Right Hand Beginning Banjo Technique

This short video covers important right hand techniques for beginning 5-string banjo players. For more free information, check out www.learnbluegrass.com.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• banjo
• string
• technique
• right
• hand
• pick
• picking
• bluegrass
• scruggs
• how
• to
• learn

[RandyD4]

Randy D again. Anyway, I have big hands and fat fingers (like your fat finger video) and the problem I have been having is that when I wear the thumb pick out more on my thumbnail, it puts the thumb pick farther up the strings towards the neck. It gives a different tone than the finger picks, but when I wear it up closer to the knuckle like you, it puts it closer to the bridge and sounds identical to the finger picks. Thanks.

[blueiis2]

I really appreciate your comments. I understand what you are saying about the thumbpick being closer to the fingers. No one told me to do this. I did it because I pick really hard with my thumb (to bring out the melody notes) and that keeps the thumbpick from rotating and falling off when I attack the strings. Different thumbpicks will also give you a different sound. If you want something that is brighter, try a thinner hard plastic thumbpick (not Delrin). Darker - go for Golden Gate.

[xrmlv]

hello. im thinking to start playing banjo.i have never played before..could u please tell me what do u suggest for a begginer..? a 4string, a 5string or 6string banjo? i already play the guitar..i dont know if thats relevant thank tou very mmuch

[blueiis2]

Hello! Yes, this is a most important question! The technique demonstrated in this video is for 5-string Scruggs style. A 5-string banjo can also be used for clawhammer or frailing. A 4-string banjo is *typically* for Dixieland music and is a strum style that is played with a guitar pick. A 6-string banjo is for guitar players who don't want to (or don't have time to) learn banjo. It SOUNDS like a banjo, but is tuned and played exactly like a guitar.

[wclittlend]

excellent basic instruction. thanks.

[RandyD4]

Hi Chris, Randy D. here again from FL. This is a good lesson...thanks. The one thing you didn't talk about is your thumbpick. This might seem counter-intuitive to you, but I have been studying the right hand of pickers such as J.D., Earl, Ron Block, you know. Anyway I notice you, J.D., Cia Cherryholmes wear your pick closer to the knuckle and really bend your thumb up. This puts the pick in an equal (x, Y) position with the fingerpicks, and gives the thumb a good parrallel attack.

[RB3Gibson]

Hey Chris.  How are you? This is good stuff!