How to Frail a 5 String Banjo

[chezruss]

Great intro to technique, i ll give it a go. just wondering if you r using fingernails, is it best to keep fingernails short? thx again

[tobysnelgrove]

keep me posted on your progress

[Greygum1]

Very Inspirational! Thanks heaps Toby

[jaimetafemmes]

woop woop

toronto!!

[hanksingle]

This is fascinating, thank you, thank you. Just started playing again and am really worried about my hands for picking, have some complicated wrist problems and have been wondering how long I can really go at it. This might be the thing. You're a prince.

[bebenavole]

what about fingernail length?

does it matter?

tnx

[maxpaprika]

This is such a great video :) Thank you.

[tobysnelgrove]

It is much like "slap Base" technique ... it is a wrist movement that does it ... down movement ... almost a spanking movement ...

ts

[HandsomeSasquatch]

so the strings are always picked downwards? but im so sloppy pickin downwards!

[mmechill]

Thank you so much! You're the 1st person I found who realized that a beginner needs to see what your fingers are doing rather than the back of your hand. I really appreciate the video with the proper angle to view the fingers. I'm playing better already after seeing this.

[Gaz10t]

That's great! Is it hard to learn? I mean, harder than a guitar? I have in my head that I will not be able to play anything like that for a good few years :P

[mule4747]

Thanks for a nice lesson and doing it with a personal touch.

[justaman6972]

Gawd I suck. I can do the Scruggs pickin but I can't seem to get this right! Arrrgh!

[tobysnelgrove]

@justaman6972 Did you look at my hammering on and pulling off video ... there is a bit more detail there ... Cheers

[nomoreassos]

fron ireland thanks toby you have started me on a journey.des

[tobysnelgrove]

@nomoreassos and how is the journey going ... I put up a second video with more details last fall.

Peace

[cmezak]

Thanks for the video! I've been attempting frailing for the past few days, and for the life of me I can't seem to just hit one string on the "bum" of the bum-ditty. I suppose it'll just come with practice, but I hope I'm not missing anything.

[tobysnelgrove]

@cmezak look at my other video ... hammering on and pulling off ... might help ... more detail.

Cheers

[ed1max]

Hi Toby,

Do you have a CD/DVD of your own or could recommend one for me

Thanks

And Regards

Eddie McNulty

[tobysnelgrove]

@ed1max really, have no idea ... I did a second video that my help

Cheers

[ventrue1]

Very good stuff

[tobysnelgrove]

@ventrue1 thanks ... far from a pro but pleased to share.

[TheBanjo07]

hi,i am trying to learn clawhammer as arthritis stopped me from scruggs style picking.i have a problem that my thumb now as a mind of its own and i am having difficulty picking the top string cleanly..but i will percevere..stay safe..keith uk..

[tobysnelgrove]

@TheBanjo07 keep on trying ... the arthritis is a bummer ... but the hand movement is so much less demanding ... did you look at my other video ... more info there, as basic as it is

[k0vert]

@tobysnelgrove thank ya sir for the words of encouragement. :)

[bkbj95]

Well sir my cousin is learning how to frail like the old timers did.I'll tell him about your lesson.And i like how you played cripple creek.Like you said u can get away with missin a note and it still sounds right frain'Well God bless you and I'll pray for you.

[shotgunson100]

hi Toby. Nice video, which finger nail are you using to strike down with? i get a better sound using my index but i have better accuracy when using my middle finger. Thanks

[tobysnelgrove]

Hi ... use my index yet most use the middle ... that is how I started and it is hard to change ... use what works ... Cheers

[banjobobby1]

Hi Toby. A great video for complete beginners like me. I live in UK and need all the help I can get. I had to watch the video a few times to comprehend you were not just srtiking the 5th string when you playedd Cripple Creek!.

[tobysnelgrove]

have you looked at my recent "unprofessional" video .. may help with the string hitting

Toby

[Percinho27]

I'm thinking about buying a banjo this week, but I have a couple of questions that arose watching this:

i) How strong are the strings? (Because I wouldn't dare try something like this on my guitar!)

ii) How easy is it to fret when compared to an acoustic guitar?

Anyway, great video :)

[tobysnelgrove]

Hi and glad you enjoyed the video ... banjo strings are light and don't require the toughening of fingers tips as do guitars ... fretting is quite easy ... it is more about finger picking ... that is the challenge ... like learning how to travis pic on a guitar.

Cheers

[R3DN3CKV0LTR0N]

i was having a similar problem i just want to get a taste of all the playing styles so i got a book and when i did frailinmg the book had pictures but not a very good discription and you cleared up my questions thanks

[cindyshealed]

I want to frail a banjo. i don't know how to play it. I can play about 6-7 chords strummed on a guitar. I love wild and raw frailing like Grandpa Jones.

[tobysnelgrove]

take your time ... have you watched Pete Seger's documentary video ...will be a great inspiration for you to learn different playing techniques. It is well worth learning to frail ... 15 minutes a day.

