Free Banjo Lesson: Wearing Your Picks And Right Hand Technique

[@clarenceash3827]

Good night we are on lock down for the COVID19 so i just decided to learn the banjo to help pass the time

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Nice! I've been practicing a lot as well to help pass the time. Stay safe and healthy. - Mike

[@equineassistedsolutionsllc7342]

Me, too! I decided to use the COVID-19 lockdown to finally learn the banjo, after loving the sound of it all my life. Thanks to Mike and all the great teachers on KZbin, I set up the bridge, tuned my banjo, have learned four chords, and am learning what to do with those picks.

[@Bassnbanjos]

My right hand works great sometimes and sometimes it makes me so mad lol

[@kensharpe5545]

Very, very informative. Have only been playing for two weeks and had not a clue as how to wear or adjust my picks. Your techniques have given me a lot to think about and try. Gotta subscribe to your page.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Using the picks is tricky for everyone at first. Myself included. Keep experimenting and you'll get it with practice. - Mike

[@nige-g]

I LOVE the way you explain how. I'm a newbie, and yeah I had my picks on wrong. 74 years old and learning, my Deering googtime banjo arrived yesterday, so I hope to be able to play a simple tune in a couple of months. 😀 Hi from Dorset County England.

[@alexfindefix]

Thank you for that lesson. I got may first banjo two days ago and I´ve already watched many beginner lessons here on you tube, but your lesson was the most important because your way to wear the picks and hold the hand made me feel much more comfortble. Now I can really start learning.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Glad it was helpful. - Mike

[@hross5383]

I'm a total newbie of a few months, and this video was very helpful. My banjo teacher is really a guitarist and never covered the basics... I gave up on using picks early on, and now I'm going to go back to trying them again. Many thanks for posting this kind of stuff for the true beginners like me.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

I'd strongly recommend using picks if you're trying to play bluegrass style. Using picks feels weird at first for everyone. Keep pickin' and you'll get it. - Mike

[@Lost_Pikachu]

I just started playing. learned a little clawhammer first. twisting the picks a little helped me plant the pinky real solid and get a clean pick. thanks

[@rafaeldel4743]

Hi Mike. , My first and brand new banjo is on its way to me by UPS and arrives tomorrow. Just looking around for some total beginners inspiration and found this. It is a great tutorial. I cannot wait to get started. I have left it a bit late in life but hey better late than never. I am 70 (seventy). So many other good teachers on the Tube but am going to follow you. Thanks again D.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Nice! It's never too late to start. - Mike

[@floody38]

Some great tips on using the finger picks. I put mine on the wrong way at first. Thanks for posting

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

We've all been there. Keep picking. - Mike

[@jacktaylor9598]

I've had my banjo two days. Seems i had my picks on the wrong way round. Thank you for the heads-up, Mike.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

We've all been there. Congrats on the new banjo! - Mike

[@jimyoung144]

Thanks for tip on wear picks I’m just starting out

[@jimyoung144]

I’ve subscribed to your channel, will give this a try

[@tmo7734]

Thanks for the tip, Mike. I appreciate it.

[@OtterLakeFlutes]

I like what you address in what order better than anyone else; I learn like you teach -- thanks

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Thanks for the kind words! - Mike

[@LAUptegrove]

Turn your picks, don't turn your hands. That's what I've been doing while others look down at me for doing it, but it works for me to avoid playing off the "side" of the pick. Great video.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Everyone's hands are different so you have to do what works for you. I turn my picks as well. Keep picking. - Mike

[@turquoiseturtles7043]

I have one question. My index finger and middle finger end up hurting a lot after a bit cause the finger pick is pinching the skin so much. If i loosen it, it doesnt stay put. Do u have any suggestions?

[@macmanmcmaster4]

I just started learning banjo yesterday. Thank you for the Great insight. I am struggling with hand placement....

