Fretless Friendly: Scooping Notes on Your Banjo

Converting tunes to your fretless banjo doesn't have to be difficult. In this video we look at a couple of stylistic ideas for fretless clawhammer banjo.
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[@naushadjamil659]

What a wonderful gem of a technique to start a fretless journey. Thank you Tom!

[@lecameleo]

Beautiful ! Tips for fretless are back, thank you Tom !

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

My pleasure, Leo!!

[@learningandgrowing7746]

I'm building my first fretless banjo from a kit and can't wait to start experimenting with the scoop sound on it!

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

Wow! That sounds like a great project. Please post back here and let folks know how your fretless build goes!

[@AlisonHeyer]

This is great. I decide which notes to scoop by thinking about which would sound good if scooped vocally.

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

That's a wonderful way to think about it, Alison! Thanks for the comment.

[@beacons777]

Goood stuff! Thank you!

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@AlwaysWorking2008]

that is a badass Enoch!!!! :)

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

The warthog lives! Good eye, my friend. Cheers!

[@sammyasher]

love the sound! Who built that banjo?

[@Friendlybanjos]

Fretless Friendly…..sounds familiar!

[@uncommonsensewithpastormar2913]

I don’t understand the idea that chords and fretless don’t mix well. I started playing chords as soon as I got a hold of a fretless, and I’m talking about all kind of chords like bar chords. Yes, it is often necessary to use slightly more spaced shapes, sometimes even using different fingers, but that’s not that hard to learn.

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

I think they do mix well eventually, Pastor Mark...once the skill is built to get them to sound intonated and robust. One of the tricky parts about fretless is that it has inherently less sustain on an already fast-decay instrument. I think of fretless banjo as juggling chainsaw: you gotta keep stuff "in the air" for as long as possible or trouble ensues. This is why I like the left hand to be in motion versus static chord making. Round Peak style is known for this tumbling, linear approach. It's a beautiful way to build fundamental fretless skills on the way to forging one's own sound. Thanks for your comment! Tom

[@uncommonsensewithpastormar2913]

@@TomCollinsBanjo Thanks for taking the time to reply, Tom. I’ve only been playing the banjo for a couple of years so I’m sure I have much to learn. In any case, the way I keep stuff “in the air” is by either playing claw hammer or use a 4 finger picking style I transferred from my guitar playing.