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LESSON 2


Finger Picks
For bluegrass style banjo you will need to wear a plastic thumb pick and a pair of metal fingerpicks. The thumb pick is worn on the right thumb with the flat side on the fleshy underside of your thumb and the pick tip extending to the left of the thumb.


The metal finger picks are worn on the index and middle fingers of the right hand. They are placed on the fingertips so that about 1/8" of the tip extends beyond your fingertip. They are placed on the fingers so that they cover the fleshy pads on the underside of your fingertips. Here is what they look like:

Here is a video clip from my Play Banjo By Ear video course which shows you how to put on the picks...

 

Holding the Banjo
When seated, sit comfortably with knees apart and feet resting flat on the floor. The resonator of the banjo is rested in your lap between the thighs and against the stomach. The neck should extend to your left and be raised to about the 2 o'clock position. It is a great assistance to stability if you use a shoulder strap whether seated or standing. When standing, obviously a strap is needed and the banjo is positioned over the lap (just as when seated) with the neck in the 2 o'clock position.

(Drawing by Bradley Laird)



When you are ready, move on to Lesson 3.

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