Playing style of Roscoe Holcomb (Guitar)

Subject: Playing style of Roscoe Holcomb (Guitar)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 18 - 02:30 AM

Does anyone know how did Roscoe achieve such a banjo-ish sound on his guitar? The only thing i managed to find is that he used a GGDGBD tuning for his guitar. Any information on chords or strumming patterns he used?
Thanks!

Subject: RE: Playing style of Roscoe Holcomb (Guitar)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 18 - 04:36 AM

Got any examples?

Here you can see pretty clearly what he is doing, and he is obviously using standard tuning, but then I don't think this sounds much like a banjo:

Roscoe Holcomb, Graveyard Blues

Subject: RE: Playing style of Roscoe Holcomb (Guitar)
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 16 Aug 18 - 05:14 AM

On Youtube there are also clips of him playing banjo.
RtS

Subject: RE: Playing style of Roscoe Holcomb (Guitar)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 18 - 03:24 PM

Of course he is very well known as a banjo player ... I assume the original GUEST did not just mistake his banjo playing for guitar.

Subject: RE: Playing style of Roscoe Holcomb (Guitar)
From: The Sandman
Date: 17 Aug 18 - 02:49 AM

he plays thumb melody style on banjo, which often involves using first string as a drone, as well as fifth. more or less something similiar ion guitar but leaves 5 string out, this works in g tuning and sawmill dgcd, sawmill can be adapted for guitar dgdgcd

Subject: RE: Playing style of Roscoe Holcomb (Guitar)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Aug 18 - 09:20 AM

Thanks a lot,sandman!isn't the dgdgcd tuning going to rip my strings?

Subject: RE: Playing style of Roscoe Holcomb (Guitar)
From: GUEST,guest molasses
Date: 24 Aug 18 - 09:29 AM

No, use lightgauge or medium light.You are tuning down apart from second B

Subject: RE: Playing style of Roscoe Holcomb (Guitar)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Aug 18 - 12:38 PM

Sorry,quite a Newvomer here,you mean I'll have to change strings with lighter ones?

Subject: RE: Playing style of Roscoe Holcomb (Guitar)
From: GUEST,Cj
Date: 24 Aug 18 - 12:56 PM

Just retune the strings you have.

So

eadgbe

To

dgdgcd

Very small changes

Subject: RE: Playing style of Roscoe Holcomb (Guitar)
From: GUEST,harpgiddyup
Date: 24 Aug 18 - 10:24 PM

Ask Pete Peterson

Subject: RE: Playing style of Roscoe Holcomb (Guitar)
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Aug 18 - 10:37 AM

Yep,i have tried it and it is the DGDGCD,Only With a little modification i made,which sounds nice :DGDGDD
Sounds more banjo-ish