I wondered if anyone would have any thoughts on this? I was lucky enough to get hold of the beautiful "Old-time Mountain Banjo" book by Art Rosenbaum recently, and on his summary of the essentials of down-picking, he writes that one important thing to remember is : "keep the right wrist flexed forward. You may see city banjo pickers and even some traditional musicians frailing the banjo with their wrists straight, or even bent backwards; but even if you like the sound they get, you will be able to produce it better holding the wrist as I suggest and do much more that they would find difficult." Since reading that, I've been - when I remember - trying to get rid of my habit of holding my wrist straight - but it does seem harder, and I don't even know why I'm doing it since Art doesn't go on to explain... Since I haven't so far seen this suggestion anywhere else (though I'm a recent player), I wondered if any of you had anything to say about it?
12 Comments |
 | lukeaskance says:
4/10/2011 2:35:06 AM
PS But I guess that since I live in Toulouse, France, that makes me a "city picker", doesn't it...?!
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 | captbanjo says:
4/10/2011 9:55:29 AM
Gosh, there are thousands of ways to hold the wrist. Find a comfortable position that brings good tone and go to work!
Yesterdays facts are piled up in the waste basket...
Wayne
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 | Urban Hillbilly says:
4/10/2011 11:14:33 AM
I have yet to see two people holding their wrists the same way, playing over the same part of banjo, etc. I look at players I admire and take (steal) a little from each of them.
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| Urban Hillbilly says:
4/10/2011 11:15:46 AM
I have yet to see two people holding their wrists the same way, playing over the same part of banjo, etc. I look at players I admire and take (steal) a little from each of them.
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 | Bob Buckingham says:
4/10/2011 5:11:54 PM
Do what is comfortable, otherwise you won't want to keep playing.
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 | INFP47 says:
4/11/2011 3:51:12 PM
I once had a banjo lesson with Bob Carlin and he was appalled that I bent my wrist. He said it should always be straight - go figure. I've held it straight ever since. He also yanked out the rag I had behind the head. He hates stuffing the banjo. He was strict but he did let me play his banjo.
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 | MWBailey says:
4/13/2011 9:07:28 PM
Funny, I've tried holding my wrist rigid, but on the few occasions when I've managed to do it successfully, I've not been able to frail very well with it that way. I tend to alternate between perching my hand on the head and pivoting it in that position (for a muting effect), and/or just waving away in the air over the strings; either way, my whole arm & hand, from elbow to wrist and beyond, pretty much moves in whatever way is necessary.
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 | tridentum says:
5/8/2011 6:48:22 AM
I cannot get a good angle of attack holding my wrist rigidly. Furthermore, it takes additional energy to do so. I prefer a more relaxed approach. It is all a matter of preference, ultimately. Do what sounds good for you.
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 | mgoers says:
5/13/2011 9:52:08 AM
My observation is that the best players have a very effortless style, including R Buck & Bob Carlin. I think the key is finding a comfortable position for your arm & hand over the strings that allows you to perform as effortlessly as possible.
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 | mulepacker says:
5/23/2011 4:27:21 PM
Hmmm...been playin' on and off for 30 years and don't have a clue how I position mine. Probably different each time. Play and enjoy and don't get too hung up on it.
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 | slc says:
7/11/2011 11:17:44 PM
I started with that book! It's a good one for sure.
Do you mean flexed toward/away from the head, or flexed parallel to the head, toward/away from your noggin?
In my own case I thought I had - and had been told by others that I had a relaxed hand. But when I looked at some videos I recorded I definitely had a downward (parallel to the head) can't. Then I realized it IS straight - if you drew a line from my INDEX finger to my wrist. The rest of the hand must shift of course, and thus the 'flex' - that is actually straight!
It makes some sense I guess - that straight line means the hand can work less as it rolls forward along that line; less work means (or should mean) more relaxed.
I think I still have some videos posted - take a look and you'll see what I mean (some are jigs - the principle still hold, but there should be a 'normal' tune or two anyway).
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 | Common Tater says:
10/31/2011 4:20:18 PM
The guy that taught me - long ago - said: "copy my lick 'til you git one of yer own".
I think the same goes for Rosenbaum's book. If you learned with a straight wrist because you were copying your teacher, there's nothing wrong with that. Later, if it makes more sense for you to do things differently, don't beat yourself up over it.
As long as you sound good to you (and to people who aren't really your friends), that's all that matters.
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