Try This On The Banjo | No Picks = Better Sound?!

[@terryruppe808]

Love what you’re doing and sharing with the world! Your focus and explanation of the fundamentals has given me a renewed look at my banjo!

[@acousticidaho]

So happy to hear this! Thank you, my friend!

[@newbatling4194]

Hi just found your channel. I'm in UK just got a starter banjo (vangoa 5 string) with some plastic picks, have to say don't like them. Never played a string instrument before so this is going to be both challenging and exciting (used to play bagpipes but can't blow into them the same since having had covid), thought I'd give strings ago. Look forward to more advice from your goodself. Thankyou for your channel.

[@acousticidaho]

Thank you and welcome to my channel! :-) I love the bagpipes. So sorry to hear you can't play them as much due to covid. Hopefully the banjo will be very enjoyable for you!

[@stagelifelv9324]

Good out of the box thinking. I'll give it a try right now!

[@acousticidaho]

Thanks! Let us know how it goes!

[@extremotionaltrouffas]

Thank you. I'm about to start trying to learn to play the banjo. That was very helpful, and liberating, as well!

[@acousticidaho]

Thank you, sir! So happy to help! I'll be posting more banjo videos very soon.

[@23ONEILL1]

Same

[@jamiemharrison4493]

Great vid! I haven’t ventured in to 5 string but have been doing Dixie tenor banjo 🪕 with a felt pick. The tuning relationship is the same as my mando. Great info here!

[@acousticidaho]

Thanks, Jamie! That's awesome. I've always wanted to try one of those out. I've recently been looking into baritone banjos. They sound incredible!

[@outoforder9348]

You said exactly what I wanted to hear, thank you 🙏

[@acousticidaho]

Thanks! :-)

[@AbsentCurtis]

This is perfect. I'm a guitar player for 40 years and getting a banjo soon for the first time. Seems like this would make an easier transition as well as less need for right hand muscle memory switching between fingerpicking on guitar and banjo.

[@acousticidaho]

Absolutely! Thanks, Curtis.

[@acousticidaho]

Thanks for watching!

[@selfactualizer2099]

I just got my banjo today (I have bass experience) I didn't use picks today and I'm having a lot of fun

[@acousticidaho]

That awesome! Welcome to the World of Banjo :-) What type of banjo do you have?

[@captainbeaky]

I've been playing banjo for a couple of months now, coming from 45 years of guitar playing - I've found it much easier with a flat thumbpick and fingers. Finger picks are awkward with a missing index finger! Plus I need ring finger to pick, rather than anchor, so the armrest is my anchor, as anchoring with my little finger doesn't give me enough space. Plus my third finger movement affects the anchor with the pinky .

[@acousticidaho]

Wow! Sounds like you've figured out a way to get it done! I've never considered having to play the banjo while missing a finger. That's awesome. Keep up that picking!

[@mrwagstaf]

I’ve played fingerstyle and classical guitar for several years. it’s been a struggle for me to try to go back and forth with picks when playing the banjo. I use my fingernails on guitar and fingerpicks feel like they just get in the way. Your perspective is great because almost everyone else says you have to use pick. When playing classical guitar, your right hand position is slightly turned in allowing you to use your thumbnail when playibg the string. 🎉🎉

[@lizstorer000]

Only being playing a couple of weeks but I have been putting in the effort. Thing is the two finger picks are driving me nuts as I can go faster without them. Yes your right, I like to feel the strings and I can be more accurate honestly (without looking) with no finger picks on!

[@acousticidaho]

Absolutely! Thanks, Liz!

[@anyoldorion]

I found your video interesting. I’ve just started banjo and have been watching banjo picking techniques. I have long thin fingers and don’t get any comfort in those techniques . I noticed some banjo players have stubby fingers compared to my ‘piano playing fingers’ When I used my natural nails instead of picks I had far more comfort with good result in playing. Are long fingers a handicap with playing banjo?🤷🏽‍♂️

[@acousticidaho]

Thanks! In my experience, I wouldn't think that long fingers would be a handicap with the banjo. I've seen people with short stubby fingers, long skinny fingers, and even half fingers (from a saw blade accident) play the banjo beautifully. You would suggest you take a look at your hand, wrist, and elbow positioning. If those are out of line, then you're almost fighting against yourself. I was actually planning on posting another video about this soon!

