As a beginner, it would have helped if the instructor had visually shown how the picks was worn on his fingers for a visual representation so someone like myself starting out would have known.
I boughy banjo when i was a bit drunk couple years ago, i still don't know why i did that but anyway i've had lots of fun learning to play it ever since :D cheers from finland!
Thanks, another great video banjoben! Even though I'm not a beginner, I watch just to see if I learn something, I often do. Something that I "picked" up on not too long ago was to stick a 1/4 cup of water in the microwave for a minute or two, stick my plastic thumbpick in the hot water for about 15s, then dig it out with a fork and mold it to my thumb. It's been a month or two since I made a video of your difficult groudspeed song, I'll post another of yours about two weeks.
@BanjoBen1 HAHA, I did EXACTLY the same thing for about 2 weeks. I wore the finger picks upside down thinking they were supposed to emulate finger nails!! . Im glad I wasn't the only one cos I felt so dumb when I found out the correct way !!
For impatient people like me: 3:24 to actually see a banjo pick (thumb). Then 4:51 to see the finger picks. Personally, I would have preferred a 45 second video.
also, a cool little hint if you find that your thumb pick does slide around on your thumb just a little is to take a knife and score a series of parallel grooves from the top to the bottom of the straight bit :D works rather well
Yes agreed, I also found a nice trick for that prob and prob of hooking your thumb pick on another string. Heat up the opposite end to the point, were it sits on your thumb and bend it in towards thumb with pliers. No more spinning and hooking up. cheers
really, I've always liked your video's and have been a member in the past. but can't afford to pay at this time. I was all excited to learn how to wear these darn finger picks and how to wear them which I hoped you were going to show how to mold them, so I could wear them...but you pulled the rug right out after all...lol-- guess I'll hang it back on the wall for a couple more years and stick to what I know better. I know I could learn from others but I like learning the right way and I trust that is from you. rant over:) join when I can afford to..
@GoldenbanjoDJ Haha! Don't feel bad! We all make dumb mistakes...I wore my finger picks backwards for weeks! What's worse is that I didn't know a banjo player so I went to a festival and found one that just came off stage and asked him. I can officially say, "J.D. Crowe showed me how to wear my picks!" Hahaha! THAT, is a FAIL!
0.018" is 18 thousandths of an inch. 18 hundredths of an inch thick stainless steel is nearly 3/16" and thicker than most mere mortals would be able to bend by hand... 😃
Another Best Banjo Joke : What do you call perfect pitch ? Answer: Throwing a banjo down a well and missing all the sides ! ( add that to your collection.)
Hey Ben I got some extra large picks of ya. Couldn't find any he in Oz, they,ve been great. You look like your up to something Shifty, or maybe it's just me. Lol. cheers
I recently ordered the golden gate perloid thumb pick in Large and I feel it is a tad too tight, I have the Earl Scruggs book and he says to dip it in warm water and slightly bend them with pliers, I am of course not doubting the man himself would just like to get your opinion, thanks Ben!
Thanks Ben. I play clawhammer style and use picks on my second finger that are designed for down picking. I like the perfect touch and the brass pro pik. Btw...when are you coming back to east TX? Again, thanks for your videos and instructive methodology. Keep it up.
@netadptr0719 A good plastic pick just sounds better in my opinion (I know it would make sense to wear a metal one since your finger picks are metal, but...), and they're more comfortable to wear. I think you'll dig it! Seriously, try out the Golden Gates...you may have to order them online.
What brand has a good thumb picks? Which thumb picks is better for your thumb, Metal or Plastic? I am just starting out on playing the banjo. Need some advice
David Nichols Hey David! I use Golden Gate plastic thumb picks. I've used metal in the past but like plastic ones better. They're not too expensive, so it's worth it to order an assortment and see what you like.
I know you more than likely know this, but probably just said hundredths by mistake. Maybe you could edit your video, probably not worth the effort. Just thought I'd bring to your attention .018" is thousandths of an inch not hundredths. The order after the decimal point is tenths, hundredths and thousandths.
I really appreciate your videos I have learned alot but finger picks don't work for me. I switched to the banjo from the classical guitar and due to that I have a few things that make finger picks really hard. when I play I don't use the middle of my thumb or the very ends of my fingers. the part of my finger I use is a little closer to the inside of my hand and roughly the same spot on my thumb. I also grow my nails out a bit. I am also used to just using my fingers and getting loud full tone. I have played my banjo with other people and had no problem being heard. I do really appreciate your videos. and I don't mean to sound like I'm just being contrary. I just want to point out my issues with finger picks so maybe if someone else feels like me they don't think they are alone in the struggle. also 13 year old habits are really hard to change
also I want to add that (at the risk of sounding like a jerk ) I don't really like the strict adherence to the way earl Scruggs did things that the bluegrass community has. I believe we should do everything we can to get the best tone out of our instruments with our playing technique before employing devices to enhance our tone.
