Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Fretting hand

#1

Gotten through the videos up to fretting with the left hand. I’ve had no formal lessons while being self taught for three years. Bad teacher.
Here are my challenges:

  1. The neck does not rest on my hand where Ben has a callous.
  2. My thumb sorta rests on top, therefore its my opinion I am not supporting the neck but pushing down on it because after a couple of minutes of practice the neck goes from 45 degrees to 30 and gets harder to reach.
  3. I’m not sure I have a good anchor point with the left hand but if I hold the neck like Ben, I tend to mute the first string.
  4. I am assuming at all times the four fingers should be relaxed and hanging out close to each other when not called on to fret.
  5. Finally, please give a good point of reference of how close the four fingers should stay to the strings.
    Been playing for three years and this type of instruction is what I have been missing because I’ve hit a wall, so I’m backing up to relearn.

Thanks to all for the support!

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#2

For guitar, here is a very important fundamental lesson for learning or for self-auditing, that has helped or been helping me a lot.

Lesson Preview - Holding the Guitar, Posture, & Hand Positions - Guitar ★ Banjo Ben Clark ★

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#3

Howdy, @dflannery! So, I fortunately had a good foundation in this area of instrument positioning. However, there were other areas that I did not have a good foundation. What I had to do was to somewhat “power through” the bad habits. Through constant repetition and focus on the issue, over time, I improved. I highly encourage you to work on the positioning Ben teaches. I have learned that, when he teaches something a certain way, he has a very good reason for it. Also, consider, sharing a quick video of you playing in your natural position, and Ben and some of the others here might be able to better help you.

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#4

Hi @dflannery Darrell and which instrument are we talking about?

#5

Well Archie, that would be some critical info I left out.
I figured everybody plays banjo.
Seriously, I’m learning banjo.

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#6

Alas not everyone plays banjo @dflannery Darrell. In fact there are more Geeter Students here than Banjo/Mando combined hard to believe I know

The questions I’d ask are. Do you follow Ben’s example or do you just do what you have taught yourself?

Do you use a banjo strap and is it adjusted properly? The strap supports the banjo not the fretting hand.

As regards anchor point are you left handed? If not why are you anchoring your fretting hand?

Most beginners mute the first string until they work out how to adjust the fretting hand angle. There is a lesson in the beginners learning path that covers how to hold and fret the neck.

Fingers should be relaxed and as close to the strings as possible without touching until required. This happens with patient practice and observation.

Study @BanjoBen 's video’s closely, Check his fretting hand position and his picking hand angle. See these in your head as you go to bed each night and sleep on it. Will you be as good as Ben when you wake, probably not but at least you’ll have pleasant dreams and not nightmares
fear

I would encourage you to post a video of your practice session. Let @BanjoBen see your progress and give him the opportunity to give you some guidance going forward.

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#7

Oh, for some reason I was thinking guitar! :man_facepalming:t2::laughing: Sorry about that, I don’t even k ow what made me think that! Go with what @Archie has said. He’s been a great help to me over the time I’ve been here!

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#8

Now that we’re singing out of the same hymnal. :blush:
I have always played and practiced with a leather strap that has the textured side underneath. The neck angle will relax a little bit after I set up but I’m obviously not helping by my fretting hand (left hand) position, which is actually pushing down on the top of the neck.

I just started as a Gold Pick member a couple of weeks ago and am working my way through the beginner’s lessons in order. So, I can’t say I have much time invested in just watching Ben’s techniques.

Banjo setup, holding position, picks, tab knowledge, music nomenclature and basic chords, it’s all good. It’s just about my hands.

Now it’s about breaking bad habits I have developed by learning on my own.

What I mean by anchoring is having some point of reference for my left hand to go to without thinking about it. Training the brain. I need better consistency in fretting.

I’m going to continue with the exercises and as CBoling said, “power through”. I know what I need to do, so I’ll keep working on the exercises already prescribed. If I don’t improve I’ll reach out with a video, but at this point that seems pointless when I know already what I need to work on.

Thanks to all!

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#9

DISCLAIMER: I’ve not watched the video where Ben explains the position of the left hand, so, if he says something different, go with what he says.

I always position my hand so that my index (no. 1) finger is somewhat in the middle between the nut and the first fret, with my thumb approximately directly across from it. This is my “default” position. After going up to higher frets, when I come back down, my hand goes there. This puts my index finger in perfect position to fret at the first fret (helpful for the C chord), and my middle finger to fret the second fret (ready for the G lick). And, there is minimal movement to grab the D chord as well. Hope this helps!

#10

Ok so there is NO anchor point for the fretting hand. Seems to me from your post that you are in a rush to get somewhere fast and you are missing out key fundamentals along the route to success.

You should NOT be pushing down on the neck. You need to share a video

I hope that will change, after all, that is why you invested in lessons here!

Yes there is a lot to take in and it can seem overwhelming at first but if you want to make progress you have to put in the study time as well as practice and that all boils down to perseverance, patience and close observation.

Hmmn Don’t obsess over bad habits you have learned in the past, many teachers touting for business will highlight this when trying to encourage you to sign up for lessons. In the 12 or so years I have been a member here I don’t recall @BanjoBen ever mention bad habits.

Focus on the lessons and any bad thoughts or habits you have will disappear with time.

Study the lessons and all that will be revealed.

I can’t speak to @CBoling Christopher’s thought process, he is fairly new here himself. I have studied ALL Ben’s banjo lesson’s to date so I have a good insight to his teaching. I’d say waste NO time in posting a video, give Ben the opportunity to advise you, the sooner you do the sooner you will start making solid progress.

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#11

What I meant by power through was to correct something by consistent, focused practice doing it the correct way. I probably could have used a better wording.

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#12

You gave him your best advice, I am sure he found it helpful

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#13

Yes, I believe power through was spot on.
I played at church tonight and was totally disgusted with it.
I will put together a video and get it submitted.

You know what the definition of insanity is. :blush:
Gotta go a different route.

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#14

All the other suggestions are great, but I’ll throw in two more pennies. Regarding the “position” of your fretting hand, the more you play, the more you’ll get a feel for where that fret hand is located (i.e. which fret you’re hitting without having to look). Unfortunately it takes years, so in the meantime go ahead and look at the neck. But I recommend you train yourself to use the side markers instead of looking at the fretboard. That will keep you in a better position.

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