Tools for Developing Good Right Hand Technique on banjo

Here are my, for the most part, useless thoughts about right hand technique. Enjoy!

[@BrandiSoggs]

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.

[@OldBanjer]

Thanks for doing this video. Some great stuff to experiment with.

[@spencerhall7157]

You've got some of the best banjo instructional content on KZbin; 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.

[@garykaufman8128]

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.

[@scrilky_milk]

Great insights here. I'd love to see you at Winfield in September.

[@markcassidy4232]

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!

[@MadameM.]

Thank you for this - your instruction and playing are some of the best there is. Love new videos from you!!

[@Bassnbanjos]

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

[@adkBanjo]

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.

[@sak4550]

Cool stuff, Gabe I saw a video on KZbin 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.

[@crankinrankin3641]

Great video, thank you!

[@bdixon1]

this is very timely for me, thanks Gabe!

[@Mckinleyflies]

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.

[@TheBurlturner]

Thanks for your banjo contributions!

[@sjbreen]

No nonsense Gabe.

[@GlenKellawayfromthebasement]

Hey Gabe..I am really enjoying your videos..❤❤👍glen

[@jason_learns]

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!

[@galenstapley4950]

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!

[@millerjeff]

Thanks Gabe appreciate your insight and help on this.

[@rogerflorensa]

No nonsense and very useful indeed. Thanks!

[@generaldave512]

Super helpful, thanks for posting!

[@albertwhite5823]

It dose help thanks..

[@jackorbit7258]

Good advice, Gabe, and it makes a lot of sense.

[@allamonaca528]

Great job explaining RH technique…especially great was the 3 Pivots…well done!

[@Mr184816]

Great comments. Thanks for sharing this. I love listening to your playing, and really enjoy your videos.

[@dannyfisher9377]

Some great advice Gabe! I have a habit of tensing up on my instruments. Thank you!👍🏻😊🪕

[@JonathanThrift]

Thank you for making these videos!

[@philiporourke7896]

Great vid, dude. Thanx.

[@silverlagomorpha3177]

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

[@paulmc1589]

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.

[@hellodomo8003]

Are you still playing banjo? Is it going well? I just started 2 months ago and I’m having a blast.

[@paulmc1589]

@@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

[@hellodomo8003]

@@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.

[@randymiller8011]

You are an amazing teacher.

[@pennybostain4772]

This really helped me. Thank you.

[@mitchzeitz]

great info, thanks

[@harrydeboer7632]

Great !

[@ado02daley]

Thay helped so much, thank you

[@ktimco]

appreciate your time making these. I hope to get better from them.

[@tonyparrish5366]

Thank you!

[@riverryebluegrass7935]

Thanks Gabe😎

[@IsaacLoewen-fp3ci]

This video helped me too, thanks!

[@DavidBrown-it9ig]

Great tips. I get really tense when I play sometimes

[@congerscott6064]

Great video, thank you ! I'm a complete beginner so this video will help me for years to come 🇺🇸👍🏆.

[@petesmith9472]

I love this guy. I wish I lived in the USA because I’d seek him out for personal instruction

[@fasteddie8782]

But I just found your channel and thank you for the information man you're really good player keep on

[@nightskyimaging]

thank you - helpful information

[@leighcecil3322]

The main thing is a relaxed style...& A clean note...we are all made different anatomy... good advice bro..🇦🇺🍻

[@andgiggles]

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

[@fasteddie8782]

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

[@jermotter]

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?

[@gabehirshfeld8688]

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.

[@stefanhuegin8292]

👍😘