Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Unlocking D - D Waypoints

#1

So I’ve been working on Ben’s Waypoints in D (Intermediate). See my attached recording at 180 BPM . Overall, I’m making good progress, but when I get up to the 17 and 19 frets, I tend to do things like accidentally bend the strings and make the notes sharp or accidentally mute them. I feel like I don’t have room. I’m wondering if I just need to relax more.

I’ve been listening to Kristin Scoot Benson some, she says (just like Ben), that you can’t play something fast until you can play it slow. So I going to go back to 120 BPM to work on my fretting up high.

Any of you have other advice about playing cleanly when your fingers are crowded in the high frets?

Thanks,
Nathan

2 Likes
#2

Hi @southlandtradingco Nathan, playing high on the neck is a challenge, the frets are much closer together so we all have a tendency to mute and bend strings. You got it when you say, you just got to relax more. Don’t grip the neck or press hard on the strings. Keep your touch light and you start to see improvement.

1 Like
#3

If you know your playing needs improvement, I’d say 120 BPM is too fast unless you’re playing that half time. I regularly slow down to 50 BPM when working on new rolls, and even 30 BPM when learning a new song.

Also, are you using the correct fretting fingers? The fingers to use are the same as if you were fretting the full chord across strings 1-4, even if you’re only using strings 1&2, 1&3, or 1,2,&3.

1 Like
#4

I agree with all that @Mark_Rocka said. I slow way down too

#5

Thanks for the response, Archie. I try relaxing more.

1 Like
#6

Thanks, Mark. I been working to make sure I am using the correct fingers just like if I were playing a full chord. When I get crowded, I have found myself wanting to use different fingers, but I am resisting and sticking with the correct fingering. I’ve noticed a lot of banjo players do not do this…even some professionals.

I’ll slow way down until I get it right.

1 Like
#7

I’m guilty, but it’s a bad habit I’m trying to break. I only just learned “the rule” in the past year after decades of doing it wrong.

2 Likes
#8

Hi @southlandtradingco Nathan I was taught some wrong UTN fingering early doors by Geoff Hohwald, when I pointed out to him, stating that I had watched many of Earl Scruggs videos and never saw Earl use the fingers he used. He apologised and said when he was playing he never used those fingers, he only used them for ease of teaching / demonstrating. It’s so easy to pick up bad habits when you are learning especially whilst watching YouTube videos. Keep that in mind as you are learning. Study @BanjoBen 's hands closely and Earl’s Martha White sponsored TV shows and it should help you break any bad habits/uncertainties you have.