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nando
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Posted: Fri Sep 30th, 2005 06:42 am |
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Is it a good idea?
Or should a beginner stick with just one of them?
I ordered a beginners clawhammer book and DVD after reading many recommendations online.
If I want to get a beginners method for bluegrass/3finger picking,
Which one would you recommend?
Why?
Ta
nando
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kurtk
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| Joined: | Sun Feb 20th, 2005 |
| Location: | Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 113 |
| Instrument Interest: | Ukulele, Clawhammer Banjo, Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Other |
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Posted: Fri Sep 30th, 2005 12:10 pm |
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I don't know if this helps or not, but:
I started off with the Roy Clark 3-finger style book (hadn't heard of clawhammer). It is a great book. I learned nearly every song in that book and was getting smooth when I discovered clawhammer, bought a book, printed tabs from ezfolk, and started practicing. I found that I really liked clawhammer because it sounded better solo, was a better style for strummin' and singin', is the "original" way to play banjo, and I like not having to mess with picks ;~) I haven't played any 3-finger again and have forgoten all I once knew.
I would concentrate on one style for a few weeks, then maybe try the other for a few weeks and see how it goes. Just plan on starting at the beginning of the second style's book because it will feel completely strange at first ;~)
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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: Fri Sep 30th, 2005 07:25 pm |
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Nando-
A great place to start 3-finger pickin' without investing a lot of money is right here in Richard's tutorials for Bluegrass Banjo. That way, you can see if you like the style and want to continue to explore it. Then, you can seek out some method DVDs/books to further your studies.
 Keep on pickin'
Brad
(who has tried and tried to get the rolls, but only able to get the kind you eat  )
____________________
http://www.PricklyPearMusic.net
Banjo Brad's ezFolk page
Tucson Old Time Music Circle ezFolk page
TOTMC Home Page
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Patrick_Woolery
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| Joined: | Thu Sep 22nd, 2005 |
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| Posts: | 35 |
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Posted: Mon Oct 10th, 2005 11:40 pm |
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While they really are two very different ways to play, there is no reason to be exclusive if you want to try both. I see it as being analogous to learning both fingerpicking and flatpicking on a guitar. Two different ways to play the same instrument, but both are valid and wonderful in different ways. And a lot of guitar players do both. Don't know how many banjo pickers can play both ways, but a fair number can.
My suggestion is to spend a while getting the basic clawhammer strum down solid before you start the bluegrass rolls. Or vice versa, but give yourself time to actually learn one before you tackle the other. And don't spend a lot of money on books at this point. The resources on this site for both bluegrass and frailing are plentiful enough to keep you busy for years.
If you are like me, you might benefit greatly from a video or two. I learn better if I see someone doing a technique before I try to learn it. Not everyone learns like I do, so don't spend too much cash. There are suggestions on videos in the various banjo fora on this site, so I won't repeat them.
-Patrick
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nando
Approved
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Posted: Tue Oct 11th, 2005 06:28 am |
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Thanks to all for the advice. For now I'm trying to have a bit of control strumming and changing chords. From time to time I try picking. It seems easier to learn clawhammer first and then retrain your right hand to pick. Its also kinder to others ears!
I have Ken P book. Is very good. The advice in this (and other like the howandtao) websites is magnificent and really generous.
Unfortunately there are few audiovisual material available here because of the different TV and DVD standards (NTSC v PAL and Zone 1 v 2). I've tried to get some of Ken Perlman videos or DVDs through Amazon and the like (even placed the order), but they have to refund me because they can't get any copies. The reason I said this is because I don't know lots of the folk songs in the tuition books and it always leaves you with the doubt weather you're achieving a close rendition to the written music. So, I have to ask around.
By the way, the response is great.
Thanks to all.
Nando
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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: Tue Oct 11th, 2005 04:02 pm |
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Nando-
Check out that Dominator site. There are words and midi files to most any song you might be looking for. There is also information on the history behind the song.
Keep on pickin'
Brad
Also, ask around, and check the web for sites in the UK, it is a hotbed of American folkmusic!
____________________
http://www.PricklyPearMusic.net
Banjo Brad's ezFolk page
Tucson Old Time Music Circle ezFolk page
TOTMC Home Page
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GW in Ohio
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| Joined: | Wed Nov 15th, 2006 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 49 |
| Instrument Interest: | Clawhammer Banjo, Bluegrass Banjo, Guitar, Harmonica |
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Posted: Fri Nov 17th, 2006 04:47 pm |
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My reasons for switching from Scruggs style to clawhammer were similar to yours, Kurt.
Clawhammer is better suited to solo playing and it goes better with singing for many songs.
But......
There are some songs that just go better when accompanied by Scruggs-style 3-finger picking. Each song has a rhythm of its own, and for some songs, a smoothly flowing Scruggs-style accompaniment works best.
I don't have my playlist in front of me, and I don't remember specific songs that work this way. But when I do use fingerpicks and Scruggs style-playing, I just use a variant of the forward-backward roll with alternating bass strings.
Works for me......
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Patrick_Costello
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| Joined: | Sun Jan 22nd, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 45 |
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Posted: Mon Nov 20th, 2006 06:43 pm |
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For av stuff, there are four 1/2 hr frailing videos here: http://www.archive.org/details.php?identifier=frailing.banjo
The contents of our old time banjo CD ROM are also on archive.org.
As for sticking to a singular picking technique - the thing to keep in mind here is that the technique is just what you use to pick the strings. Any technique can be used to play any song - and while three finger and frailing sound different on a superficial level, the division between the two techniques gets blurry once you move into more advanced phrasing.
If you keep jumping from technique to technique nothing is ever going to gel. You might be able to memorize the notes for a few tunes using a handful of tunes down picking and a handful of tunes up-picking - but that's as far as you'll ever go. Instead of a musician you'll just be a guy who knows a few songs. Nothing of yourself will ever come into your music.
Pick one. Get the basics down. Let the rest happen on it's own because as you gain fluency in the language of music your viewpoint will change and new paths will open up to you.
-Patrick
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