Great thread. I'm a novice banjo player (I had a friend give me her unused-sitting-in-the-garage banjo) and I only pick it up now and then, when I get burned out on guitar. Anyway, I've got a couple of questions for the experts.

First, I hate finger picks and have pretty much decided to abandon them. Now, I realize that Scruggs style/bluegrass picking almost requires them in order to get that crisp sound. What I'm wondering is whether some (or most) of the old time players (like Uncle Dave Macon, Bascom Lunsford, and Clarance Ashley) played bare fingered. Or did they use finger picks too?

Also, could someone explain in a little more detail how some of those old time players get that "Clipity-clop" sound? On some recordings of Clarance Ashley ("The Coo-coo Bird") it's so clear you'd almost swear someone was playing wood blocks in the background. Does it have to do with where you pluck the strings or how? I've been baffled by this for some time now.

Thanks, Bryant