Here are my, for the most part, useless thoughts about right hand technique. Enjoy!
Пікірлер: 55
@markcassidy42329 ай бұрын
Gabe, your instructions are not insanity. You give a lot of inspiration to persons wanting to learn to play bluegrass banjo. Keep up the insanity!
@spencerhall71579 ай бұрын
You've got some of the best banjo instructional content on KZfaq; I always like seeing a new video from you. I've struggled a lot with right-hand picking on the banjo, so this was really useful to watch.
@garykaufman81289 ай бұрын
I don't see your instruction as insanity or nonesense, Gabe...what you've taught just makes sense to folks who struggle getting a consistent, clear tone from their instrument. Even common sense to you and me will be a mystery to many...your advice is valuable, and many will benefit from it, I assure you.
@OldBanjer9 ай бұрын
Thanks for doing this video. Some great stuff to experiment with.
@adkBanjo9 ай бұрын
Thanks Gabe! Weird that other instructors miss (avoid?) telling the plain truth about right hand playing styles - and generally *force* a hard line on 3rd & 4th finger planting in an annoying polemic - as well as all the other wrist positioning(s) you spoke of in your video. For the record I am a 4th finger banjo head floater (super light and often not touching the banjo head at all) and my 3rd (ring) has a tendency (pun intended) to shadow follow my middle picking finger unfortunately - so planting it doesn't work as if I do try it ends up scraping the banjo head creating an unwanted scraping sound. Super glad you made this video. Now I don't feel weird any more although my band mates still think I am weird, probably always will.
@Bassnbanjos9 ай бұрын
Excellent advice Gabe, even for someone that’s been picking a while it’s good to revisit these things and do an honest assessment of your right hand. That’s the motor so you gotta get that horsepower flowing lol
@MadameM.9 ай бұрын
Thank you for this - your instruction and playing are some of the best there is. Love new videos from you!!
@Mckinleyflies5 ай бұрын
Hey Gabe, I’ve been struggling with tension, mainly my index finger locking up on alternating thumb rolls among other issues for 6-7 months. It’s been real bad. This video pointed out two major things that I was doing wrong and allowed me to correct those issues in one day! My hand was tensing up and flattening as I increased speed and I was picking out away from the banjo. I focused on holding my hand like i was holding a ball and picking like you do and it alleviated my tension issues! Thank you for posting this video and sharing this info. The last 6 months have sucked and I’m psyched to put that behind me. Thank you.
@uncle_milk01Ай бұрын
Great insights here. I'd love to see you at Winfield in September.
@sak45502 ай бұрын
Cool stuff, Gabe I saw a video on KZfaq about hand stretching exercises for guitar. I tried some of them and they actually work very well. I just keep forgetting to do it before I start playing.
@sjbreen9 ай бұрын
No nonsense Gabe.
@thewhittlingwood698529 күн бұрын
rearly helpful video thanks
@bdixon19 ай бұрын
this is very timely for me, thanks Gabe!
@galenstapley49509 ай бұрын
This is such a detailed rundown man! I don't play banjo but I really dig hearing other musicians talk in depth about technique! Really cool stuff!
@paulmc15899 ай бұрын
I just bought my first banjo last Friday and in 2 1/2 days you have helped me more than you can imagine. You are an excellent instructor Thank you.
@hellodomo80032 ай бұрын
Are you still playing banjo? Is it going well? I just started 2 months ago and I’m having a blast.
@paulmc15892 ай бұрын
@@hellodomo8003 i am trying. It is progressing slowly but it's coming along. Getting used to the finger picks wasn't easy for me but that is coming along better also. Thank you for inquiring
@hellodomo80032 ай бұрын
@@paulmc1589 That's great, it's an amazing feeling to make progress. You're totally right about the finger picks being tricky at first. I've played multiple instruments throughout my life and I noticed real quick that it takes more muscle memory to learn the banjo (due to the picks and correct placement of your fingers on the strings of the picking hand) than it does to learn other instruments. Keep it up! :) The banjo is awesome and by far the most fun instrument I've played.
@BrandiSoggs2 ай бұрын
I've had my banjo for less than a week and this helped a LOT. "Holding the tennis ball" let me hit the 1st string by bending my finger more towards the tip rather than moving from the base of my finger. This let my middle finger move independently from my ring. Suddenly the plant fingers just stayed down and out of the way on their own; not even an consideration. The pointier finger picks also helped me to stop scraping the string, which was a constant issue with my middle finger.
@jason_learns9 ай бұрын
Thanks for this, Gabe! I love this style of playing the banjo, but have gotten frustrated with it, and actually started learning more mandolin. This makes me want to get the banjo back out again. Thanks again!
