Q&A | Thumb vs Index Lead & Banjo Building

[@xZombee]

I'm sorry that I am spamming all your videos Clifton, but it's 11 am over here and my dog is snoring on my lap and I can't help myself watching and rewatching your videos, I am a very big (albeit recent) fan of Frank Proffitt and I heard you play some Going across the mountain when you were talking about the thumb lead and I am just constantly blown away by your musical prowess. Thank you for sharing!

[@theburnerband6440]

Re.ally enjoying these videos Clifton. I started messing around on banjo about a year ago and your videos were and still are a huge inspiration.

[@fiddlinshim]

I started two-finger with thumb lead - it was more ituitive. I went over to index lead, because I find it closer in sound to clawhammer. Just listen to DOc Watson's banjo work. Once you get acquainted with index-lead it starts to make a lot of sense and a lot of music.

[@DanDDirges]

I like your thumb lead style best. How do you get your thumb to produce a clear sound like that. I have to use a thumb pick. its great to see you interacting with your fans like this.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

I have a relatively long, skinny thumb so maybe that's something to do with the tone. I used to use finger picks a lot many years ago.

[@JohnnyCornbread]

Howdy there Clifton, I have to say you are an inspiration and I can't Thank ya enough for posting all your videos you have inspired me to buy a Banjo and one for my son as well I can't read music as well and hearing you say you play by ear is all I needed to hear to solidify the fact that I to can learn to play by ear. I got a fretless Mountain Banjo but went and got a backless Banjo with frets figured everything every one is telling me is true easier to learn with frets. can you post a video of you playing a song showing slowly where your placing your fingers? I try to follow along sometimes your fingers move fast. you may already have one I have searched but didn't see any. Keep em comin Clifton my friend Johnny Cornbread in Virginia.

[@stephenbouchelle7706]

I have stumbled through learning banjo on my own, even before looking at YT. I’m still stumbling, but I find index lead much more intuitive. It looks like thumb lead uses the drone string more sporadically. I’m trying to learn real thumb led now, but the coordination is frustrating. From guitar, I actually tend to play thumb on the drone and bottom two strings and index on the top three. (That means the 3rd string is sometimes thumb, sometimes index.)

[@kimberlyhammond8334]

I dont see a ring on that finger, meow i'm single lol