dance band era. But plectrum style is not a finger style as contact and sound comes from a plectrum. 

Fingerstyle is much broader than C-tuning Classic fingerstyle. I figure it takes in that, Charlie Poole style and the various traditional three-finger non-Scruggs approaches. I doubt BHO has enough Classic players to sustain a forum, but it’s Eric’s call.

I figured a plectrum means a pick of any kind in the broad sense--but I agree that is not the usual "common denominator''--so I had that worded wrong

A good part of my arrangements are not any of the bluegrass scruggs,keith or single string styles ---they are played with 2 fingers and a thumb with picks on all--they are usually banjo arrangements of whatever I ran across from fiddle tunes to tangos staying faithful to the melodies and fillingin the holes
When posting -- I just call them other --and am quiet happy with that --No one really pays much attention to that-

I play finger styling and have a pint jar full -of reshaped and ruined picks that I have been trying to get correct since 1971--It would sadden me to get cast aside when I am getting them closer--but I know some sad moods----

I am looking forward to see some of your arrangements--bare skin always gave me better control but obviously there are other pros and cons

my opinion I don't ask agreement