3 Tips For Playing Banjo Without Picks

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ต.ค. 2024
  • To LEARN TO PLAY FINGERSTYLE BANJO in any style (bluegrass/scruggs, old time 2 finger, 3 finger..) the Brainjo way, with or without picks, check out fingerstylebanj...
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ความคิดเห็น • 31

  • @matbarnett2664
    @matbarnett2664 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Very helpful video!
    I don't want to play with picks I mainly got a banjo just to relax and play for no reason at all :p

  • @sequencerman5
    @sequencerman5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Thank God! At last, a banjo picker who doesn't make fingerstyle banjo playing out to be pretty much illegal! I play fingerstyle guitar and I can't get used to putting those wretched picks on to play the banjo. Playing fingerstyle guitar or banjo is to me, as weird as this may sound, an 'intimacy' between the fingers and the strings. Surely the old-time banjo pickers must have used their fingers before thumb and fingerpicks were available ...? Anyway, many thanks!

  • @gavinclark4399
    @gavinclark4399 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I have never played a banjo in my life but I enjoyed this video

  • @matildatheoboldt2261
    @matildatheoboldt2261 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Playing guitar long before i picked up banjo and i always had an aversion to picks as i felt my hand is more versatile and my ADD makes it hard to keep track of of something most people lose hundreds of. I only use a pick if im playing lead but my nails are hard enough to play appreggios without. Also find its easier to switch playstyles on the fly with just skin

  • @nickc2837
    @nickc2837 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Still trying to train my ear a bit. Which tuning did you choose to go down to for the song? Wonderful playing, by the way.

  • @beauvisscher314
    @beauvisscher314 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    beautiful singing and playing!

  • @RobLang84
    @RobLang84 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Absolutely agree.
    I play ukulele and guitar also and I don't use any kind of pick on those so I naturally pick the same on banjo.
    And even then when I go back to guitar it sounds so quiet!!
    But .. I think if someone intends to play predominantly with picks they should definitely start out with picks all the time.
    It's a separate skill and hard to get right when you already play without...
    If any of that makes sense 🤣

  • @MosquitoBite82
    @MosquitoBite82 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks for the tips! And thank you for the song! You have a great voice and that was a lovely song!

  • @lynnglidewell7367
    @lynnglidewell7367 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Good information. I learned Banjo playing Pete Seeger style. Pete didn't wear finger picks often and even when he did he didn't wear a thumb pick. In his style of " claw hammer " playing he picked upward with his index finger rather then down as most do then strum downward with his other fingers before striking the fifth string with his thumb. Picking upward with the index gives you greater force with slides, hammer ons, and pull offs especially. I wear picks on occasion but playing without is my preference.

  • @leopoldbloom100
    @leopoldbloom100 ปีที่แล้ว

    Lovely performance of the song, Josh. To use the Nylgut strings, do you have to change the nut?

  • @cashmoney9256
    @cashmoney9256 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Great video. I play acoustic guitar and sing...mostly alone...singer songwriter type stuff. Just got a starter banjo and subbed. I bought a Rogue B30, which has a resonator and is kinda loud for everyone else in my family to put up with while I practice... i like a softer warmer sound anyway so I dont use picks.
    Gonna try those Aquila reds.

  • @davidpeterson4736
    @davidpeterson4736 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video and thanks for the great tips and ideas related to banjo I've been playing guitar for years and recently finding a love for the Banjo. 👍

  • @nunya2512
    @nunya2512 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Easier said than done they say but the way you explain it does make it easier….when you understand what’s being conveyed it is easier but it’s no excuse not to practice practice practice.

  • @tedtedsen269
    @tedtedsen269 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    we can also play closer to the bridge that gives me sharper or colder or sharper sound vs the normal place i cant stand finger picks i play bluegrass without them no one has called the copps on me yeth

  • @tomnelson3362
    @tomnelson3362 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    if you turn your strings down from G do you have to learn new chord shapes?

    • @fingerstylebanjolessons
      @fingerstylebanjolessons  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Nope - as long as the relative pitches between the strings are the same, the chord shapes will be the same.

  • @harvdog5669
    @harvdog5669 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Keep making videos, I like what your doing for people and myself..
    See there boys, we can play and pick on our own front or back porch. That was a beautiful song and you sang it just wonderfully.. keep the videos a,comin.
    From Harvey
    Plus I would like to add, playing slower like that really let's the banjo sing out foresure...
    BRAVO BRAVO

  • @jolox.
    @jolox. 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I don't use picks and prefer fingernails. Very nice song at the end! Going to subscribe to support your very informative channel!

  • @davidzanolla5415
    @davidzanolla5415 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great tips, especially the 2nd😉... by the way thanks for sharing your knowledge

  • @rogermcgrath4183
    @rogermcgrath4183 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great video!

  • @davidoverturf3465
    @davidoverturf3465 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi Josh, I've been admiring your open back banjo. What is the make and model? It sounds amazing. I've noticed the scoop. Do you use that part of the neck often? Keep up the good work and thank you for all the info. and education.

  • @thomaspedersen1835
    @thomaspedersen1835 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    Would these tips be advisable if I'm using the same open back banjo for clawhammer?

  • @johnhuggins3514
    @johnhuggins3514 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Hi Josh, really appreciate your videos, thanks so much for very efficiently tackling the difficult question of playing Banjo without picks! Formerly Banjo was my main instrument and guitar was second in line, so consequently i played guitar like a Banjo - three Fingers with picks and anchoring with pinky and ring fingers. After a long musical break i decided to make guitar my main instrument and learn how to play fingerstyle „correctly“ - four fingers, no picks, no nails, and no anchor. Needless to say, it required months before i could play anything at all, and i also discovered that standard string spacing was not working with my new picking style, which led me to the German guitar manufactureur „Lakewood“. I have recently began Banjo again, and wish to play banjo with my guitar finger style, which is working out ok, but feels a bit clumsy due to the thinner neck and reduced string spacing. My question is, should I just stick with it (playing a deering with 1 1/4 nut width), or would you recommend trying to find a wider neck banjo? It appears that the banjo you are using for this video has much wider than „normal“ neck. Thank you very much for any recommendations you can give me!🙏

  • @ethang6735
    @ethang6735 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Isnt finger picking without picks its on style? Maybe that was the point you were getting at with genre and i didnt understand, but in terms of style i believe it has its own name

    • @fingerstylebanjolessons
      @fingerstylebanjolessons  4 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      No, not a distinct style. You can play any style of banjo with or without picks. Bluegrass is the only genre where people generally expect to hear the tone of a banjo played with picks, but even in that there are exceptions to the rule.

    • @ethang6735
      @ethang6735 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@fingerstylebanjolessons maybe im thinking of two finger? idk, im new to the banjo world. Only been really interested for the last year and a half and have only been seriously practicing and taking lessons for about 6. Thanks for the info though!

  • @hal4192
    @hal4192 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is awesome. Although I use picks on Dobro I really don't like them on Banjo. ( I've just started playing Banjo).
    Great video. Thank you from the UK. 👍🏻🙂
    Edit. Superb version of Wildwood Flower. 👍🏻👍🏻
    Second edit..... Subscribed. 😁