#1 Banjo Tone "Secret" // Right Hand Position Tips

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[@medusaman1]

The advice that I was given by my art teacher in my youth about everything in life, seems to apply to this as well. Always try to be somewhere in the middle. Of course, as you said, it depends which kind of tone colour you are seeking.

[@NemoNepersonne]

Good lesson. The banjo has so many wonderful timbres available that many players pay no attention to because they are stuck near the bridge. Béla Fleck often plays near the neck or over the neck, and his banjo is about as expressive as they come. My ears have come to prefer my banjos with the resonators off (if I don’t need them when playing out). I love my Bart Reiter open-back with a Whyte Laydie tone ring. Also, my Rickard with a Dobson tone ring. My new toy is a handmade C. Waldman open-back with a Douglas fir tone ring and a two-ply pot. It weighs only four pounds! I actually have nylons strings on it. Its sweet spot is over the scoop on the neck. These all have lovely, intimate yet loud banjo tones, even if Earl wouldn’t use them.

[@nicolespiewak3066]

I love all ur videos I’m learning so much from u as anew banjo player ..thanks for making these videos u are very talented

[@noahyoung5620]

I noticed the different sound depending on position myself the other day. I also noticed that if I start a song at the base of the neck, I'm down at the bridge by the end, so I need to work on keeping my placement just a little bit.😅

[@davidf3627]

Thanks Eli. Great stuff. Just not totally sure what the point of anchoring your finger is, at least when you're "at sea" and moving up and down the head.

[@thomassciurba5323]

I tend to move around, in fact my two banjos have bad wear marks on the head from the bridge all the way up to close to the neck. Sometimes I move within a song, sometimes I pick a spot for a particular song. I find close to the bridge gives the most true bluegrass tone to my ear but I also find that I make the most mistakes or hit more sour notes there. I always thought that had to do with the fact that the strings close to the bridge seem to have less “give”.

[@kydragon42]

Eli thank you for posting your knowledge in your vids! Been working on TITM and others for about two months now! Played necked banjo fingers clawhammer and two finger for three years then attended my first BG jam six months ago and was hooked! Three prof level pickers in the group mentoring me. MWhat a blessing and destiny! Banjo players recommended your vids! I understand your details about music theory and looking forward to getting into it as I progress! Hope to sign up as a Patreon partner!👏👏 Mike in Shepherdsville, Ky!

[@2000HoursofBanjo]

Thanks, Eli. I've been struggling to figure out how to learn to move up and down the head with my right hand. Your drills sound like the ticket. I will be incorporating them into my practice sessions.

[@RedwolfTalk]

Like switching your pick up on an electric guitar between neck, middle or bridge.

[@donaldfair4259]

I love these tips and advice on how to make things sound better .

[@ckh57]

beautiful clean playing awesome tone . thanks for the tips.

[@nvdawahyaify]

I prefer the sound of the middle position when you played foggy mountain breakdown. I did also like the bridge position, but I preferred the middle. Though I think that just a tad closer to the bridge would have sounded better...somewhere between the bridge position you played in, and the middle position.

[@kentekell8631]

LOVE your long hair!!

[@ryantrahan4942]

Great tips Eli! 😊

[@kendylhoudyshell1399]

Excellent Eli, thanks for this wonderful video and instructions ❤ Have a great day ✨👍

[@NateMurray-nc7nj]

This is amazing do you think you can maybe do a tutorial for “looking out for you by joy again”

[@yukon2445]

Thanks, sir! By the way, what's the name of the outro song? Greetings from France

[@ryderhibbs]

Could you possibly do a lesson on Sammy Shelor’s Ernest T Grass

[@dr.dougdillner835]

Thank you for all your teaching elements. Question: When did you start playing the banjo, and second, how long did it take you before you could play and enjoyable tune?

[@Boysenberr]

Hi there, Eli! Is that banjo a pre war style 75?