@@nvdawahyaify you can’t get certain tones without finger picks. The purpose of them is for a certain style of playing. It’s the same thing as using a guitar pick vs finger picking. It’s not that one way is better than the other, it’s a preference.
+Banjo Ben Clark Thanx Ben. I'm still strugglin' with "Man Of Constant Sorrow", and for me, it is appropriately named, Har! I got 'er up to the pinch at the start of bar 6. Do you have a guitar rhythm lesson that uses the "DADGAD" tuning like the record? God bless. bg
@@BanjoBen Sorry I am having difficulty with this option on my phone called speech-to-text and I was wearing a 😷 mask. I went to a guitar center looking for finger picks, they only had ones for the thumb that is exactly like yours but it's curved so much that when you pluck the e string for example it gets stuck and pulls the string, like it grabs it... it's way too curved. Wow... anyways
@@NOOBNOOB007 Ahhh, got it. I thought you had bought something from us. Well, that's what you get with Guitar Center 😂 Sorry! We'd be glad to help, just give us a call at 833-226-5623 and we can make sure you get the right picks for you!
![🎤 จับฉลากร้องเพลง x P’ #XXSIVK [EP.1] (2/2) เพื่อนจับได้คำไหน..ต้องร้องคำนั้น เริ่ม! 💓🎶 #MXFRUIT](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1bJvMJXmeS4/mqdefault.jpg)
![Bluegrass Banjo Right Hand Technique [pt. 1]](/img/n.gif)
As a beginner, it would have helped if the instructor had visually shown how the picks was worn on his fingers for a visual representation so someone like myself starting out would have known.
I boughy banjo when i was a bit drunk couple years ago, i still don't know why i did that but anyway i've had lots of fun learning to play it ever since :D cheers from finland!
Thanks, another great video banjoben! Even though I'm not a beginner, I watch just to see if I learn something, I often do. Something that I "picked" up on not too long ago was to stick a 1/4 cup of water in the microwave for a minute or two, stick my plastic thumbpick in the hot water for about 15s, then dig it out with a fork and mold it to my thumb. It's been a month or two since I made a video of your difficult groudspeed song, I'll post another of yours about two weeks.
i missed the part about how to actually wear the picks. oh wait...
Exactly!! I wasted 6 minutes watching this garbage to find out it was a marketing ad. BS!!
@@michaela8614 Me too! NOT time well spent.
Thanks Ben ,just got a pair of the yates finger picks ,WOW great sound and no FINGER PAIN.
@BanjoBen1 HAHA, I did EXACTLY the same thing for about 2 weeks. I wore the finger picks upside down thinking they were supposed to emulate finger nails!! . Im glad I wasn't the only one cos I felt so dumb when I found out the correct way !!
For impatient people like me: 3:24 to actually see a banjo pick (thumb). Then 4:51 to see the finger picks. Personally, I would have preferred a 45 second video.
also, a cool little hint if you find that your thumb pick does slide around on your thumb just a little is to take a knife and score a series of parallel grooves from the top to the bottom of the straight bit :D works rather well
Yes agreed, I also found a nice trick for that prob and prob of hooking your thumb pick on another string. Heat up the opposite end to the point, were it sits on your thumb and bend it in towards thumb with pliers. No more spinning and hooking up. cheers
@@daveandrews6670 10 years later and I still love the tricks. Ta bro!
@netadptr0719 I used a metal one for a while, but you need to move towards a plastic one...I really like the Golden Gate thumb picks!
really, I've always liked your video's and have been a member in the past. but can't afford to pay at this time. I was all excited to learn how to wear these darn finger picks and how to wear them which I hoped you were going to show how to mold them, so I could wear them...but you pulled the rug right out after all...lol-- guess I'll hang it back on the wall for a couple more years and stick to what I know better. I know I could learn from others but I like learning the right way and I trust that is from you. rant over:) join when I can afford to..
You remind of anders from workaholics
@GoldenbanjoDJ Haha! Don't feel bad! We all make dumb mistakes...I wore my finger picks backwards for weeks! What's worse is that I didn't know a banjo player so I went to a festival and found one that just came off stage and asked him. I can officially say, "J.D. Crowe showed me how to wear my picks!" Hahaha! THAT, is a FAIL!
thanks Ben i f...... love ya dude. Thanks for the info. I love banjo.
0.018" is 18 thousandths of an inch. 18 hundredths of an inch thick stainless steel is nearly 3/16" and thicker than most mere mortals would be able to bend by hand... 😃
It's 3am and I said to myself "what"?
He just revealed he doesn't have a shop.
Another Best Banjo Joke : What do you call perfect pitch ?
Answer: Throwing a banjo down a well and missing all the sides !
( add that to your collection.)
