If you watch a different version of the video you will learn that he is talking about how he *used* to play banjo. He picked upward with his fingers and avoided drop thumbing. But the entire implication is that he went on to use other techniques later--including drop thumb.
Watch even closer, sometimes his thumb moves down instead of resting on the 5th, call this a floating right hand but yes he does hit the second string with his thumb a little, The second string is usually the easiest for people to hit at first. Because Doc said on the Mike Seeger tape/DVD some time ago doesn't mean he has stood still, musicians are always learning.
And he's pulling off some of those "drop thumb" notes...As my old mentor Jeff Cooper said...PII.....preoccupation with inconsequential increments. Drop thumb is a good technique to learn...so let's get off this dang computer and go practice!!!
Call it what you want, this is a blind-man playing clawhammer, and playing it well. The banjo is in Open G tuning and he's hitting the fifth string (tuned in G) to make an eighth note.
Perhaps this evidence should be delivered to a fornesic lab for more careful analysis. Doc seems to be a God-fearing man and I can't imagine him saying he don't drop his thumb if in fact he has been guilty of it. This is huge! Best get it right though before mass media gets wind.
I love Doc Watson!!!!!!!!!
some were born with talent, some of us have to work really hard to get there.
I'm off to practice for a few hours.
VerticalUnion1 3 months ago
@VerticalUnion1
no, no. People are born with adeptness. Talent is the ability to practice for hours and devote your life to an art to perfect it.
A talented man is one who has perfected his art.
SqueezeMyLemonBabe 1 month ago 2
If you watch a different version of the video you will learn that he is talking about how he *used* to play banjo. He picked upward with his fingers and avoided drop thumbing. But the entire implication is that he went on to use other techniques later--including drop thumb.
jstone999 4 months ago
Watch even closer, sometimes his thumb moves down instead of resting on the 5th, call this a floating right hand but yes he does hit the second string with his thumb a little, The second string is usually the easiest for people to hit at first. Because Doc said on the Mike Seeger tape/DVD some time ago doesn't mean he has stood still, musicians are always learning.
TheJimKeith 5 months ago
And he's pulling off some of those "drop thumb" notes...As my old mentor Jeff Cooper said...PII.....preoccupation with inconsequential increments. Drop thumb is a good technique to learn...so let's get off this dang computer and go practice!!!
sargehuf 6 months ago
Call it what you want, this is a blind-man playing clawhammer, and playing it well. The banjo is in Open G tuning and he's hitting the fifth string (tuned in G) to make an eighth note.
MindsEyeFunk 7 months ago
Perhaps this evidence should be delivered to a fornesic lab for more careful analysis. Doc seems to be a God-fearing man and I can't imagine him saying he don't drop his thumb if in fact he has been guilty of it. This is huge! Best get it right though before mass media gets wind.
Labrabob 8 months ago
I heard him say in an interview (I believe it was with David Holt on a project they did) that he didn't use it because he didn't have an use for it.
derekanjo 9 months ago
Watch closer, his thumb never hits any string other than the fifth.
zorki1 1 year ago
Isn't it the double-C tuning?
Scolopandre91 1 year ago
What tuning is this? lovely sound.
willieskaw 1 year ago