 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
|
||||||||||||||
| lefthand technique | Rate Topic |
| Author | Post |
|---|
| Posted: Wed Nov 3rd, 2004 07:40 am |
|
1st Post |
|
neil charity Approved 
|
Hi, my name is Neil, 61 years of age and I live in Australia. I recently imported a new 5 string banjo and I'm having real problems with my left hand on the frets. Is there a practice routine I could use to help me on my way? I've been practicing (playing) for about 6 weeks now and although really really slow I can get thru some of it until I have to use my left hand. Regards from Australia.
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Wed Nov 3rd, 2004 08:30 am |
|
2nd Post |
|
Richard Hefner Administrator 
|
Hi Neil, It might help to practice forming chords and just getting clear notes with the left hand, maybe 5 or 10 minutes a day. If you're playing bluegrass style, the banjo is so right-hand intensive that in the beginning it may be hard to concentrate on both the right and and left hand. Just try forming different chords -- start with C and D7 -- and try forming the chords correctly and playing one string at a time with your right hand to see if you're getting a clear note. If not, take time to see what the problem is. For instance, when playing the C chord, does the 3rd string (which is open) sound out clearly? If not, then probably your middle finger, which is holding down the 4th string, probably is not arched enough and is touching the 3rd string. Does the 4th string sound right? If not, maybe you're not applying enough pressure. If you have a difficult time applying enough pressure to hold the string down, it could be that your action is too high and the banjo needs to be adjusted so you can play it easier. Try other chords as well such as the movable forms (F, D, and A) and concentrate on getting a correct sound on one string at a time. Hope that helps a little. Maybe somebody else will share some of the particular techniques that have helped them. Good luck... Richard 
____________________ Richard Hefner MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Nov 4th, 2004 12:54 am |
|
3rd Post |
|
neil charity Approved
|
Thanks for the advice Richard, it's difficult for me to judge how much pressure is required and my fingers, after a practice session, get pretty sore. Anyway I'll keep perserveering. Regards from Australia Neil
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Nov 4th, 2004 11:56 pm |
|
4th Post |
|
Clawhammerinfool Approved
|
Hi Neil, The problems you are having are normal. I have not been playing for very long but when I first started, I didn't think I would ever get the hang of it, especially my left hand. I just kept at it every day and before long my left hand was working fine. It was about a year ago when I was at the stage you are at now and now I can play quite a few tunes with no problem. I am 50 years old and never played any type of instrument before in my life. To be honest, I didn't think I had it in me. Now I bang away on these things like there's no tomorrow. Just keep at it and you will get it. Enjoy, Mark
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Fri Nov 5th, 2004 01:20 am |
|
5th Post |
|
neil charity Approved
|
Thanks Mark for the encouragement, I realize my fingers are soft and will harden up in time and practice. I have another problem with my left hand in that I'm missing the 3rd finger (that's the one next to the pinky) so I have to work around that as well. Regards from Australia Neil 
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Nov 11th, 2004 01:32 am |
|
6th Post |
|
banjo brad Super Moderator 
|
Neil- The left hand can be a little hard to start with, but, to paraphrase a movie: "if you play it, they will come." If you are digitally challenged, you might really want to look at clawhammer playing, since it doesn't necessarily make a large use of chords, paricularly up the neck, where you really need to be able to fret 4 strings on different frets. Or, if you could find one, you might think of trying a left-handed banjo, and learn to play with the left hand doing the picking and the right hand fretting. Keep us posted on your progress, and  Keep on pickin'Brad
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Fri Nov 12th, 2004 03:22 am |
|
7th Post |
|
neil charity Approved
|
G'day Brad I've considered some of your options, however, I'm a bluegrass fan and I've just purchased a Goldtone BG250F (from Banjo.com) and it would be extremely difficult for me to return it on the off chance I could play lefthanded. In the last few days I've had a modicum of success. I've aqctually played (albeit slowly) Richard's level 2 arrangement of Cripple Creek, without any mistakes. I'm rather tickled pink and hope to play it faster some time in the future. Regards from Australia Neil
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Fri Nov 12th, 2004 09:57 pm |
|
8th Post |
|
banjo brad Super Moderator
|
Neil- Glad to hear you're making progress! I knew the left-handed bit was a long shot, but felt I needed to mention the option. Keep at it, you'll really enjoy the banjo! Keep on pickin'Brad (incidentally, age ain't no problem - I'm pushin' 62 myself, and still have a lot to learn, and a lot of instruments to master!)
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Posted: Thu Nov 25th, 2004 08:44 am |
|
9th Post |
|
neil charity Approved
|
G'day, I've recently purchased Jack Hatfields book & CD "First Lessons Banjo" and he has a whole section on left hand placement etc. it's really good. I'ved had to make some udjustments seeing as my ring finger is RS but other than that I seem to be making some progress. Regards from Australia Neil.
|
||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
| Posted: Tue Jul 12th, 2005 03:09 am |
|
10th Post |
|
Lucky Lefty Approved
|
Hi, Neil, thanks for bringing your question to light, and mentioning the book you found! Thanks to your question, I got to see info on my first banjo day that I wouldn't have otherwise. Good on ya! (Now I just have to decide whether to keep my sculptured fingernails long or short! lol) Ms. Lucky Lefty.
|
|||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Current time is 08:28 pm | |
| ezFolk Forums > Banjo > Beginner Questions - Banjo > lefthand technique | Top |
