Classic-Banjo
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Brushing the strings
Lately I've been working a lot on my tremolo and tremolo-related techniques. I'm still hopeless at finger tremolo (I can keep it smooth for a few bars but then my finger becomes fatigued and it falls apart) but now I've run into a technique which I had never seen before called "brushing the strings" in a solo. I looked it up and found it described in Joe Morley's tutor and in the Grimshaw tutor.
Joe's description is extremely vague:
So, I'm brushing the strings, but at which speed? How should it sound?
The Grimshaw tutor says it's a form of tremolo, so I assume it should be relatively fast:
Furthermore, in practice, I don't understand how I'm supposed to do it. For my forearm to rest near the tailpiece, I need the banjo to be almost horizontal, which makes fretting the strings very difficult, and the instrument is completely out of balance in that position (especially due to the truss rod) and tends to fall forwards.
Does anyone know how this effect should be accomplished?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sylvia on
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No me, but why don't you do Guitar style Tremolo ( as I mentioned some time ago ) ie Right Hand 3rd middle and first. Have a look and listen to Jonn Williams on YouTube playing Recuerdos.... I am positive that's they way he plays it and he out does everyone. And , after all a Banjo is a stringed instrument as is a guitar.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Moss on
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I tend to do Guitar style tremolo as often as I can, but unfortunately it isn't possible to play chord tremolo with the alternating fingers method. I've been working on this piece as of late (here it is played by Van Eps):
The "Massa's in the Cold Cold Ground" intro requires the finger wiggle tremolo over three-note chords, which is why I've started studying it again.
Likewise, I've been working on an arrangement of "Home Sweet Home" (yes, I've been brushing up on the "characteristic" sentimental repertoire) which is mostly guitar-style tremolo but which includes a chord tremolo ending as well as "brushing the strings".
Unfortunately the finger wiggle is the only way to manage it, unless I learn how to do it from the wrist like Doug Back does it.
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Hi Mike, glad to hear you are doing mainly guitar tremolo. Be careful of the finger wiggle, it may cause RSI. Looking forward to listening to your new arrangements.
Mike Moss said:I tend to do Guitar style tremolo as often as I can, but unfortunately it isn't possible to play chord tremolo with the alternating fingers method. I've been working on this piece as of late (here it is played by Van Eps):
The "Massa's in the Cold Cold Ground" intro requires the finger wiggle tremolo over three-note chords, which is why I've started studying it again.
Likewise, I've been working on an arrangement of "Home Sweet Home" (yes, I've been brushing up on the "characteristic" sentimental repertoire) which is mostly guitar-style tremolo but which includes a chord tremolo ending as well as "brushing the strings".
Unfortunately the finger wiggle is the only way to manage it, unless I learn how to do it from the wrist like Doug Back does it.
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Permalink Reply by Jody Stecher on
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RSI by gently alternating a single finger on soft nylon strings? I never heard of that. Have a look at these clips. Where there is no stress there is no stress injury.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WolXsnQWvhw&feature=results_vide...
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Permalink Reply by thereallyniceman on
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I think that the word "stress" is the problem here. RSI or RMD injury is not dependant on over "stressing" it can be caused by repetition, even without stress. So perhaps one should be careful with these repetitive finger wiggles.
Check Wikipedia:
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) (also known as repetitive stress injury, repetitive motion injuries, repetitive motion disorder (RMD), cumulative trauma disorder (CT), occupational overuse syndrome, overuse syndrome,regional musculoskeletal disorder) is an injury of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems that may be caused by repetitive tasks, forceful exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression, or sustained or awkward positions
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Have looked ,and noted, might give it a try sometime. Might being the operative word, as it makes my fingers ache just watching it.
Jody Stecher said:RSI by gently alternating a single finger on soft nylon strings? I never heard of that. Have a look at these clips. Where there is no stress there is no stress injury.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WolXsnQWvhw&feature=results_vide...
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Hi Ian , thanks for the Wiki link.
thereallyniceman said:I think that the word "stress" is the problem here. RSI or RMD injury is not dependant on over "stressing" it can be caused by repetition, even without stress. So perhaps one should be careful with these repetitive finger wiggles.
