Still too loud, man. To stay ahead of the curve you need to learn to play sub-sonically so that only bats and dogs can hear.

I'm not a banjo whisperer, but I think that, practising once in a while with a light touch will help learn control the volume of your banjo, and control is what matters. Also, I found that some types of heads have a better suited response for playing quiet than others.

Have fun

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Originally posted by randomchar

Inspired by Lukas Pool, I decided to see how quietly I could clawhammer. I found that a light touch and allowing a natural motion works well for me. I can play faster, not that that's so important, but a natural gallop emerges when I don't force things.

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I feel that anybody playing any instrument (including banjo) should be able to play soft or loud at will. For me, stuffing is not the answer for banjo, but touch is.

I continue to work on it! I find it difficult to play both fast and quiet so that I do not become obnoxiously loud in a jam. In a jam it is hard for me to measure my decibel level. Once a fiddler accused me of playing too loud. I realized my back was against a wall so we traded places and she said my decibels were fine after all. There is an ear component too. In the same jam I have been accused of playing too loud while others say, "I can't hear you." In the meantime I have worked out my own way of thumb lead/two finger for playing quieter songs/ballads. Ahoy! Ears a-head. banjered

I think my wife is a banjo whisperer. Every time I pick the banjo up, she says: sshhhh! Is this what y'all are talking about?

In our circle jams I periodically check with the person next to me.  If/when they can't hear my banjo >>>  .

In the bluegrass world if you can't peel the bark off a tree at 40 feet, you need a new banjo! banjered

I’ve been accused more than once of not playing loud enough. But because I play mostly at home, it’s been saving my hearing all these years. How is yours?

Hi Janet,
My hearing is shot and I have been wearing an aid for about 10 years now. I don't remember playing too softly--just runs in the family I think. I do think Carl Baron makes a good point though....Jack

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Originally posted by JanetB

I’ve been accused more than once of not playing loud enough. But because I play mostly at home, it’s been saving my hearing all these years. How is yours?

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At age 75, my hearing is not so good. Except for the tinnitus that I hear all too well, although if I ignore it things are better.

I play at home, it's just me and my banjo. My recently discovered whisper mode also revealed tones and sounds I didn't know were there. 

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Originally posted by Jack Baker

Hi Janet,
My hearing is shot and I have been wearing an aid for about 10 years now. I don't remember playing too softly--just runs in the family I think. I do think Carl Baron makes a good point though....Jack

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Yes, I agree with you and CarlB. I think every song/phrase should have a loudest moment and a softest moment. In the past, I only had two modes - loud and louder. Or as some would say, obnoxious and obnoxiouser.

Learning to play with the lightest possible touch has been a pleasant discovery for me. Not only is it gentle on the ears, but it introduced me to a whole new picking hand sensation.