Posted by Matthew Kalliman
on 6/19/2009, 5:30 pm
If you have studied Pete Seeger's book, "How to Play the 5-String Banjo," turn around and flatten the metal finger pick for your second finger just the way Pete says to do for frailing with picks. Then, at a reduced speed, try three-finger PICKING the banjo (as opposed to "frailing" or using the "basic" bum-titty pattern) while using the second finger (which is now wearing the flattened metal finger pick in the backward position) to push DOWN on INDIVIDUAL strings. Try this on songs like "Don't Cry Katie," "The Escape of Old John Webb," "Buddy Better Get on Down the Line" and "To Morrow." I'm convinced Dave used this method on many songs from the "Sold Out" album on.
Later, Dave became proficient at actual FRAILING while wearing the finger picks in the traditional "Scruggs" positions. Dave himself told me (I had the chance to talk with him when he visited my home town to promote the KT reunion special on PBS) that that's how he wore the picks on "Coast of California." He said you can play this way if the picks are on tight enough.
I believe that picking individual strings with a frailing pick on the second finger in the backward position is a real key to getting that "Dave Guard banjo sound."
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