Help: Irish Banjo picking techniques ?

Subject: Irish Banjo picking techniques ?
From: GUEST,Les B
Date: 24 Jan 01 - 09:25 PM

A couple of years ago, after a trip to Ireland, I bought a 17-fret tenor banjo and messed around with it for about a month, not getting much satisfaction out of the sound.

Last night I heard a local musician who is a fine penny whistle player and is just starting on banjo. He seems to really have the right sound/technique - with triplets on almost everything.

I came home and did a little research on the net and found an Irish Banjo site where they briefly discussed picking, but not to my enlightenment. What is the pattern for that style - Down - up, down, up - or Down, down, up, down, or what ? And what are the triplets played on - the next notes of the chord the melody note is in, or just any handy adjacent drone string ??

Also, on the banjo site there was mention of using a plastic "thimble" and a diagram, but not a very clear explanation of how it was used.

Can anyone out there start me down the right path to that unique sound ?? I play guitar, mandolin, and 5-string banjo, so I understand some things, but not this !! Thanks.

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Banjo picking techniques ?
From: Jimmy C
Date: 24 Jan 01 - 09:54 PM

When I play a triplet I usually play the note below the regular note, then the regular note , then the note below it again,(e.g. DED or EFE etc) At the start I just played the regular note three times until I got the hang of it. Up and down strokes or down and up depending on what direction the note before the triplet is played. Thats how I do it and it works ut fine.

The thimble is just a piece of 3.4"plastic PVC piping, like the type used by plumbers. Cut a piece about 3/4" to 1" long and cut at an angle one edge, so that it looks somewhat like a mouthpiece for a clarinet , only smaller. It has to sanded with really fine emery paper #0000 to get a smooth finish, It is used much the same as a finger pick for a guitar except you have to hold the index finger with my thumb and 2nd finger just as I would hold a flat pick. There are few methods, you just have to experiment to find the one that suits you best. I don't really like the thimble, and find them a little too thick and prefer to use a flat pick instead. Hope this helps.

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Banjo picking techniques ?
From: Les B
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 02:11 AM

Yes, that does explain the thimble a little more.

I see that I've got three or four of this thread running !

My apologies - it didn't seem to transmit like when I hit the "submit" button earlier this evening so I gave it a couple more taps for good measure. I hope one of the computer gurus can remove the duplicate threads -- Joe Offer ??

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Banjo picking techniques ?
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 02:22 PM

Les, try this out: www.halshawmusic.co.uk its the home of Sully's Banjo's, run by Tony Sullivan aka Sully, it has everything anyone could want to know about Irish tenor banjo and more besides. Cheers, Dave

Subject: RE: Help: Irish Banjo picking techniques ?
From: Les B
Date: 26 Jan 01 - 12:33 AM

Thanks Zander, I'll have a look!