Tom
New Member
Posts: 19
|
Post by Tom on Jun 30, 2008 18:17:48 GMT
Middle for me
|
|
|
|
Post by setzerjett on Sept 24, 2008 20:27:00 GMT
hi i new to banjo , and this site .
about frailing , do you have your nails long or cut short on your frailing strum hand ?
ive just got pats tube vids and book he wrote , anything else i should get ,
thing i need is banjo now got 1 today has to go back damaged in post ,
be glad of any help , thanks bye dave in leeds
|
|
|
|
Post by Danny on Sept 24, 2008 22:21:10 GMT
Welcome aboard Dave I've got all of Patricks books (so far) online (legally) at www.mediafire.com/?x9tw2jjbw1yIf you run into any problems gimme a PM or send an email or summat, I'll be happy to help. Tough luck with the damaged banjo by the way. |
|
|
|
Post by setzerjett on Sept 26, 2008 0:28:34 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Fingers n thumbs on Sept 26, 2008 13:15:50 GMT
Hi Dave -
I don't think there is a definitive 'should be' size for a finger nail - it's music and as long as you like the sound then go with it. Personally i stated out using a longer finger nail, which kept breaking when i was doing things like brick laying. For some reason into my 2nd year of frailing i don't need a long finger nail any more - the 'scuff mark' are pretty much in the centre of my finger nail. ONly way i can describe how i got there is by playing alot ;D
Frailing & clawhammer (i believe) are the same thing.
Hope that helps
Rog
|
|
|
|
Post by craftsman on Sept 26, 2008 14:27:58 GMT
hi i new to banjo , and this site . about frailing , do you have your nails long or cut short on your frailing strum hand ? ive just got pats tube vids and book he wrote , anything else i should get , thing i need is banjo now got 1 today has to go back damaged in post , be glad of any help , thanks bye dave in leeds Hi Dave and welcome, I cant add a lot really, other than to agree with danny and rog. I was really hung up for a while about the nails thing, so its hard to tell you not to worry about it! But it is true though that its not really the length of nail that helps but being accurate in hitting the string. This will only come from lots of practice, and not worrying about it too much. Cheers, Andrew |
|
dick
New Member
Posts: 47
|
Post by dick on Sept 26, 2008 16:36:30 GMT
hi i new to banjo , and this site . about frailing , do you have your nails long or cut short on your frailing strum hand ? ive just got pats tube vids and book he wrote , anything else i should get , thing i need is banjo now got 1 today has to go back damaged in post , be glad of any help , thanks bye dave in leeds Hi Dave and welcome, I cant add a lot really, other than to agree with danny and rog. I was really hung up for a while about the nails thing, so its hard to tell you not to worry about it! But it is true though that its not really the length of nail that helps but being accurate in hitting the string. This will only come from lots of practice, and not worrying about it too much. Cheers, Andrew I agree that the nail length makes little difference. If you frail incorrectly, it makes a difference. Its not a strum across the string but more of a hit down on it (like a piano key hitting). To get this right and feeling natural you need 'a lot' [two words folks] of working at it. |
|
|
|
Post by frkeith on Sept 26, 2008 17:30:55 GMT
It's true that time and practice will help the tone you get from the frailing digit. I was inclined to frail with my index finger at first because I got a better sound. I forced myself to frail using the middle finger and now it sounds much better than if I frail with the index finger. The muscles in the middle finger do get stronger and if you have small hands using the index finger helps to reduce tension in your 'claw' when you play the outside strings.
Then again I was talking to a professional clawhammer player who said he started out using the middle finger but switched to the index finger because he found it better for playing the inside strings.
|
|
|
|
Post by scanbran on Dec 1, 2008 14:08:22 GMT
I frail with the middle, but only because it was recommended.
I've seen many vids of excellent players who I am convinced are using their index fingers. It also seems as if it might be easier to frail up the neck more accurately using the index.
However, I'm sticking with the middle until I get to be somewhere approaching reasonable at clawhammer, and then might think about alternatives ;D
|
|
ste
New Member
Posts: 2
|
Post by ste on Dec 13, 2008 22:43:16 GMT
Hope the guy who voted for "other" meant he uses his thumb! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by georgiaguy on Jan 5, 2009 4:40:18 GMT
Yeah , I think you are right. Whatever technique I use I seem to miss-hit somewhere. I think its a coordination thing which gets resolved with practice... At least I hope so!!  I think that's the case with everyone. And like all things, it will resolve itself over time. |
|
|
|
Post by fangor42 on Jan 14, 2009 1:17:31 GMT
When I replace my strings they tend to leave marks on my nails so I know I use both middle and ring but I think it's only on the strum and not the strike.
|
|
|
|
Post by Patrick Costello on Jan 15, 2009 15:40:58 GMT
If you have thin nails prone to splitting or breaking the best thing to do is use a metal fingerpick upside down so that the blade of the pick covers your fingernail.
Most modern fingerpicks have a cupped blade so you will probably want to hammer it flat - or find somebody (Andrew?) to make you a custom pick.
Two things about using a pick:
1.) The only way to make it work is to use it all of the time.
2.) Until you get a grip on your dynamics volume is going to be a real issue. It is going to take practice to get a softer tone.
The frailing digit question:
I teach using the middle fingernail because it forces the student to practice with the best hand position, angle of attack and posture. You can frail with any finger - but if you don't get the basics right in the beginning nothing you do down the road will work.
The same applies the up-picking. You can learn a few songs using the Seeger strum, but if you do you will never move into the more intricate techniques.
-Patrick
|
|
|
|
Post by fangor42 on Jan 15, 2009 21:42:45 GMT
I found the plastic "tortiseshell" fingerpicks useful because I could file them shorter and therefore fit better "backwards". For me finger picks have a different dynamic than the fingernail. "FINGERNAIL RULES" ;D I find finger picks have a louder strike than strum (again could be me  ) but on the odd ocassion I split the end of my nail off, the finger pick is a lot better than "flub" the skin of my finger makes. Funny thing is I've just realised I haven't split my nail for a long time...is it tougher from use or am I taking better care of it?...these questions and many more... |
|
|
|
Post by tylercornett86 on Jan 18, 2009 23:11:50 GMT
I just started using a backwards finger pick today.. took some getting used to but I think I like it better.. definitely more sound for less. While I wait for my nail to grow back at least. We'll see.
|
|
) but on the odd ocassion I split the end of my nail off, the finger pick is a lot better than "flub" the skin of my finger makes.