Playing Banjo Thumbless?

Subject: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: Peter T.
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 10:51 AM

In the 6/8 thread, thread creep began on different fingers people used to play 3 finger banjo, and/or clawhammer. Given that the thumb on the fifth is so central, does anyone know of anyone who plays (played) without the thumb -- either due to loss of thumb by accident, or just to do it? Pure speculative interest (I have both thumbs, though one is often in my mouth when contemplating my lack of talent).

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 11:19 AM

I'm stumped. My uncle had a wooden leg---from the knee up. Bu, then again, uncle was different.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 11:25 AM

Sorry, that was tacky as hell of me.

BOB GIBSON, on his early records, strummed more than anything else and he avoided the thumb string back then but had fine effect anyhow while performing. Later on he incorporated the fifth string more in rolls and arpeggios. But that was by choice. Have you lost a thumb? If so, all the best to you. Please pardon my well-known insensitivity just to spring a pun again, and again, and again...

Art

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: Amos
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 11:29 AM

Peter:

First thing to do is to pull your thumb out of your mouth!! LOL! I suspect you have more talent than you know what to do with. It's the little technical bits which have to be assembled first that are the hard part. Once they are realy assimilated you'll be in love with yourself at how talented you are!!

I believe there was a story here long ago about someone playing without a thumb due to accident and adapting to it very well, but I would have no clue where to find it.

Art, for shame!! You'll have us all crying Uncle at this rate!

A

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: chip a
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 11:41 AM

My stumbling attempts at 6/8 time include use of the 5th string but the thumb is used on the other 4 pretty constantly. Using thumb on the 1st string takes some getting used to but it opens up some more possibilities for melody. I guess if my thumb was to come up missing I'd angle my hand differently and try to add a new finger to the mix.

Chip

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 12:03 PM

Well, if it was a four string banjo played Irish style it needn't realy make much difference. Some people reckon that's better played with a "thimble" on the index finger instead of a plectrum anyway. (An Alaska pick would serve.)

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 12:03 PM

I sometimes feel like I have three thumbs, does that help?

Jerry Garcia was missing part of a digit, but I can't reall which one or which hand.

I said to my wife with the wooden leg, "Peg, you stump me, how do you keep those stockings up, Thumbtacks?"

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: jimmyt
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 12:17 PM

The real tragedy is that Art's uncle has since lost his wooden leg to Dutch Elm Disease!

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: wilco
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 01:24 PM

I don't use my thumb, but I probably should. It's a bad habit, and you can't play clawhammer style. It makes it real hard on your index fimger nail.

Wilco

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: Wesley S
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 01:43 PM

Steve - Jerry Garcia was missing most of the index finger of his right hand. It ended at his knuckle. So his banjo picking was done with his thumb and first finger. I guess it's possible that he used his ring finger - I don't know about that.

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 02:16 PM

I know a one-armed guitar-player who plays quite well. He plays an electric guitar in open D tuning and uses a lot of hammer-ons and pull-offs plus picking open strings with his little finger. He's always a big hit at area festivals. If he can play a guitar with one arm then playing banjo with no thumbs would be a breeze.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: C-flat
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 02:56 PM

I once knew a thumbless banjo player, he could play o.k. but couldn't hitch a lift to save his life!

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 03:12 PM

C-Flat,

That's cruel, heartless and cold, and I love it.

I've tried playing legless a few times without much success.

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: X
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 05:13 PM

Steve, Wesley:
Garcia picked his banjo with his thumb, middle and ring fingers. I do know of a guy in Mule Shoe, Texas that picks bluegrass banjo with his index, middle and ring finger of his right hand. He had lost his thumb as a child in a farming accident. I tried it and it can easly be done.

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: Venthony
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 05:42 PM

Twenty and more years ago at Winfield I once sat open-mouthed and watched our friend Art Thieme play "Freight Train" after turning his guitar upside down so as to play it both backwards and left-handed. ('Fess up Art. I know you can do it.)

Given that, I would say about anything is possible.

Also -- and I wish I could recall the band's name -- I saw a group six or seven years ago at a Festival in Sedalia, Mo. I think they were from Alabama. At least it was somewhere in the deep Southeast.

The banjoist -- a VERY capable Scruggs-style player -- had only one or two fingers on his left (fretting) hand due to a birth defect. Naturally he barred a lot of stuff and played almost everything in G, but he made up for it with extrememly deft and complicated rolls.

He also told the following story:

"We played a date in Mississippi a while back, and a little girl there ran home and told her mama, 'MA! MA! I saw these fellows a-pickin', and the banjo was crippled!'"

LOL Tony

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: Peter T.
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 05:45 PM

Thank you, (I avoid saying thumbs up). yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Playing Banjo Thumbless?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 12 Sep 02 - 07:31 PM

there was a chap years ago who attended the 'tuning fork fc' in boughton,[chester uk]who had only one hand. he played 3 hole pipe & tabor. he sang too! brilliant so he was!