Piccolo banjo

[John Cohen]

In banjo orchestras, was the piccolo banjo played fingerstyle or with a plectrum?  My fiancee is interested in learning an instrument to accompany classic banjo playing and to bring to ABF rallies, but due to a thumb injury on both her hands she cannot move her thumb enough to play fingerstyle banjo.  I was thinking piccolo with a plectrum might be the answer, but only if it is historically accurate.

[Jody Stecher]

Piccolo banjo is played with the fingers. That's why it has a thumb string.  but the right thumb is very active in handing a plectrum. it does not flex but it does bear down on the plectrum just a bit, enough to keep it from flying away. It's a lid of sorts, if you know what I mean.  Still, it's mostly wrist motion. But the left thumb is worrisome. it's pretty hard to play any string instrument with a fingerboard without moving the thumb here and there as chords and positions are changed.

[John Cohen]

I realize... I'm first and foremost a guitarist so I'm familiar with plectrum playing.  Because of the nature of the injuries (very specific tendon problems she developed playing harp) she can use a pick and won't have problems pressing the back of the neck with her thumb- it's just the constant picking with the right hand thumb in fingerstyle that would be a problem.  She plays the bones to accompany early banjo but has nothing to do at the ABF rallies (she wants to go but doesn't want to just sit there).  Unfortunately the ABF doesn't allow other period accompaniment instruments into the rallies like mandolins or mandocellos, piano (keyboard), 4-string cello banjos, etc. 

[Shawn McSweeny]

The ABF's mandate is to celebrate and preserve fingerstyle CB. During the folk boom, new attendees appeared, playing bluegrass with fingerpicks. They had little interest in CB or its preservation and were eventually shown the door.

While a fine pianist attends, she is present mainly for soloist accompaniment at special concerts.

From the ABF's perspective,  there are few, if any, other venues in the US for CB, while there are plenty of opportunities for plectrum and fingerpick users to get together elsewhere.

[John Cohen]

I'm starting to think a 5-string Cello banjo might be the way to go after watching this videos of Marc Dalmasso playing one (great playing, by the way).  He seems to rarely if ever use his right hand thumb.  Correct me if I'm wrong...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wW-41I1kyc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRrKGcRLSFo

 

[Shawn McSweeny]

You are correct. 

Four string cello also acceptable if the strings are nylon/nylon wound and tuned same as classic cello's long strings.

[John Cohen]

I had considered 4-string cello banjos but according to the ABF's rules any cello banjos at the rallies have to have five strings.

As far as cello banjos go, I've heard that the Gold Tone ones don't sound great for classic style.  Should I just find a 12'' or 13'' rimmed banjo and string it as a cello?  Savarez makes strings that are thin and heavy enough to be tuned an octave down.

[Shawn McSweeny]

You might want to experiment with your proposed string setup on a banjo you presently own first. Once you're happy with the string tension and playability, you can be pretty sure that setup will transfer suitably to a 12" or 13" rim banjo. FWIW, I use the bottom 4 strings from a classical guitar set on my 26" scale 19th c. cello banjo.

Some reassurance for your friend, regarding scale length and playability : while larger rim banjos typically have longer scales, requiring more of the left hand, cello playing involves fewer notes per measure than solo or 2nd, and is generally less demanding of the left hand.

[David Wade]

Interestingly, we (Clifford Essex) have just been asked for a set of cello banjo strings for the 5-string Goldtone. I have been using a very elderly 14" open pot with a z-b type neck as cello for many years no problem - slight adjustment to the nut and bridge to take heavier strings and jobs a good'un.

[Trapdoor2]

I'm using Savarez guitar strings on my CB (I use the 4 bass strings + an extra G for the 5th string). They're the only strings I could find that were long enough for the Stewart's 29" scale and guitar-style tuners. I think it is the 2nd or 3rd string that is the major "length" problem. The first set I bought had to have an extension tied in below the bridge.

I use my thumb a lot playing the CB...but as Shawn said, less demanding of LH fingering and I could pretty much substitute any other plucking finger.