Comment by thereallyniceman on May 26, 2011 at 18:24

I am no expert on getting strong Bass notes, as they are all drowned out by all my other strong notes!

Yes, I know, I do pick too hard, but I find it hard not to, now that I have developed cast iron finger tips.

...  BUT there is one thing that you MUST get right for strong bass notes and that is the correct striking angle of the thumb onto the string. If the wrist is too straight the thumb picks the bass string sideways or even worse, upwards. Put a slight upwards arch in the wrist and suddenly the thumb picks DOWNWARDS onto the string to give the great bass sound...try it!

Comment by Mike Moss on May 26, 2011 at 19:34

Yes, I came to that conclusion via trial and error... I strike in an almost downward motion, with the thumb quite straight, forcing the bass string downwards, and it works -- I even get the Mighty Fret Buzz of Awesome (which, as it name indicates, means that the note is so rich in Awesome, that it bursteth forth from its fretted boundaries) as in Bill's recordings!

Comment by Trapdoor2 on May 26, 2011 at 20:52

I tend to both float and anchor...just depends on the needs of the piece. I really prefer to play bass notes "floating" and treat them as a classical-guitar "rest stroke" where the thumb comes to a rest on the next adjacent string (3rd).

Like Ian, if the piece is difficult, I tend to weigh heavily on my Bluegrass pinky anchor. However, early on I worked on several pieces (such as "Berkeley March") specifically floating and can now switch off as needed.

Comment by Steve Harrison on May 27, 2011 at 8:38

I once had the privilege of spending a day with Bill Ball at his home in Bristol about ten years ago. He was probably my main inspiration to persevere with classic banjo. His dexterity using the floating right hand was amazing and a suppose this has had some influence on me. I also play piano accordion and I think that the muscle development of my right hand fingers somewhat conflicts with that needed for the banjo. Whenever I try to play with the anchored fourth finger, my other fingers stiffen up and refuse to work.

Comment by thereallyniceman on May 27, 2011 at 17:04

Thank you for the posts Steve. How lucky you are. I never got to meet Bill Ball. I would have loved to have met him and seen him pay.

I had heard that he had very definite views on what was the right way to play or the right banjo to use when it came to playing Classic Style. I found it amusing to watch him play 'A Banjo Frolic' on this Youtube video:

A Banjo Frolic

I heard that Bill pitied people who bought CE Paragon banjos as they were too flashy and  a waste of money and also those who played a CB banjo with a resonator, as only open backs should be used!

In the video the resonator has been removed and a rag place under the flange to stop Bill's leg being cut off... watch the very last chord of the piece . You can see Bill's utter contempt for the instrument  :-)

Pity really, cos I love my Paragon!  It looks like I had better get mine and throw it on the bonfire!

Anyone got a match?

Comment by marc dalmasso on May 27, 2011 at 18:23

yes , me too , i really didn ' t know that it was possible to be paid just to see him play ...

Comment by thereallyniceman on May 27, 2011 at 18:48

Hmm,  

I must get a decent English spell checker.

The French one that I use is definitely a bit too clever for its own good !     

:-)

Comment by marc dalmasso on May 27, 2011 at 19:16

 

Do you think Bill ' students were allowed to have this kind of banjo ' head ? ? 

Comment by Sylvia on May 27, 2011 at 22:07

Now isn't that pretty !!! Wonder how it plays ?

Comment by Trapdoor2 on May 28, 2011 at 13:34

Blindingly, of course.

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