Check Wikipedia:
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) (also known as repetitive stress injury, repetitive motion injuries, repetitive motion disorder (RMD), cumulative trauma disorder (CT), occupational overuse syndrome, overuse syndrome,regional musculoskeletal disorder) is an injury of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems that may be caused by repetitive tasks, forceful exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression, or sustained or awkward positions
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RSI ? Could this be a lesson for us all ? The treatment seems a bit drastic though!
George W Gregory
The year of 1895 had been the high point in Gregory’s career. It was also the year in which he published his Practical Fingering for the Banjo in serial form in S. S. Stewart’s Banjo and Guitar Journal. Considered revolutionary for its time, the method adapted for the banjo the most approved violin, piano, and guitar theories for efficient fingering. Gregory had long held the theory that the banjo should be studied and practiced in the same manner as any musical instrument.
After 1895, the reorganized version of his trio never achieved the same success as the original, judging from the low frequency of press reports. Additionally, Gregory had developed a paralysis of the second right hand finger, probably from excessive practice, which surgery failed to correct entirely.
His career further complicated by business problems, he ended his life with a bullet to his head May 2, 1902.
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I guess banjo playing was his life, poor soul. And a dodgy second right hand finger would also rule out a lot of other instruments too. Mind you I suppose he could have played with a plectrum.
thereallyniceman said:RSI ? Could this be a lesson for us all ? The treatment seems a bit drastic though!
George W Gregory
The year of 1895 had been the high point in Gregory’s career. It was also the year in which he published his Practical Fingering for the Banjo in serial form in S. S. Stewart’s Banjo and Guitar Journal. Considered revolutionary for its time, the method adapted for the banjo the most approved violin, piano, and guitar theories for efficient fingering. Gregory had long held the theory that the banjo should be studied and practiced in the same manner as any musical instrument.
After 1895, the reorganized version of his trio never achieved the same success as the original, judging from the low frequency of press reports. Additionally, Gregory had developed a paralysis of the second right hand finger, probably from excessive practice, which surgery failed to correct entirely.
His career further complicated by business problems, he ended his life with a bullet to his head May 2, 1902.
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Do the players appear to be hurting or uncomfortable? They do not. I do not believe in No Pain/No Gain. I believe in No Pain/No Pain.
Sylvia said:Have looked ,and noted, might give it a try sometime. Might being the operative word, as it makes my fingers ache just watching it.
Jody Stecher said:RSI by gently alternating a single finger on soft nylon strings? I never heard of that. Have a look at these clips. Where there is no stress there is no stress injury.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WolXsnQWvhw&feature=results_vide...
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Hi Jody ,Must admit ,the players do seem to be very happy in what they are doing, and two of them would seem to have been playing for a good many years,and the young lady has probably been playing from a very early age. So you see, I'm afraid I just cannot compete even if I wanted to. However I have been brushing up on the three finger guitar Tremolo, which I started a good few years ago when I was having guitar lessons. It might just be ready for an airing in the next millenia.
Jody Stecher said:Do the players appear to be hurting or uncomfortable? They do not. I do not believe in No Pain/No Gain. I believe in No Pain/No Pain.
Sylvia said:Have looked ,and noted, might give it a try sometime. Might being the operative word, as it makes my fingers ache just watching it.
Jody Stecher said:RSI by gently alternating a single finger on soft nylon strings? I never heard of that. Have a look at these clips. Where there is no stress there is no stress injury.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WolXsnQWvhw&feature=results_vide...
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Permalink Reply by Ruth Ellen Cooper on
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Being a classical guitarist who has only recently taken up the banjo, I doubt you want to follow the classical guitar tremolo of Recuerdos de la Alhambra. I've worked on that piece occassionally over the last 30 years and always give up and I have a degree in classical guitar. That type of tremolo would fit better with clawhammer style banjo since it involves hitting the strings with the outside of the nail in a downstroke rather than the inside of the nail with an upstroke as we do in classical guitar or classic banjo. Joe Morley's description sounds like more like mandolin tremolo. I've been playing mandolin for nearly 30 years and I still can't get the hang of the mandolin tremolo either! It seems to require a very light and precise touch. Anyway I figure there's plenty of music to play without tremolo so I'm not going to get hung up on it.
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