Banjo Tips from Tony Trischka: Finger Picks

[IronGearProductions]

You can see this man is an experienced banjo player by the way his fingertips are squashed. Thank you Mr. Trischka, I've been looking so long for a "correct" way to wear them only to find out that there is no "correct" way and that it's all up to one's preferences, this makes the Banjo an even more sympathetic instrument imo.

[million]

It never occurred to me that you could simply rotate the fingerpicks on your index and middle fingers! I've been trying to orient my hand to hit the strings flat on, but never found a comfortable position. Rotated and re-bent my picks and that was an instant improvement in sound and easier playing! Thanks for the video!

[dakota.stlaurent]

I didn't realize you could "bend" the metal ones - my pick for my middle finger fits much better now. Great video!

[franklinstahl]

Wow! Look at your sneakers!!! Thanks for the tips, Tony.

[gezortenplotz]

My fingerpicks were always slipping off (as my skin got drier with age). My solution is to get non-skid stair tread at your home improvement box store & punch out dots with a paper punch to adhere the dots inside the picks and thumb picks. Works good, lasts a long time.

[jewsjw]

You did a blues lick in the movie in a scene with John Denver one of the best lick I've ever heard it was up the neck and bending the strings I would love to learn this lick

[jetboyracing]

Good advice for the beginner, but more importantly, where can I get those shoes.

[JohnBerthoty]

I've been waiting 45 years for someone to tell me there is no right way to wear fingerpicks. I just know I must be wearing them the WRONG way because I'm still so sloppy! ( We met by the way, when I went to see you play at a little music store in Laguna Niguel CA many years ago. I gave you an anagram. Do you remember it? (Fivestring Player = Fingertip Slavery). Cheers Tony.

[don]

As a double bass/bass guitar player for many many many years the DB Pizz. was always skin to string. I also always played the BG same way. Any tips on getting used to ‘foreign object’ (picks) other than PERSEVERANCE and Just Do It till it becomes comfortable? Thanks Tony.

[russg.]

Yes, I did that when I first tried to pick the banjo I got for Christmas. I should have watched this video first. lol

[stevenprevett]

Pizza socks and banjo shoes....Legendary!

[lightningball]

My metal picks sort of squeak against the strings. Any answer to fixing this? Sound is really bugging me

[hippiblue]

I thought I needed picks on all four fingers.

[robertw]

Backwards lol, now I know why I always hated them haha... thanks...