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Keep picking and you'll be on your way in no time! - Mike

[@RettaTheRipper]

Very useful lesson. I need to get me some metal finger picks cuz the plastic ones I got aren't working out so well.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Thanks. Most people use metal fingerpicks and a plastic thumbpick. Keep picking. - Mike

[@richtfingers]

"I wear the same picks on the same fingers". I reckon that's really important. The two fingers are different, if you interchange the picks they won't fit properly. I always mark one pick to identify it for the index finger.

[@igormisnitch6684]

As a newbie to banjo playing I want to thank you for the basic instruction on getting started. Finger picks the wrong way around, been there and done that but it is not intuitive which way they should go. Again thanks for the tips, now where’s that banjo I bought.

[@UntitledLuke]

Thanks for this video, you explain everything perfectly :) Really helpful!

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Thanks for the kind words! - Mike

[@jennainfinland]

I just got my banjo 2 days ago and I'm so in love with this instrument. I'll definitely use these tips for playing as I'm a beginner. Thanks!

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Nice! Hope you're still picking. - Mike

[@malalairazawi1440]

J. Lang Oh so nice I can’t wait to get mine .... possibly tomorrow 😊

[@tomlavelle8340]

Bending the picks are essential. If the edge of the pick strikes the string, it sounds squeaky compared to the full on attack.

[@thefamily2707]

Great lesson thanks 🙏🏻

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Glad it was helpful. - Mike

[@redwolf7929]

Thanks brother, just learning here in Australia, with thick work man hands stubby fingers , I wear the picks the same way each time as middle finger needs pick extended a bit.Have you heard of wrist position having ,as if a tennis ball under it?

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Yes I have heard of that. More of an arch in your wrist. Similar to JD Crowe's right hand position. If you're getting good tone and your hand isn't hurting do what works best for you. - Mike

[@davidchereneimmel8820]

Thank you! A lot of good tips!

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Thanks for the kind words. - Mike

[@mattguzda853]

Thats what the moyal gets too

[@hyperzealous5768]

gonna try the tip about slightly rotating the two finger picks to the side, no matter how i hold my hand i feel like im pulling them up at too diagonal of an angle to the strings, thanks.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

That's what I do, I turn the picks so I don't have to turn my hand in an awkward position. - Mike

[@DancingElephantProds]

Great tips, Mike - I’ve been trying to figure out what’s the most comfortable position for my right hand. Only been playing a couple of weeks, but I’m a 45 year piano veteran and 12 year Irish whistler. Nice to have permission to put a bit of space between thumb and fingers and use pinky for resting. Fourth finger was not working for me

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Thank you. Yes, there's definitely more than one way to place your right hand and you've got to make it work for you. - Mike

[@joemama1607]

Useful stuff bro, thanks

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Thanks! - Mike

[@malalairazawi1440]

Thank you 🙏

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

You're welcome. Thanks for checking out the lesson. - Mike

[@ingridthurston-polkey653]

Hi you guys are there any left hand banjo 🪕 teacher out there 🙏 thank you

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

I wouldn't worry about whether the teacher is left handed or right handed. Just think "fretting hand" and "picking" hand instead and all the same rules apply whether you're playing right or left handed. - Mike

[@tonythatorc971]

The only issue I find playing is that my pinkie which I only plant opposed to ring and pinkie slowly begins to hurt. I don't know if I'm damaging my finger or maybe I just need to strengthen my finger?

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Are you applying excessive pressure to your pinky when you're planting? You really shouldn't have to push down much at all, it's really just resting your finger on the head. But, I've had my finger hurt in the past if I've played too much and usually just taking a little time off has helped. I'd recommend taking some small breaks while you're practicing before your finger starts hurting. - Mike

[@tonythatorc971]

@@MikeHeddingMusic Alright, thanks for the recommendation, I'll try doing that today when I practice. Thanks Mike.

[@Steven-ox3rm]

This is not really covered in any of the book. I play guitar, finger picking mostly. So I just recently took interest in the banjo. One thing I have noticed is the pick on my middle finger hits the 1st string when I go to strike it in a rolling pattern and I keep getting a "metallic ting". Is there a way to get rid of this?

