Help: What is a 'frailing scoop'

Subject: What is a 'frailing scoop'
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 01:35 PM

Just started frailing/clawhammering/whatever, still playing my student bluegrass banjo and thinking about upgrading to something with less twang and more thump. Anyhoo, the instrument I have since fell in love with comes with this feature and I was wondering if one of you old time vets could please explain. Yes, I did a forum search and found nothing. BTW new here, very nice site composed of very nice posters. Thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Help: What is a 'frailing scoop'
From: MMario
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 01:39 PM

what someone else has to say about it

Subject: RE: Help: What is a 'frailing scoop'
From: Dead Horse
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 01:42 PM

It's the bit on the end that picks up doggy do, therefore making the instrument usefull.

Subject: RE: Help: What is a 'frailing scoop'
From: BlueSage
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 01:53 PM

I suspect your talking about a modified fingerboard where the frets adjacent to the pot are removed and the fingerboard is shaved down or "scooped". This makes it easier to play with the right hand held over the fingerboard to get a mellow sound.

Mike

Subject: RE: Help: What is a 'frailing scoop'
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 02:01 PM

yes, exactly. curious if this as seen as a big advantage. it is slightly unsightly. Isn't the thumb hitting the head an integral part of the frailing style? is this not impossible with you hand not directly above the head? Are the missing frets a problem? it seems (from what little I know) that old time tunes seldom call for playing that far up the neck. is this a correct assumption? Thanks again, and lets keep the lame banjo jokes to a minimum, if at all possible.

Subject: RE: Help: What is a 'frailing scoop'
From: BanjoRay
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 06:33 PM

It depends what music you play, and where you come from. If you want to play Dwight Diller type West Virginia music, you hit the strings so that the thumb just catches the head. However, Round Peak (between Mt Airy NC and Galax VA)players are after a mellower clear sound, without the rap on the head you get from Dwight's method, so you move your hand a few frets closer to the peghead. If you want to hear what it sounds like, listen to Tommy Jarrel, Fred Cockerham, or Riley Baugus among others. These guys are often playing fretless banjos. Brad Leftwich has a book of tabs showing how it's done - a very characteristic sound, and not too easy, but well worth learning.

Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: Help: What is a 'frailing scoop'
From: GUEST,greg stephens
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 07:12 PM

Wasnt that part of Adam's dish-clettering equipment in Cold Comfort Farm? Or perhaps Seth had one fitted to the scranlet?

Subject: RE: Help: What is a 'frailing scoop'
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 07:32 PM

Thanks BanjoRay! I am not quite sure yet of the style I would like to try to emulate, but the folkways recording of Tom Ashley 60-62 sounds very interesting to me. How would this music be described in terms of geography/style?I have no idea what you are talking about greg, but thanks anyway.

Subject: RE: Help: What is a 'frailing scoop'
From: BanjoRay
Date: 19 Jun 02 - 07:44 PM

To me, Tom Ashley's style sounds unique to him - I don't think you could give it a regional name, though I believe he was from North Carolina. Lovely stuff, though. I love doing my version of his version of Walking Boss. Greg was having a bit of fun with the fake countrified way the characters speak in the novel Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons.
Join the Banjo-L mailing list - you'll get some great advice from a lot of good folk who really know what banjos are all about!

Cheers
Ray