Rasps

[John Cohen]

What is the proper way to execute a rasp?  Do you rake down the strings with the nail of the index finger?

[Shawn McSweeny]

"The Rasp is an effect produced by drawing the fingers smartly across the strings with a downward movement, starting with the fourth finger and following with the third, second and first." -Joe Morley's banjo Tutor

Thumb rasp is produced by drawing the thumb smartly upward across the strings.

[thereallyniceman]

I have always struggled to get a clear tone with a "forwards" rasp like Shawn describes.  I turn my hand over, so the back of my fingers, and nails, face the vellum and explode my fingers across starting with the first  to the  fourth.  It gives a much more dramatic sound to the rasp.

It was the way I was taught when I learned George Formby style of Uke-banjo playing. (I was never very good at that either)

;-)

[Trapdoor2]

LOL. I'm not sure "tone" and "rasp" go together.

[thereallyniceman]

Maybe it is just me but I didn't think that tone and rasp were mutually exclusive, are they???

I never could manage to get a clarity of each string when attempting to rasp the chord the "forwards" way starting with the little finger. My fingers seem to catch the next strings and I get a buzzy muffled sound.

But, for me, when using a backwards rasp each note of the arpeggio rings out clearly.

But what do I know??

[Trapdoor2]

I don't know either, Ian...but I equate "rasp" with a grating, atonal sound. When I do it, I look for more 'noise' than tone.

It depends, of course. When I'm performing a cadence (example: the two rasps at the end of "Banjo Oddity"), I don't esp. need to hear a chord out of the first one (downward rasp on a D7) but I think the thumb rasp (Gmaj) needs to have a little tonality to it. Even so, if the audience has been listening, their brains are probably primed for that cadence and as long as you hit the timing...all is well!

[Jody Stecher]

When I play a rasp —on either side of the bridge — I'm looking for a noise.

[thereallyniceman]

When I use the term "rasp" I agree with Jody that they can be a noise...but also like in Tony's  Spanish Romance video they are a delight of crisp "rasped" notes.... these ain't a noise!

BUT, I don't seem able to get the notes as crisp as this without turning over my hand!!!

  ...grrrr

Check from 1min 40seconds to see what I mean:

[Trapdoor2]

I stand corrected, Ian. I do hear the chord coming thru there. Two things I notice, Tony has a very smooth (and relaxed) articulation of fingers when he opens his hand to create the 'rasp'. That is, each finger is nicely spaced and independently moves across the strings (as they should) with a minimum of wrist movement. No showmanship, no flashy fingers...just comfortable and clean.

[Joel Hooks]

[thereallyniceman]

TBj always made quite a racket when playing. Even the quiet bits were loud :-)

Certainly TBj's rasps are more of a "noise" than those by Tony. BUT you have reminded me of another other technique I have never managed to master either.. the rasp on the drum head  (1min 28 seconds in).. how does he do that??????

[Trapdoor2]

LOL. TBj does indeed make a lot of noise!

Those drum head tricks...I can make 'em...but only with three fingers. Can't make any noise at all with my pinky!

So...I have to do the "shave and a haircut" with three...and it ain't easy to do fast.

[Jody Stecher]

I think TBj may be using the pinky for support on the vellum, a la Earl Scruggs, as he uses longer stronger fingers to bang on the drum. Unlike Earl, this is three finger flicking instead of three finger picking. It goes by very fast but I think I see him rest the fingers on the thumb and then release them in sequence. In order to get past the thumb more force needs to be mustered. It's the same technique I used to use to shoot pennies across the table at lunch hour in the school cafeteria. It's also a technique for shooting marbles.  The image of TBj is bigger and clearer on youtube and when viewed there what I'm describing can be seen as plausible.

Trapdoor2 said:

LOL. TBj does indeed make a lot of noise!

Those drum head tricks...I can make 'em...but only with three fingers. Can't make any noise at all with my pinky!

So...I have to do the "shave and a haircut" with three...and it ain't easy to do fast.