@GlenKellawayfromthebasement2 ай бұрын
Hey Gabe..I am really enjoying your videos..❤❤👍glen
@allamonaca5283 ай бұрын
Great job explaining RH technique…especially great was the 3 Pivots…well done!
@TheBurlturner9 ай бұрын
Thanks for your banjo contributions!
@petesmith94729 ай бұрын
I love this guy. I wish I lived in the USA because I’d seek him out for personal instruction
@crankinrankin3641Ай бұрын
Great video, thank you!
@rogerflorensa3 ай бұрын
No nonsense and very useful indeed. Thanks!
@Mr1848168 ай бұрын
Great comments. Thanks for sharing this. I love listening to your playing, and really enjoy your videos.
@silverlagomorpha31778 ай бұрын
Exactly what I’m trying to work on right now. Having smaller than average hands changes some things, so some of my answers might be different. You’ve given me good things to consider and test out. Thanks
@congerscott60649 ай бұрын
Great video, thank you ! I'm a complete beginner so this video will help me for years to come 🇺🇸👍🏆.
@dannyfisher93776 ай бұрын
Some great advice Gabe! I have a habit of tensing up on my instruments. Thank you!👍🏻😊🪕
@philiporourke78968 ай бұрын
Great vid, dude. Thanx.
@generaldave5129 ай бұрын
Super helpful, thanks for posting!
@carthageflaherty6247Ай бұрын
nice guy ill say hello from Ireland nice music
@albertwhite58233 ай бұрын
It dose help thanks..
@ktimco9 ай бұрын
appreciate your time making these. I hope to get better from them.
@jackorbit72585 ай бұрын
Good advice, Gabe, and it makes a lot of sense.
@harrydeboer76322 ай бұрын
Great !
@millerjeff9 ай бұрын
Thanks Gabe appreciate your insight and help on this.
@DavidBrown-it9ig9 ай бұрын
Great tips. I get really tense when I play sometimes
@tonyparrish53666 ай бұрын
Thank you!
@riverryebluegrass79354 ай бұрын
Thanks Gabe😎
@fasteddie87826 ай бұрын
But I just found your channel and thank you for the information man you're really good player keep on
@IsaacLoewen-fp3ci4 ай бұрын
This video helped me too, thanks!
@ado02daley9 ай бұрын
Thay helped so much, thank you
@mitchzeitz9 ай бұрын
great info, thanks
@randymiller80118 ай бұрын
You are an amazing teacher.
@pennybostain47724 ай бұрын
This really helped me. Thank you.
@JonathanThrift7 ай бұрын
Thank you for making these videos!
@leighcecil33228 ай бұрын
The main thing is a relaxed style...& A clean note...we are all made different anatomy... good advice bro..🇦🇺🍻
@nightskyimaging9 ай бұрын
thank you - helpful information
@andgiggles4 ай бұрын
Hello Gabe! I love your channel. Would those hand exercising tools do my hand and fingers any good? I have had better practice sessions when I was doing something outside that played my hand out first. That alright? And is it normal to make progress for a while then backslide and feel like you're starting at the beginning all over and nothing seems to work? Thanks
@fasteddie87826 ай бұрын
Yeah I'm just learning the banjo the chords and and figuring out I don't even use any any kind of finger pics and it's pretty loud, it's pretty loud. I played guitar my whole life and I graduated graduated towards no pics lately past 10 years, sometimes I will use a flat pic but I use the side not the tip
@jermotter9 ай бұрын
I'm interested in hearing more about your hand injury and how you recommend managing it. I've been playing for almost 4 years and after a week of intense practice, I woke up one day with serious pain in my hand, right where you pointed but in both my first and middle finger. I had to take a full 6 weeks off playing because it was so uncomfortable. It's been maybe 6 months since then, and it's still not fully healed. I wish I could play every day, but nowadays I can only do a couple days a week or else I risk aggravating my hand. Trying to be very conscious about hand tension has helped a lot, but I still feel the pressure build when I play too much. How long did it take for your hand to get back to 100%? And are there any rest or exercise regimens you'd recommend?
@gabehirshfeld86888 ай бұрын
My injury took many many years for me to recover and stop feeling it in any way. I will still get aching if I'm not careful and play too much without a break. Early on when I first got the injury I rested my hand for several weeks and didn't play. After the pain went away I focused a lot on my technique and found that if I played for too long I would feel an ache there. When I felt the ache again I would take a break. As the years went along I would feel the aching in that joint less and less and the flare ups would be fewer and further between.