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

That happen when you pick a string that's still vibrating with the metal pick. You'll want to make sure you pick all the way through the string and then you don't rest the pick on the string while it's still vibrating. You can't completely eliminate pick noise but you can reduce it substantially with the correct technique.

[@wendigo8204]

I find that my picks always catch on the strangs I can definitely play better with no picks but not as loud and after about 20 mins I get worse cause my fingers start hurting

[@emilbecker8970]

I played traditonal and scrug vs style without picks for a couple months and it's going great, but now I've decide to pick scruggs style with picks but I'm struggling to even play a sime cripple creek, which I could do almost flawlessly and fast without picks. I've got metal picks for thumb and finger 025 Dunlop. Does anyone know why I'm struggling to use picks ?

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

My recommendation is to keep working with the picks. They feel weird for everyone at first. - Mike

[@karinberryman7970]

I have slender fingers too Mike, and when you don't have wide fat fingers it's much easier to see what's going on between fingerpicks and strings! Plus for the same reason you don't rest your ring finger on the skin, I can't keep mine resting on the skin.

[@flatlander6489]

Great tips, Thank You!

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Thank you. I appreciate that. - Mike

[@nicolagainford367]

Hi I belong to a ukulele band in Scotland and I play the banjolele and I love it but as we are adding new songs to our repertoire I realised that I would have to learn how to pick. They arrived today and before watching your extremely helpful video, I put them all on the wrong way. Now that I have that sorted I am ready to add a whole new dimension to our band, eventually. TATA the Noo.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

I made that same mistake when I first got my picks too! How are you tuning the banjolele? You may want to play with a flatpick or you could certainly try fingerpicks too! - Mike

[@nicolagainford367]

Hi Mike My Banjolele is tuned G C E A. I would like to learn to play bluegrass and if I understand it I would need to use the 3 picks, is this correct?

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

@@nicolagainford367 You might want to try tuning it to an open chord if you want it to sound more like bluegrass banjo! A lot of the rolls you use are based on the banjo being tuned to a chord. Otherwise it would be challenging with your left hand to mimic the sound. You could try G B D G which would be an open G chord. Or you could try G C E G which would be an open C chord. But you'd definitely have to do some experimenting and yes normally you use 3 picks! Good luck. - Mike

[@customera7945]

@@MikeHeddingMusic Please excuse the question as I'm new to this...Are you saying you could retune the banjolele but continue to use the same ukelele chords to play a song?

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

@@customera7945 No if you re-tuned it then the chords would be different. But they'd be more similar to banjo chords. - Mike

[@bobbyjanssens8771]

hey thanks. I've picked up a few things I didn't know. as of right now I have a metal thumb pick. why plastic? also my thumb pick, the end that wraps around, occasionally gets stuck up in the strings. why? Is the problem there because it's different from a plastic pick?

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Just my opinion but I find plastic thumb picks to be more comfortable than the metal ones I've used. Also, the plastic seems to have less pick noise than a metal pick. If that part of the pick is getting caught on the strings it probably you're either digging in too much or the tongue on the pick is too short. If you got a pick with a larger tongue, it would help you keep your pick further away from the strings so you don't catch the pick on the strings. Good luck. - Mike

[@bobbyjanssens8771]

Thanks Mike

[@badmuthahubbard]

Yeah, agreed. I've had that problem with some picks and had to try different ones. For me it also depends on the action of the banjo - if it's too long, it might hit the banjo head. My favorite, favorite ever ever are Fred Kelly Slick Picks, heavy. The part around the thumb is short and tight against the skin!

[@gattopollo8]

Thanks...you answered some questions I have had since I started two years ago.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Glad it was helpful. - Mike

[@61mab]

Very nice discussion of what I'm trying to grasp at this moment with the new picks I just bought. Thanks for the input. I was looking for which finger should reach for what string in a roll.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Glad it was helpful! - Mike

[@KammaQwazi]

Putting picks on the wrong way, lol. That is what I immediately did.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

We've all been there!

