5-String Banjo Right Hand Technique

Subject: silly banjo question...
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2004 13:31:15 -0700

Greetings Erynn,
Glad to assist:

hey, I have an emberressingly silly question...two questions actually:
1. where is the first fret?

The first fret is located directly in front of the nut...the nut is where the strings rest before they reach the shaft of the tuning machines.

2. do i pluck the strings in a downward motion or an upward motion?

For 5-string banjo, the thumbpick always plays in a downward motion...and the fingerpicks always play in the upward motion...
Hope this helps...Mickey

thank you very much---your site is awesome!!
erynn

Subject: finger plant
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2004 15:40:12 -0500

What is the importance of planting your small finger of your right hand on the banjo?
Im only asking because it is much more comfortable for me to play with my right hand free.
thanks

Greetings,

Yes, this is a traditional precedence...for bluegrass banjo, this standard was set by Earl Scruggs himself...of whom places not only the little finger but the third finger too. He plants two fingers on the head, and all three remaining fingers of his right hand are dedicated to picking. This is really a good practice for several reasons:

1. It gives the right hand a solid reference point...even when moving from the bridge to the fingerboard.

2. With the pivoting off the fingers placed on the head, there's a solid placement of the hand...

3. The fingers placed on the head, help eliminate the overtones that the banjo head will naturally create otherwise...

This is the bluegrass banjo tradition. Earl Scruggs set the precedence for all other bluegrass banjo players to follow...many players spend a lifetime emulating what Earl has achieved with his approach to the banjo. The purism of bluegrass is defined by players such as Scruggs and his approach to the 5-string banjo...his medium and approach is aspired to by banjoists...similar to what Bill Monroe achieved with the mandolin...not only is the playing emulated, but the banjo used by Earl Scruggs also set the standard for player's to recreate the very same sound through set-up and model choice.

Now, so far, we've discussed the importance of these styles and approaches within the framework of bluegrass as a purist standard. If you're an eclectic banjoist, and hope to play a variety of other styles, such as jazz, ragtime and classical, you can deviate and create your own approach to the banjo...and, play in the manner that's most comfortable for you...since there really isn't a standard set within these genres...for instance, on classical banjo, many players use three fingers and the thumb with no picks...while floating the hand...

If your desire is to learn bluegrass banjo, I highly recommend that you at the very least support your right hand with the little finger on the head...and, if comfortable, use both the little finger and the third finger to support the right hand...within a bluegrass context, I support my right hand with my little finger pivoted on the head...within other genres of banjo playing, I float my right hand...

Hope something here helps...Mickey

Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 13:53:27 -0800
Subject: I am looking for something you may have

I need a pinky finger extender! I rest both my pinky and ring finger on the banjo head, but my pinky is too short to form a "claw" and it ends up straight. Keeping it straight instead of curved makes it stiff, or it tends to bend backwards the longer I play (and gets painful). Is there a slip-on finder extender or pinky brace available? thank you.

Sincerely, Bart C. Collins, P.E.

Greetings Bart,

Nope...I've never seen one of these...it seems like a great idea...

I personally rest my fourth finger only...and have found when resting both my ring finger and my pinky, I impede my finger movement...I'm not suggesting that you do this...only, this is what I've found works for me...traditionally, most solid bluegrass banjo players rest both their ring and pinky fingers...such as you're doing.

Wishing you the best with your research efforts, Mickey

Subject: Movement of Right Hand
Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 09:05:23 -0700

Dear Mickey,
I can't seem to hold any finger down for a reverse roll. My pinky hops up as I do it. When I use my ring finger, it slips. I look kind of rediculous as I play, but with hopping I actually can play. I think it all started when I climbed up on my bridge in order to stabilize my right hand. Very bad idea. Can't seem to break myself of my little finger lifting off. My ring finger if I try to use it as a stablizing factor, is evn worse.
Do y ou have any suggestions?
Edna Mae in eastern WA
PS. I have rather small hands.

Greetings Edna,

When playing 5-string, in a bluegrass context, it's most definitely a requirement to play with a pivot finger on the head. This solidifies your playing and establishes the purist approach of which Earl Scruggs originally established. Earl braced both his third and fourth finger on the head...however, this would necessarily be required unless you truly want to emulate Earl's playing technique. At the very least, when playing bluegrass, you'll most definitely want to establish a solid right hand with the fourth finger braced on the banjo head. It also contributes to the bluegrass tonal quality by minimizing head vibration.

Everyone's hands are built different; therefore, what may be easy for some, can be most difficult for others. This is why I'm a proponent of allowing the student to choose between using the third and fourth fingers, or just the fourth finger.

To learn to do this without lifting your hand, you'll want to start off slowly, and from the beginning, and play rolls methodically through one at a time. Eventually, you'll become accustomed to pivoting your little finger on the head. Unlearning your current habits can be far more difficult than learning as a complete beginner.

Be sure to consider picking up a banjo instructional video which would offer exercises, as opposed to songs, which would establish a solid right-hand foundation.

If you're pursuing 5-string banjo outside of bluegrass stylings, you might also experiment with a floating right hand...for instance, when I play classical, ragtime or pop standards on 5-string, I'll float my right hand without any pivot finger on the banjo head...whenever I play bluegrass, I usually always pivot with my fourth finger...

Hope this helps...Mickey
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