Looking for a new banjo style

Subject: Looking for a new banjo style
From: DonMeixner
Date: 13 May 02 - 10:14 PM

For years I have played a very rhythmic style of frailing and when I wanted a melody line I flat picked my five string. I have long thot that Pete Seegars basic style was a good working style for players who rely more on vocal music than instrumental. I think that it is also the style that Tommy Makem uses. It also sounds like the style Dave Guard used early on in the Kingston Trio.

I have never been able to decipher the TAB for this style in Pete's Red Banjo book. Does anyone have a mnemonic to help learn this? Or can you more clearly describe whats going on?

I have read that a book of Dave Guard's Trio TABS has recently been released. Has anyone seen the book?

Thanks up front for all the solid advice I'm sure will come this way.

Don

Subject: RE: Looking for a new banjo style
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 14 May 02 - 03:35 PM

Don - you could try Jimmi Hendrix style and play with your teeth ! :)

Subject: RE: Looking for a new banjo style
From: SharonA
Date: 14 May 02 - 04:40 PM

I just recently borrowed the Pete Seeger 5-string banjo book from my local library, to try to learn the instrument from scratch – see the "Should I buy this banjo?" thread – and I thought Pete's anatomical mnemonic of "bum-titty-bum-titty" (for rhythm strumming) was... um... sufficiently graphic for me to remember it always!

Subject: RE: Looking for a new banjo style
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 15 May 02 - 04:42 PM

The odd part Sharon is that the "ty" part of Titty comes before the bum Tit. Ty bum Tit so to speak. My limited experience fooling around with this is that one uses their frailing finger (the Bum) to pick out notes that are melody oriented.

I'm confusing myself now -

Steve

But I know what I mean - *G*

Subject: RE: Looking for a new banjo style
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 May 02 - 05:59 PM

Pete Seeger explained it pretty well in his instruction book record. Of course now it's a video, I don't know if that's better.

Subject: RE: Looking for a new banjo style
From: BlueSage
Date: 15 May 02 - 08:17 PM

You may find that combining styles might help you find a "new" banjo style.

Try a two or three finger pattern on the verses and then your frailing style on the choruses.

Try adding an up stroke with the index finger if you normally frail (down pick) with the middle finger. This can give you an approximation of a plectrum banjo style within the context of a frailing tune.

If you normally just use a "rhythmic style of frailing", try learning the "melodic" style of clawhammer. This will enable you to coax softer, almost classical, sounds out of the frailing style. Ken Perlman's books are an excellent way to pick up on this style.

Most of all, keep experimenting with your technique. Pete Seeger's style (styles?) is so engaging because he doesn't limit himself, or his instrument of choice, by sticking to only one style of playing (or one style of music!).

Keep pickin'.....Mike

Subject: RE: Looking for a new banjo style
From: GUEST,Al
Date: 15 May 02 - 08:31 PM

Want to try something that will force you to change your style a little? Try tuning your banjo to "funny G". First, capo second fret and put it in double D tuning. Then, lower the fifth string and the third string to G (one octave apart, of course). This is funny G. It's real good for some tunes like Sandy River Belle and Charming Betsy. It doesn't chord real well, though, so it will get you out of Pete Seeger mode in a hurry. Al

Subject: RE: Looking for a new banjo style
From: GUEST,668 the neighbour of the BEAST
Date: 16 May 02 - 09:26 AM

Try using a chain saw

Subject: RE: Looking for a new banjo style
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 16 May 02 - 12:40 PM

In a more serious vein, you might try using a flat pick. It gives a bit more punch then frailing, yet you still follow the same melody lines.

There was a thread on this a few weeks back. Now that I think about it, you probably were one of the contributors ?

Subject: RE: Looking for a new banjo style
From: chip a
Date: 16 May 02 - 01:07 PM

Just browse the pages of a Homespun Tapes catalogue, or visit their website. There are many books and videos available to learn from. Tab has become a lot more uniform since the days of Pete Seeger's red book.

Chip