Jerry Garcia Banjo Question

Subject: Jerry Garcia Banjo Question
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Apr 02 - 04:33 PM

I was listening to "Old And In The Way" the other night and I starting wondering how Jerry Garcia managed to play the banjo. A lot of you know the he was missing part of his middle finger on his right hand down to his first knuckle. I can imagine that it wouldn't be a problem when he was playing electric guitar - but how did he manage to play bluegrass banjo so well. The middle finger is kind of important.

Did he play with two fingers? Use his ring finger? Use the stub on his middle finger? I'm stumped - but what I don't know about the banjo would fill volumes. Does anyone have any good answers ? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Jerry Garcia Banjo Question
From: michaelr
Date: 26 Apr 02 - 04:48 PM

I don't know about Jerry's banjo playing - but when playing guitar he used the pick-and-fingers technique a lot: flatpick between thumb and index finger, third finger and pinky available to pluck strings.

Garcia was quoted as saying that the middle finger stub came in handy to tuck the pick away and fingerpick with the other three.

I sure miss ol' Jer...

Michael

Subject: RE: Jerry Garcia Banjo Question
From: Wesley S
Date: 06 May 02 - 04:07 PM

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