Do the plastic thumb picks wear down ( the point get rounded, etc.) or lose their strength and need replacing? mine seem to but not sure
i started with 2 plastic finger picks and a metal thumb pick. fail
Hey Ben I got some extra large picks of ya. Couldn't find any he in Oz, they,ve been great. You look like your up to something Shifty, or maybe it's just me. Lol. cheers
I recently ordered the golden gate perloid thumb pick in Large and I feel it is a tad too tight, I have the Earl Scruggs book and he says to dip it in warm water and slightly bend them with pliers, I am of course not doubting the man himself would just like to get your opinion, thanks Ben!
Hey man had same prob. Yes I just used a cig lighter and pliers. But also found some extra large picks. Luck
Thanks Ben. I play clawhammer style and use picks on my second finger that are designed for down picking. I like the perfect touch and the brass pro pik. Btw...when are you coming back to east TX? Again, thanks for your videos and instructive methodology. Keep it up.
.018 is 18 thousands, not 18 hundreds
@BanjoBen1
that's not fail, that is epic WIN lol :D
thanks for these vids, i'm off to check out the dueling banjos one :)
@netadptr0719 A good plastic pick just sounds better in my opinion (I know it would make sense to wear a metal one since your finger picks are metal, but...), and they're more comfortable to wear. I think you'll dig it! Seriously, try out the Golden Gates...you may have to order them online.
Thanx Mate, will try. Bu, Budda, Da!!! Gb bg
Are rolls all the same or who can use any combination.
What brand has a good thumb picks? Which thumb picks is better for your thumb, Metal or Plastic? I am just starting out on playing the banjo. Need some advice
David Nichols Hey David! I use Golden Gate plastic thumb picks. I've used metal in the past but like plastic ones better. They're not too expensive, so it's worth it to order an assortment and see what you like.
I know you more than likely know this, but probably just said hundredths by mistake. Maybe you could edit your video, probably not worth the effort. Just thought I'd bring to your attention .018" is thousandths of an inch not hundredths. The order after the decimal point is tenths, hundredths and thousandths.
I really appreciate your videos I have learned alot but finger picks don't work for me. I switched to the banjo from the classical guitar and due to that I have a few things that make finger picks really hard. when I play I don't use the middle of my thumb or the very ends of my fingers. the part of my finger I use is a little closer to the inside of my hand and roughly the same spot on my thumb. I also grow my nails out a bit. I am also used to just using my fingers and getting loud full tone. I have played my banjo with other people and had no problem being heard. I do really appreciate your videos. and I don't mean to sound like I'm just being contrary. I just want to point out my issues with finger picks so maybe if someone else feels like me they don't think they are alone in the struggle. also 13 year old habits are really hard to change
also I want to add that (at the risk of sounding like a jerk ) I don't really like the strict adherence to the way earl Scruggs did things that the bluegrass community has. I believe we should do everything we can to get the best tone out of our instruments with our playing technique before employing devices to enhance our tone.
@@nvdawahyaify you can’t get certain tones without finger picks. The purpose of them is for a certain style of playing. It’s the same thing as using a guitar pick vs finger picking. It’s not that one way is better than the other, it’s a preference.
which fingers do you put them picks on.Does it really matter? you never did say.
when you go from guitar to banjo do you change picks or do you use the same picks?
Brian Hariot
my friend uses a guitar pick on his banjo
I think it depends on what your comfortable with
What microphone are you using?
Hey Mate, Tried to find the rest of this video on your site, but to no avail? Gb bg
+george scarlett Howdy! It's the 3rd lesson on my basic banjo lesson page: www.banjobenclark.com/videos/4/basic/
+Banjo Ben Clark Thanx Ben. I'm still strugglin' with "Man Of Constant Sorrow", and for me, it is appropriately named, Har! I got 'er up to the pinch at the start of bar 6. Do you have a guitar rhythm lesson that uses the "DADGAD" tuning like the record? God bless. bg
Banjo Ben Clark - bad link
Omg I just spent $12 on a pick set. Did I just get ripped the heck off? Ugh newbie problems.
No, I don't think so. The finger picks I use cost more than that. You typically get what you pay for.
That makes sense. I was just thrown off when you mentioned how they typically run at about a dollar. Thanks, Ben!
Well, I tried, but no matter how I login, it just keeps sending me back to the LOGIN page?? Gb bg
+george scarlett Please send me an email through the contact form on the site. I'll be happy to get you straightened out ASAP. Thanks!
Dude, you could have just showed us how to wear the picks! The way you did that is not cool.
*_-Anyways...-_*
I'm honestly having a hard time understanding what you typed, I'm sorry.
@@BanjoBen Sorry I am having difficulty with this option on my phone called speech-to-text and I was wearing a 😷 mask.
I went to a guitar center looking for finger picks, they only had ones for the thumb that is exactly like yours but it's curved so much that when you pluck the e string for example it gets stuck and pulls the string, like it grabs it... it's way too curved.
Wow... anyways
@@NOOBNOOB007 Ahhh, got it. I thought you had bought something from us. Well, that's what you get with Guitar Center 😂 Sorry! We'd be glad to help, just give us a call at 833-226-5623 and we can make sure you get the right picks for you!
@@BanjoBen Thanks brother!