[MrBField]

Hey Toby thanks!!! Thats a great post!!! We need all the banjo-ing help we can get over here in the uk!!

Cheers.

[tobysnelgrove]

Welcome ... the history of the banjo starts in Africa ... and you folks are closer ... mind you, we did import many talented players back in the 1800 ... not by their choice mind you. Cheers

[lcorinth]

That's great. Once I figure out how to get my new old banjo strung, I'm gonna try this.

[tobysnelgrove]

get playing ... the stringing is the easy part.

[printfellow]

Wonderful! I love the intro, talking to all of us who desperately love the illusive(at least to me) frail. Great playing! Awesome!!!! WhoooHoooo! Many thanks!

[tobysnelgrove]

you are welcome ... post your results.

Toby

[BRYSKEE420]

trouble learning when to hit notes and when to frail. Trouble hitting individual notes while frailing. Any ball park time frame on how long this method should take one to learn? I've been trying for 20-30 minutes a day for 5 weeks ISH now.

[tanglefingers]

there is no.."hit notes or frail" concentrate on the right hand first off. the notes virtualy hit them selves when you get the right hand (frailing)action going properly just change C,D,G chords for a while and feel it out. Also there are about a dozen diferent variations to frailing or clawhammer on a banjo that all use the down stroke method look around the Tube.perhaps something else will feel more comfortable ultimately they all work out to somthing similar and you can always throw in extras

[tobysnelgrove]

How is it going? The advice tang gave you is bang on. All the "down" action is frailing. The only difference is accuracy on one string to make the melody. The action is a "hammering" wrist action ... the joint of the wrist is loose (Tennis playing, the wrist is firm ... Squash, the wrist is active). Hopefully you can find someone in your area, as I did back in the 60's, who can actually demonstrate the wrist action,

[urbanbanjogurl]

You make it look sooo easy,I'm to try it also

[tobysnelgrove]

be patient ... it is like a new relationship ... takes time to get use to the new action

[opalweiss]

Cool,  I just bought my first banjo, and your vid really made me smile. Thanks

[tobysnelgrove]

how is it going now?

[janepc123]

Right, so thaaat's what frailing is, I'm off to try it. Cheers Toby

[babai2345]

Thanks big time!

Really helpful.

[PvTRawlings]

Extremely good video. you cleared out some things for me. Thank you sir. ;)

[Hexonip]

Very impresive sir!

[harleytrash51]

makes sense to me no one had ever shown me how till now

[gothicharbormaster]

you are the greatest you inspire me and help me figure out stuff on the banjo.

[zepherous1]

Thank you, the close up was just what I needed, got my banjo 2 days ago and enjoying it way more than the guitar.

[finnishsauna]

great stuff...thanks!

[glowgod]

Hey Toby...thanks for the vid...was tons of help...look forward to the next ones! cheers mate!

[crazyeyes1027]

thanks alot i have been three finger picking for a while, and my grandfather taught me the brush and pluck style but have never been able to master frailing.I now understand clawhammer, but am having trouble changing my motion from up to down ... any suggestions?

[tobysnelgrove]

did I ever reply to you?

It is quite like hammering with a hammer ... except you have to throw the tub action in too ... how is it going?

[sigmund000]

I want to see hammer ons and pull offs...:)

[JoeKess]

Many thanks. I was hoping to find something just like this when I ran the search on youtube. This was simple and great.

[tobysnelgrove]

Glad it helped ... now, you can use your index or pointer finger when frailing.. some guys (probably from south) use the index finger ... whatever work.

Take care.

Toby

[sigmund000]

Dobro33H is awesome too

[banjomike32]

This is great but my puter is slow and why do I have to reload it everytime I log in? It takes forever.

[tobysnelgrove]

What is your "puter"? My video should load as others do ... sorry you are haveing problems. I have plans to show hammering on and pulling off .. but I am dragging my but on that ... Maybe in Feb ... Frail on ...

Toby

[banjomike32]

My computer Toby *puter* Im Australian We are all a bit weird mate. Thanks

[tobysnelgrove]

Weird is OK ... what about me ... who in their right mind would be interested in slugs having sex (did you view that video of mine).

Peace.

[artgeezer]

Great stuff, this one has been mystyfying me. I'll post more when i've given it a shot

[tobysnelgrove]

I am going to do one on the left hand - the hammer on , slide, and pull off that both those pieces need ... frail on.

Toby

[artgeezer]

Excellent, i was hoping you would do so. Look forward. My frailing is midway now between scrugs and seeger, ha, obviously at a much reduced ability.

[gconrad815]

I been trying to figure this out for year and this is great. Nice to see a Canadaian from Toronto on Youtube.

[tobysnelgrove]

Thanks for the feedback.

I was from Toronto. Now I live on Mayne Island, BC ... gave the east up for lent one year.

Frail on.

Toby