| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kevin |
Posted - 09/18/2007 : 1:38:36 PM
Hey guys...just curious if anyone would be interested in a Power Tab of Stream on banjo? I've been playing for a few days now, and have about half of it figured it out. Probably move on to Impermanence or You Are My Sanity next... |
| 18 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Hopeful Rolling Waves |
Posted - 10/27/2007 : 12:30:00 PM
Jay I caught him play Ants in NYC, absolutely incredible. He was yakking up a storm about the stupid ant book though...freakin' Leo. |
| gnome44 |
Posted - 10/19/2007 : 11:17:14 PM
"Ants" is now on Youtube. I love hearing anything new by Leo!
And this one is quite good. I've heard mention of this song from a few other people...I'm glad I finally got to hear it.
Leo's the best...well, really he's 2nd best... |
| Jay |
Posted - 10/18/2007 : 3:59:06 PM
I play hybrid style, something I picked up watching Chris Whitley...flatpick and two fingerpicks...I learned how to use a thumbpick and fingerpicks just by DOING it. Try with them in different positions, wear them even when you aren't playing (I wore them in school...nobody asked questions.)
I agree that bare fingers have a warmer, smoother tone, and for some songs that is what's needed. Jeff Lang often switches between picks and no picks.
Some players, like Bob Brozman, use fingerpicks to strum...or, whatever you'd like to call what Bob Brozman does (look for "Heavy Metal" on youtube.) There are things you can do with them that you couldn't do without them. But there are things you can do with bare fingers that you couldn't do with fingerpicks (unless you are Bob Brozman.)
I personally hate thumbpicks, they constantly feel as if they're coming off. Not sturdy enough. That's why I play hybrid style, it's a combination of so many things and is a pretty versitile system considering not many players use this style to much affect. (Dave Matthews does occasionally use it, more as a picking technique than a strumming one. Think of Chris Whitley's playing. That's Hybrid style.) So it's almost like new territory.
I agree about Leo Kottke. It doesn't matter WHAT he's playing that thing with. Have you heard his new tune, "Ants?" I don't think it's recorded yet, but he played it last time I saw him...fantastic.
TR definately get's the job done without them!
Banjos sound fine with bare fingers...not as crisp, maybe, but who says you have to use them? I don't use them, I'm more into the "old-time" banjo styles, clawhammer and whatnot. Ever hear of Dock Boggs? scariest music I've ever heard, really affecting stuff. Or Richie Stearns from the Horseflies? He's an old-time style player, but uh...you'd have to hear it.
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| gnome44 |
Posted - 09/28/2007 : 4:56:21 PM
I actually prefer not using nails. I keep my thumb nail kind of long...actually it's just long enough so that I don't rip the pad off of my thumb, but short enough that you don't really hear the nail hit the string. To me, skin on string gives a warm, mellow tone...nails (or picks) can be too harsh...
But I guess it really depends on what you're playing, and how you're playing it. Leo Kottke with fingerpicks...GREAT! Leo Kottke without fingerpicks...GREAT! Tim Reynolds without fingerpicks...GREAT! Michael Hedges with ping pong balls...GREAT!
It's 6 one way, a half dozen the other... |
| dan p. |
Posted - 09/28/2007 : 4:00:41 PM
one of my teachers told me about the ping pong ball thing.
i don't really like fake nails, though. you just don't get the same sort of tone. if you grow your nails and file them in a slight slope (going upwards to the right) you can get this really dark, warm, full sound. rest strokes are easier, too. on classical, anyway. |
| gnome44 |
Posted - 09/28/2007 : 04:45:19 AM
Actually, just yesterday I saw a really cool series of videos (I haven't finished watching them yet...). It's from some lecture Michael Hedges did at a college about playing, composition, etc.
The first video deals heavily with using ping pong balls for fake fingernails...and why other methods are bad for you...
Pretty cool...
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=michael+hedges+seminar&search=Search |
| Ranting Thespian |
Posted - 09/28/2007 : 02:11:26 AM
if you use nails, do 1 of 2 things
Be like my friend Mark and put super glue on them
or
Be like Paul McCartney, and use fake nails.
Of course, they use it for strumming down with their finger nails, but the same thing can be used to pick with them. |
| gnome44 |
Posted - 09/27/2007 : 9:39:12 PM
And you can end up looking like a freak. |
| dan p. |
Posted - 09/27/2007 : 9:06:35 PM
easy solution for fingerpicks. grow some nails instead. you get better tone and they're more precise. only downside is you have to take care of them or they chip and break and shit. |
| Fluffy |
Posted - 09/27/2007 : 8:29:58 PM
Interesting that banjo, Bela and TR have been brought up again. I thought it worthy of mention with all the talk of fingerpicking that the intro section to TR's "Che" was directly inspired by Bela Fleck. For the full story on that you can see the following thread and look for my post there:
http://www.timreynolds.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5845
ENJOY!! |
| Arthen |
Posted - 09/20/2007 : 02:45:53 AM
Over the years I've slowly grown accustomed to the idea that I will never be Bela Fleck...
...some days it hurts more than others, but I live.
I hate fingerpicks too, but I can use the thumb pick to some success and tried using it for some guitar stuff as well ala some of my favorite Hawaiian slack-key guitarists. |
| JTR |
Posted - 09/20/2007 : 02:41:52 AM
I've tried over the past few years to learn banjo sans finger picks... I'm satisfied with the sound I get, but I still need to get my finger speed up for some of those rolls, especially the M and A since I use PIMA. |
| Kevin |
Posted - 09/20/2007 : 01:28:40 AM
^^ Yeah yeah I think that's what we've been talking about; the actual finger PICKS, not the technique...
I bought a pack of steel finger picks, and than a couple of different plastic style thumb picks. In general they piss me the fuck off... |
| Ranting Thespian |
Posted - 09/19/2007 : 12:37:37 AM
I love finger picking, but without picks. There is one exception, and I rarely use it, is a thumbpick. Not a typical one for a banjo, but it's shaped like a regular guitar pick. But, I barely use it. |
| Kevin |
Posted - 09/18/2007 : 2:46:59 PM
I really don't blame you. It sucks. But, if you can train yourself to learn how to use them effectively, you can play fingerstyle and fast licks without stopping to grab a pick. Check out John Butler or Bela Fleck...it's so cool to hear how fast they go ;) |
| gnome44 |
Posted - 09/18/2007 : 2:42:39 PM
Yeah, I know what you mean, I'm anti-fingerpicks...at least for guitar... |
| Kevin |
Posted - 09/18/2007 : 2:29:17 PM
Yeah yeah...as soon as I can get proficient at these stupid finger picks. I can play fine without them, but it doesn't sound how I would like it to sound.
After playing bass and guitar for many years, it's hard as shit to play with tiny extensions on your fingertips :P |
| gnome44 |
Posted - 09/18/2007 : 1:43:01 PM
Screw the tab...how about some audio and/or video! That could be sweet! |
