Anchoring.

[Joel Hooks]

So who anchors their little finger?

I try to follow the techniques from SSS, and thats the way he taught in his Journal.

Sometimes I float, most of the time I rest my little finger.

Advantages? Disadvantages?

-Joel Hooks

[Carl Anderton]

Mostly anchor/sometimes float pretty well describes my playing, too, Joel. The only disadvantage I can think of to anchoring is it might get in the way a little bit when executing those big three finger and thumb chords with the right hand.

I think I have a Cadenza discussion on anchoring somewhere.

[Trapdoor2]

One finds things like the "Hartnet Tone Enhancer" on some banjos of the era. Just a simple strip of metal to "anchor" upon rather than the head. I use my pinky (being a former Bluegrasser...though I never was able to plant both ring and pinky) but taught myself to play "Berkeley March" using the float method. Just depends on the needs of the tune...and your hands.

[marc dalmasso]

yes i rest my lil finger ; i am not sure about technic of the great US & Uk banjoists like Joe Morley or Fred van Eps . But i am pretty sure think they didn 't rest most of the time , because there were playing & practicing all day long , and this could be hard when anchoring the lil finger , easier when resting the arm on the armrest , i think this is the good way but , for the time , i don t do that .

[Ray Jones]

There is a lot to be said, about both systems. Leting you hand float free or resting the third and little finger next to the bridge, to give it stability. You get a better sound with the free floating hand, but I am unable to play this way, as I never quite know where my fingers are. Where could one obtain one of those guards that fit across the vellum below the bridge. I think they would be great, as you could anchor your finger and not deaden the sound of the vellum. I have no idea what they are called or how they attach to the banjo, but they seem to be the answer. Why they are not more popular I have not idea.

[thereallyniceman]

Yes, little I have a big dirty brown mark on the vellum. I didn't realize that the end of my little finger was so unsanitary :)

[Joel Hooks]

Most of the time I prefer the staccato produced from anchoring. Some pieces I just have to let her ring.

Ray, fabricating one seems like it might be pretty easy. Though, attaching it the old "Dobson patent" might prove challenging (LOL).

Here are a couple ideas I found,

http://www.google.com/patents?id=_cV9AAAAEBAJ&dq

http://www.google.com/patents?id=jsJ9AAAAEBAJ&dq

I like the 2nd one better as it seems like it allows better tone control.

The main reason I have not made one (I have considered it) is aesthetics. I think it would look odd. I much prefer the black smudges.

[Carl Anderton]

That second patent claims the additional benefit of "the head...prevented from becoming discolored and rendered unsightly..."

I think with most banjo players unsightlyness is pretty much a given.

[Trapdoor2]

Hey! I resemble that!!