[@hoshmoggen1746]

Wearing your picks like Selena Kyle. lol

[@donaldjones3580]

This should get some reaction from the peanut gallery, I'm starting to learn the banjo, no string instrument experience, but the first few frets are a bit too far for my arms, so two questions 1) can I just capo at the second fret and spike the 5th string and just leave it like that or 2) can I cut off 2" of the neck at the end pot and refit it? My banjo is a Sonart cheappy starter banjo at the moment. Needs duel control rods installed anyway, neck rotates with string tension. Enjoying your free lessons for the moment.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

You can definitely do option 1. I wouldn't do option 2. Your hand will likely get stronger and more flexible as you continue to play. - Mike

[@audrybella6405]

Mike, can you expand on your comment that your particular banjo has a bit more spacing between the strings. Is this peculiar to your model banjo or are there banjo’s designed specifically for one string spacing versus another spacing. I think I could definitely benefit from a greater spacing between strings. Thanks. Love your instructional videos. Well done.

[@wendigo8204]

It's just a stringing thing when stringing your banjo just move the strings over on the wooden thangu

[@bobcogar841]

Get a new bridge with crow spacing

[@audrybella6405]

@@wendigo8204 Thank you for the response and the advice. Much appreciated.

[@audrybella6405]

@@bobcogar841 Thank you for the suggestion. Definitely going to pursue this recommendation. Have a great day.

[@sharkamov]

Actually, I found this _very_ inspirational - and I don't even _own_ a banjo yet!!! 😄 But I see there's a number of nice instruments for sale at bargain prices! - As the saying goes: _Que sera, sera!_ . . . . Greetings from Norway! 😉👍

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Nice! Hope you start picking some banjo. - Mike

[@jystdog]

Yes very helpful

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Thanks! - Mike

[@rainerrain9689]

Why is the thumb pick plastic ? Thanks

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

I prefer the sound of a plastic thumb pick over metal. Also, that's how Earl did it!

[@richtfingers]

@@MikeHeddingMusic I always understood that its because a metal thumbpick would overpower the sound. i.e. a metal thumbpick would be too loud in relation.

[@alephzavala3948]

I feel like I need to feel the strings to know which one I'm plucking. Am I a super noob if I don't use picks?

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

If you want to play bluegrass style banjo I'd strongly recommend using picks. They feel weird for everyone at first and with time you'll be able to feel the strings with your picks on. I'd only recommend playing without picks if you want to play old-time (clawhammer) style banjo. - Mike

[@josephobrien991]

I played without picks for years. Tried using them for a day or two and couldn't play with them. I finally decided to keep wearing them no matter what. It only took 4 days to start getting them to do what I wanted. wanted. It's been a month now and, I'm almost where i was without them. Sound quality much better too. Stick with the pick!

[@veedubklown]

Haha, "A lot of guys will say plant both because that's what Earl did", LMAO. I love when guys go on about that. Play 5 string, play it well, have fun doing it, because that's what Earl did.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

I had to cover my bases. You don't want to upset the bluegrass police! - Mike

[@brandonvalentine2555]

No wonder my picking hand felt so akward. I had the metal finger picks on backwards lol

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

We've all been there. - Mike

[@edwardestep970]

You've been using the same two picks for over 10yrs. As guitar player how did you manage that lol

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Just my metal banjo fingerpicks. I haven't made a guitar pick last that long. - Mike

[@stephaneg9591]

You should bend your thumb upwards Otherwise, your thumb pick will not hit the string in parallel but will hit diagonally.

[@bobu5213]

I thought the standard was three metal picks and one thumb pick?

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

BoBu Standard for bluegrass style banjo is two metal fingerpicks and a thumb pick. Also called three finger style picking. -Mike

[@olevermontplowboys5574]

Thank you! :D:D:D

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

You're welcome. Thanks for checking out the lessons. - Mike

[@turquoiseturtles7043]

Thank you so much, so very helpful!

[@johnnybx3254]

Thanks! Great tips!

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Thanks for the kind words! - Mike