[@librandy77]

Mad cool…🪕🪕🪕

[@wiggletonthewise2141]

I’ve always hated picks, I feel so validated right now!

[@acousticidaho]

Right on! There are a lot of people who play without them and really enjoy it!

[@23ONEILL1]

This is excellent. I'm just learning and don't have picks so this makes me feel better.

[@chyeaOGKush]

i want to learn the banjo and slide guitar but i hate finger picks lol

[@acousticidaho]

Play without the picks, my friend! lol

[@ArtisticMysticSoul]

I like to feel the strings too. It feels more organic, and I can actually play faster without them.

[@acousticidaho]

Isn't it amazing how that is? Thanks for watching, Lisa!

[@nicodemusexmachina1526]

I play guitar finger style most times only using a pick if I need it I consider picks to be like training wheels, sort of The only time I would use a bass pick on bass of I'm playing with a metal shredder & I need to match with my 5 string But I am a finger style kind of guy at heart, so decided to get myself a bingo because I love folk music I have myself a guitalele so I can have something I can play when I'm out of the house, & I love it But it's not enough, so I decided to get a banjo but I won't get until the end of this month, so I am an absolute noob with banjo But as much as I want to get better at guitar & will always love guitar, I think the banjo is perfect for me to satisfy what guitar doesn't, & I hope that I don't put shame to the banjo & banjo players because I am a guitar player lol

[@acousticidaho]

Welcome to the world of the Banjo! :-) You'll do great! Fingerpicking on the guitar will help you in learning the banjo. While not the same exact technique, they do have similarities. I love picking the guitar and the banjo. I even fingerpick the ukulele from time to time. lol

[@readysetwest]

I just started playing with picks and I can’t get rid of the scratchy sound

[@acousticidaho]

Sounds like it might be your angle of attack. Striking the strings a a bad angle.

[@alanwann9318]

I am obliged to practice in the house no picks, respecting my neighbour's.i do wear them outside however. As one needs volume and drive .Picks feel strange at first but persevere, later you wont be troubled. Adjusting them to your preferences is a plus.I note new players coming from gtr (comments) me included I have 6 yrs banjo playing exp. The banjo has no relation to guitar playing ,it is closer to a drum.it presents constant new challenges in reflexes and timing.

[@acousticidaho]

So true, Alan!

[@MountainRaven1960]

Could never get comfortable using picks. I needed to ‘feel’ the strings. So ditched them.

[@acousticidaho]

Nice!

[@trusstee1]

source for cpt america playing banjo. i cant find it

[@acousticidaho]

I thought it was common knowledge that he was the one who secretly wrote "Foggy Mountain Breakdown"? lol

[@tedtedsen269]

i gott my first banjo yesterday a900usd morgan perhaps a crappy one i'm told morgan is chinese maid junk ,ok but its good for me to start on how expensive do a real good banjo cost ? four thousand usd ??? im also using fingers NO fingerpicks people say its a bad habbit

[@acousticidaho]

Awesome! Welcome to the world of banjo! :-) You can get good beginner banjos for under $1000. Higher end banjos can get crazy expensive! Playing without picks isn't a bad habit. I practice with and without them all the time. It all depends on what you enjoy the most. Keep picking!

[@mountaingirl1797]

What kind of roll were you doing with your fingers❓

[@acousticidaho]

Howdy! I was mainly using variations of the forward/backward roll. What time in the video were you referring to?

[@christos_anesti241]

never learned to play with picks

[@acousticidaho]

Nice! Picks are great to play with, but they certainly aren't a must. I know several excellent banjo players who enjoy playing without them. Thanks for the comment!

[@jhardworkingcanadiancitize9186]

Hmmm not my sound, has that fleshy mellow sound.

[@choppytde6030]

I was under the impression that playing banjo without picks was blasphemous, is this an outdated viewpoint?😅

[@acousticidaho]

Haha! To some people it is! I found that to be a hot-button topic 😂

[@choppytde6030]

@@acousticidaho I am definitely on board with no picks, to me the sound is more natural 🤷