For enthusiasts of fingerpicked oldtime banjo: share your favourite music, swap playing tips, post your tunes.
144 Members, Created 4/12/2011 - 
Administrators: hobogal (owner)
From hobogal on 5/28/2013 4:55:12 AM
Hi folks - there was an interesting review of Nick Hornbuckle's book: 'Old Time Fiddle Tunes for 5 string banjo' in the latest Banjo Newsletter. This has been available before as 2 separate books direct from Nick Hornbuckle here on the Hangout (I have both books already). I would recommend this book if you are interested in OT fingerpicking and/or experimenting with different tunings.
Anyway, I know some people have asked what is different about OT fingerpicking style compared to say, Scruggs or melodic playing. Tom Adams (the reviewer) makes an interesting observation that in the oldtime fingerpicking: 'slides, hammer-on's and pull-off's abound' and so it is a challenge to play fast - you need to work on the timing. I think this is a key difference - instead of a smooth run of notes, as in melodic-style, the melody is really carried in the pull-off's and hammer-on's. It keeps the left-hand busy!
Also, with Scruggs playing there is more of a forward-roll momentum going on - plus those distinctive bluegrass 'fill-in ' licks - whereas someone like Dock Boggs would use more in/out rolls and pinches.
Hope that helps.
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