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Boatwright
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| Joined: | Tue May 22nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Greensboro, North Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 4 |
| Instrument Interest: | Clawhammer Banjo, Harmonica, Dulcimer, Other |
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 03:34 am |
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Hi everybody
First time poster, long time reader. Well about 3months anyway. I'm a big fan of oldtime music and love the sound of a banjo. After years of toying with the idea, i was inspired by an episode of PBS's Folkways series to go out and buy a 5-string banjo. i started looking online for tabs and such and found ezfolk the first night.
i adore the clawhammer style but found my fingers wanting to pick more. i have a teacher, but she only teaches 3 finger. So that's what i've focused on. I continued to research clawhammer though and have started to get the hang of it.
I can already play a dulcimer moderately. same for the harmonica. i understand the diatonic scale very well and enjoy the ease of making up and "picking out" a tune on those instuments. So of course, i must own a dulcijo.
So my question is which do i get? i would assume the basic 3-string would be fine, but for around $20 more i could get a five string. I do enjoy 3 finger picking and dont plan to stop learning that. i know the chords wont be the same, but for someone that just enjoys playing for himself as a hobbie, will the 5-string satisfy both interests? or would i be better off keeping the banjo i have now and purchasing the 3-string dulcijo in addtion?
Thanks
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Richard Hefner
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| Joined: | Sat Apr 10th, 2004 |
| Location: | Gastonia, North Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 2489 |
| Instrument Interest: | Ukulele, Clawhammer Banjo, Bluegrass Banjo, Guitar, Harmonica |
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 09:41 am |
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Hi Boatright,
I couldn't quite tell by your note whether you mean a 5-string Dulcijo (with double strings for the 1st and 2nd strings) and a diatonic scale, or if you mean a Dulcijo-style 5-string banjo with a chromatic scale that's basically like a regular banjo.
It's up to you really... you wouldn't want everybody else deciding what you want to play. If you're talking about a 5-string Dulcijo with double sets of the 1st and 2nd (kind of like a 12-string guitar or mandolin) I'd just go for the 3-string model myself -- less complicated -- but that's just my opinion.
If you mean like a 5-string banjo as opposed to the 3-string Dulcijo then there's definitely a difference, but if you're already playing a banjo (even 3-finger style) I would think you'd be more comfortable with the 5-string.
If you like Folkways, which David Holt hosts, you'd probably like his DVDs as well for learning the clawhammer style.
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Charlie
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| Joined: | Tue Apr 13th, 2004 |
| Location: | Glenn Heights, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 870 |
| Instrument Interest: | Ukulele, Clawhammer Banjo, Dulcimer, Mandolin, Other |
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 10:57 am |
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Hi Boatwright, I have had the same questions for myself and what I have done is to buy 2 dulcijo 3 string instruments with different tunings and starting to learn the clawhammer style on them, now I am haveing Michael Fox build me a 5 string regular banjo now so as to switch over to it and maybe learn a little 3 finger style.
When I go to a Jam, I seem to always lay my mandolin down and pick up one of the Dulcijo's and do my tunes as they seem so easy to do on them and every one there wants to play it that most of them know how to play a dulcimer.
So I think it is good to have both if you can afford it.
Hope this helps
Charlie
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Boatwright
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| Joined: | Tue May 22nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Greensboro, North Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 4 |
| Instrument Interest: | Clawhammer Banjo, Harmonica, Dulcimer, Other |
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 01:19 pm |
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Thanks 
Upon further research, i think the basic 3-string would do fine for now. By the time I get pretty good on that I should have saved enough for a 5-string if I feel the need for it still.
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banjo brad
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| Joined: | Wed Apr 14th, 2004 |
| Location: | Tucson, Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 2416 |
| Instrument Interest: | Ukulele, Clawhammer Banjo, Guitar, Harmonica, Dulcimer, Fiddle |
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 06:57 pm |
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Boatwright-
Clawhammer isn't the only style of Old Time banjo playing. There are also 2 & 3-finger uppicking styles.
Art Rosenbaum has a method book out through Mel Bay, titled "The Art of the Mountain Banjo" that presents several styles of Old Time playing - Uppicking (Seeger style, basically), Downpicking (Clawhammer) and 2 & 3-finger uppicking (not Scruggs or Bluegrass). Comes with a CD, too.
For some 2-finger picking by one of the best there ever was check out the Will Keys site:
http://www.willkeys.com
Since you are a guitar fingerpicker, you might find this style more to your likeing. I'm trying to pick up some ability in the 2-finger style, myself, to compliment my clawhammering.
Brad
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Philj200
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| Joined: | Thu Jun 2nd, 2005 |
| Location: | New York USA |
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 07:26 pm |
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On the otherhand, is there a technique difference between three and five string dulcijo.
And can't all banjo picking patterns work on a dulcijo? For that matter, can't you hold a dulcijo flat on your lap and use a noter in your left hand and flat-pick in your right?
Last edited on Wed May 23rd, 2007 07:27 pm by Philj200
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Charlie
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| Joined: | Tue Apr 13th, 2004 |
| Location: | Glenn Heights, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 870 |
| Instrument Interest: | Ukulele, Clawhammer Banjo, Dulcimer, Mandolin, Other |
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 07:51 pm |
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Phil the biggest difference is that the dulcijo is diatonic and also the ideal of holding in you lap would not work using a noter as you have a short string as the 5 string and tunning is backward from a dulcimer, It may work for a left handed person and turn the banjo around with the head to your right.
