Hey all!
Got a question about how close my hand should be to the bridge. Everything I read and see indicates it should be pretty close. I look at the experts' banjos and there is a clear black spot right next to the bridge where they are putting their anchor finger(s). Their "pick scrape mark" is just above that. All very clear.
Now when *I* play there, I HATE the sound. Sounds all tinny and strangled. I play up a little closer to the neck and I think it sounds much fuller and genuine - like a banjo should!
I have a Gold Tone OB-250LW. Not a Cadillac of banjos, but not a slouch either.
I hope I've attached a picture of my banjo head so you can see the wear marks.
AI tells me to screw the experts and go with what I like! LOL! What do you folks think?
Looks like the picture didn't make it. I'll try again
Whatever floats yer boat - Bela and Noam pick far from the bridge
Let your ears guide you
Every banjo has a sweet spot . I find my flat heads seem to be somewhere in the middle. My Frank neat arch top , for what ever reason gets picks closer to the bridge.?! I agree it can sound tingy-ish . As stated above, let your ears be your guide . Best of luck .
quote:
Originally posted by BeowoulfAI tells me to screw the experts and go with what I like! LOL! What do you folks think?
Screw the experts and go with what you like.
When I play alone at home I want a mellower sound, so I also tend to play away from the bridge and close to the neck. I also play without my hearing aids. Often without picks. In a jam or gig I'll play everywhere from the bridge to the neck depending on the song, the volume of the ensemble, and what I feel like at the moment. Sometimes that close-to-the-bridge sound is what's called for. I wear my hearing aids at jams, with the listening program set to "Music" and the volume lowered a bit.
Decades ago when I'd keep a head long enough (and play enough) for it to develop worn spots from my fingers planted close to the bridge, I had evidence I was playing a lot in that position. I don't like worn heads, I don't play as much as I used, and I have more banjos, so none of my heads have those spots any more. Worn heads work fine. I just don't like the look. So I replace them.
Seems like you would want to move around, depending on the "sound effect" you are trying to get out of your instrument. The closer to the bridge you go, the more staccato vs. legato sound as you move away from the bridge. I think a good player (not me) has this in their bag of tricks.
And this may be more applicable for single-string playing than Scruggs style?
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