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| Moderated by: Richard Hefner |
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| Finger picks - Beginner Questions - Banjo - Banjo - ezFolk Forums | |||||||||||||||
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wilderbeast Approved
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I have been learning Clawhammer now for 2 weeks, yesterday i bought a finger pick an turned it around to cover my fingernail.I found that i could get a louder clearer sound and it sounded less trebbley than before.should i stick with the fingernail or is it ok to use a pick at this early stage. COLIN... Last edited on Wed Dec 12th, 2007 06:40 pm by wilderbeast |
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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There are lots of clawhammer players who use a pick for one reason or another. If you like the sound and can use the pick, go ahead. I prefer the nail, myself, but do have a homemade pingpong ball pick in my case just for emergency - haven't had to use it yet /*knocks twice on head for luck */. Brad
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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mark Approved 
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I usually play with my nail if playing on my own but have found that when playing with others (one of my friends plays a telecaster on lowish volume) a little extra volume / brightness is required. I purchased a few plastic finger picks (Dobro Picks?), cut them down a little, filed them round and little thinner, drilled a couple of tiny holes in (a'la bluegrass metal picks) to help with grip, dropped them in a cup of hot coffee (I could have used water I guess?) to soften them, put them on my finger (backwards) and shaped them to fit. I also gave one a very light scuffing with a scotch pad to knock of the gloss. They only just protude from my nail (less than a mm) and I find that they work with *almost* as much delicacy as a nail. The whole job took less than 5 minutes per pick and they only cost a few pence. As I said, I dont use one all the time, when not in use I just hook it over one of the coordinator rods but it's nice to know I have an option should I break a nail (it happens!) mark (editted for spellnig msitakse) Last edited on Thu Dec 13th, 2007 11:28 pm by mark |
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Philj200 Approved 
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There are specific clawhammer fingerpicks available theses days. They resemble tubes with one side longer and tapered. While I have experiemented with picks, much as you did but a long time ago. I did not like the tone and found myself playing softer and softer, even muting the banjo. It was counter-productive for me. But as Brad and Mark point out, if you like it, and you can work with... that's all that matters. When I joined a large contra-dance orchestra, the leader of the group asked me to frail (another and older term for clawhammer) the pieces. I tried and was lost in a storm of fiddles and guitars. The banjo's contrabution was lost. I play with fingerpicks turned the standard way and pick the pieces bluegrass-style. The rolled notes fit in and around the chordal accompaniment and add a measure of counter-melody to the fiddles and flutes. May give the the frailing picks a try again. Between sets at rehearsal, the orchestra breaks into smaller groups and jams. Then, I usually revert to frailing in the smaller units. Thanks for reminding me.
____________________ My MP3 Section: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/1143/ My Myspace area: http://myspace.com/philj200 |
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wilderbeast Approved
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Cheers guys thanks for the info,i have bought a couple of piks locally and i have ordered a couple of Alaska piks,plastic and brass.Who knows i may even buy some table tennis balls so will have plenty to choose from. Best Wishes....Colin
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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For your information - the instructions on making your own clawhammer picks from ping-pong balls can be found at this link: http://www.johnbalchmusic.com/picks.html Thinking about it, they might be able to be used in the regular fashion for 2 & 3-finger OT styles as well. Hmmmmmm. Brad
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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cockneybanjo Approved 
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some people use them because they have fingernails cut short for work reasons
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| ezFolk Forums > Banjo > Beginner Questions - Banjo > Finger picks | |