I guess anything is possible with musical instruments and what people can come up with. I sold a dulcimer that I had made a few weeks ago and the man ask me to reverse the strings so he could play left handed and I did and I tried playing it that way and went out of my mine trying it that way, But it would be the other way for him or any one that is a lefty and if that was the way you learned when you are young.
Charlie
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Philj200
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| Location: | New York USA |
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 08:07 pm |
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Memo from the Ignorance is Rampent Department:
If the basic way to play a dulcimer is to swipe across all the strings at once producing a note, a harmonic note and a drone note, than I'm still missing why any playing style that is centered over note, harmony and drone would not work. It shouldn't matter which order the notes or double courses of notes are played.
I am fully prepared to issue a public, "d'uh."
Of course, I'm just thinking of instruments with diatonic fretboards.
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When I received my short-scale dulcimer (tuned DDG) it was set up for a lefty even though the owner at that time was a righty. I restrung it, even though I'm a lefty, because I play righty.
Last edited on Wed May 23rd, 2007 08:08 pm by Philj200
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Boatwright
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| Joined: | Tue May 22nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Greensboro, North Carolina USA |
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 10:21 pm |
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banjo brad wrote: Boatwright-
Clawhammer isn't the only style of Old Time banjo playing. There are also 2 & 3-finger uppicking styles.
Art Rosenbaum has a method book out through Mel Bay, titled "The Art of the Mountain Banjo" that presents several styles of Old Time playing - Uppicking (Seeger style, basically), Downpicking (Clawhammer) and 2 & 3-finger uppicking (not Scruggs or Bluegrass). Comes with a CD, too.
For some 2-finger picking by one of the best there ever was check out the Will Keys site:
http://www.willkeys.com
Since you are a guitar fingerpicker, you might find this style more to your likeing. I'm trying to pick up some ability in the 2-finger style, myself, to compliment my clawhammering.
Brad
Thanks fo the info. I figured there were lots of ways, but the only ones you find online or clawhammer and 3-finger.
There's guy in my old hometown of Madison NC who has a combo stlye of both clawwhammer and 3-finger. Very cool sound.
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Charlie
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 10:30 pm |
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Hey Phil, I also am offering a big D uh as when I get where I think I know what the question is all about and later look at it and then question my answer and think I don't even know what I am saying.
Does that make any sense
Charlie 
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Charlie
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 10:37 pm |
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Boatwright, Sorry I got off the subject
The 2 finger looks very interesting and really sounds good and maybe something to look in to also it could be played on the regular banjo or the Dulcijo
Good luck with your quest and keep us informed
Charlie
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banjo brad
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 11:01 pm |
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Phil & Charlie-
I think if you held a dulcijo in your lap, with the short 5th string towards you, the only way to note the melody string would be to reach under the neck and finger the 1st string. Would play havoc with the wrist, I think.
(My  - I've only seen pictures of the dulcijo)
Brad
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Charlie
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Posted: Wed May 23rd, 2007 11:51 pm |
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You are correct Brad, It would be arkward to have to reach that way as you really don't strum all strings at one time as you do most dulcimers.
Another problem would be trying to keep it in your lap because of the light weight of the instrument.
Charlie
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Philj200
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Posted: Thu May 24th, 2007 12:06 am |
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Ah-hah moment coming: be ready.
"It would be arkward to have to reach that way as you really don't strum all strings at one time as you do most dulcimers."
--Ah-hah: My thinking that if the dulcijo is held flat on your lap, you would be playing it exactly as a dulcimer. No reaching around the neck, but simply touching the strings with your fingers (for chords) or using a noter. This would allow use of a flat pick or finger picking and with a little practice probably some frailing.
Of course, this begs the question of why you what to do this. And I have an answer... variety. You can do it just to get a different sound and different way to play.
On my little critter, I generally use a noter because the neck is so small chords are difficult. But I use all three picking methods (frailing, picking, flat-pick). I play with the dulcimette (my word) on my lap... or even on a table.
Last edited on Thu May 24th, 2007 04:06 pm by Philj200
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mark
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| Joined: | Wed Aug 23rd, 2006 |
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Posted: Tue Jun 19th, 2007 06:12 pm |
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So Boatwright - did you decide? what did you plump for?
I have a 3-string Burl Dulcijo myself.
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Boatwright
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| Joined: | Tue May 22nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Greensboro, North Carolina USA |
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Posted: Tue Jun 19th, 2007 09:49 pm |
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Im still undecided at the moment 
I've been incredibly busy this past month. I'm the artist on an upcoming graphic novel and a few weeks ago I realized the deadline the publisher gave us wasnt enough for us to finish. Im proud to say we caught up and may only miss the dealine by a day or two. It's a BIG book and a lot of folks are interested. Entertainment Weekly is begging for a preview copy. As much as i love my banjo, stuff gets in the way.
However, i have kept up with the boards. I just learned that Micheal Fox lives in Hickory NC, I believe it is. That's only a couple hour drive from me at the most. When i get this book under control Im going to email him and see when a good time would be to actually pay a visit. Then I can try them out first hand, and get some feedback from the man himself.
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Charlie
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Posted: Tue Jun 19th, 2007 10:36 pm |
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Thats good, Make your living first and then if you can, Get down and visit with Michael and play them all and choose a good one
Good luck with the book
Charlie
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