banjo question/right hand position

pennywise

im completly new to this intrument though i ve been playing guitar for several years. the right hand position is quite akward to me and theres a problem with the ringfinger and the little finger. im not sure if you are supposed to place both fingers on the head or just one of them. i see the need in placing both one the head because the pinky gets tired after bearing the whole hand for some time. i would do so but my ringfinger has the nasty habit of moving with his neighbor; the middle finger. how can i train my ringfinger so that he just keeps his place on the head? im certain this would do a great favor to my banjoplay development. there are surely some geeks out there to answer arent you? :-P

thanks for helping me

CroweFan · member Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Posts: 32 Location: Tennessee

I had a similar problem when I first started. My ring finger didn't want to move with the middle, but it wanted to seperate from the pinkie. I used to put both fingers together on the head in a playing position to get the correct relation to each other, then tape them together, a little piece of advise I got from Stewart Wyrick, banjo player from New Road Bow Down

. I used electrical tape, b/c it is kind of rubbery and has a little give to it which made the fingers feel less "trapped." I guess you could use a rubber band doubled up a few times if the tape feels too restrictive. Holding the fingers together eventually became second nature, and the tape is no longer needed.
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Do yourself a favor and go see Audie Blaylock and Redline if they are playing anywhere near you. If it's within your power, vote for Evan Ward as IBMA banjo player of the year. He is ridiculous.

RB-1

pennywise · Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:21 pm Post subject:

many thanks for your help! i certainly do appreciate your hints. i agree with you guys that the most im portant thing is a light touch; the problem is the opposite happens if i only use my little finger touching the head. i think it is nessecary to find a way keeping my ringfinger on the bridge and im making progress by tying up both. @RB - 1 but i will check out your links; again many thanks for your advice!

Music2Girl · new member Joined: 04 Feb 2010 Posts: 1

I would like to know the best way tune my banjo. Any advise? Pee Pee Dance

Tanker · Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: Tuning my banjos

RB-1 · Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 3:31 am Post subject:

The tuning used in over 90% of bluegrass banjo music is the G-tuning: gDGBd.
The middle three strings are tuned just like the guitar. (DGB)
The first string (d) is one note below the first string of the guitar, or one octave above the fourth string (D).
The (shorter) fifth string is tuned one octave above the 3rd (G) string.
Any questions so far? Come back here! Thumbs Up

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RB-1 plays with Heartstrings

aarenlainey · new member Joined: 27 Mar 2010 Posts: 4 Location: uk

Your right hand and arm (assuming you play right handed) should be relaxed but there has to be an anchor somewhere for consistency and the forearm above the wrist is probably the best place for both mandolin and banjo. I use the armrest placed all the way down to the tension ring on a banjo and have armrests on all my mandolins. That way I have the best angle for my hand with each instrument and am able to have a relaxed stroke. I touch the bridge on both instruments (make sure that you soften the edges of the bridge or you will have a painful experience) with my wrist but not anchor the hand there or it will effect the sound of the instrument. I also use my fingers to orient on the head and the strings.
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m3 zero