Thumb hitting the banjo

[Tom]

Hey guys,

Been playing banjo about 2-3 months now, and noticed that it is very hard not to hit my thumb loudly on the banjo whilst frailing.

Is this a normal thing to do or is it something that I should avoid doing? Not sure if I have bad technique or not!

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks

Tom

[Sooze]

I'm certainly not qualified to answer that for you, being a total beginner myself, but I have to say that I love the sound of the thumb hitting the banjo, when I hear others do it. Patrick Costello does it all the time and to my ears it's like a drum beat accompanying the banjo!

[Sooze]

Sorry - that wasn't much help, was it?!!! ;-)

[Tom]

No i agree, I think it sounds good, but Patrick just sounds pro no matter what

[mark]

If you like it do it.

Some will tell you it's wrong or incorrect but it's your banjo, you play it how you want mate.

Plenty of people, including Patrick use this effect a lot. I like to use it too on some tunes but not others.

If you want to rid yourself of it though I suspect it is your *angle of attack* that is the *problem*, you are most likely coming in from the outside slightly as opposed to straight down (have I explained this at all clearly?)

As an exercise try leaving your thumb on the 5th string while you make a few slow basic frailing strums (note, strum, thumb or bum-did-dy), only remove your thumb when you are actually sounding the 5th, it should rest on the 5th for the first two parts (note, strum or bum-did) of the basic frailing strum. As you place your thumb back in place be concious of the angle of attack and which part (and how much) of the thumb you are using.

Hope this helps.

M.

[yannis]

Hi Tommy, I'm with Mark on this one. I wouldn't really worry about it at this stage. Just keep at it and you and your hand will eventually find the way you're gunna do it. You'll get more and more control and be able to tweek stuff as the whole thing becomes more automatic. I rekon after you can any strike the string you want with your digit of choice, then it's time to reel in that ornery thumb. (That's if you want to; I think it makes a great rhythym section if you're playing on your own. Till then just get used to frailing--it's a totally new action for your hand.

[Tom]

Thanks for the advice guys! Yes I think I will just keep doing what i'm doing

[Danny]

I like it too tommy. Apart from anything else I'm a bit mutton and , likke Patrick, I find it helps to keep me in time. And it can sound kinda neat.

[craftsman]

I'm all for it too...(Mainly because I fell into it initially) and I have only seen one negative comment about it somewhere.........pleb.(!)

I think it adds another level of complexity to the overall sound

[Danny]

Are we allowed to say pleb???

[Tom]

Cheers for all the answers!

The only thing that made me ask was that somone asked me why I was doing it once. Then that made me think about it more.

I agree Craftsman, it adds complexity. I also find that I tend to do it the faster I play!

[Tom]

Plebs not swearing in my book

[Danny]

It's not in mine either Tom, also I do it too when I get faster, say 2 beats per hour.....

[Sooze]

If I try and play too fast, (and obviously not at all well, in that case) I seem to hit the banjo with my fingers, not my thumb. Definitely not right! I know you shouldn't 'flick' your fingers, but I guess that is exactly what I do! Must try and get out of that bad habit! "SIGH!"

[Danny]

My fingers are always fairly still, it's the rest of me that goes all funny