Getting A Scratchy Tone When Picking?

Question:

Hello Ryan,

I have downloaded your beginners lessons and am working through them, hoping I haven’t taught myself too many bad habits!

I have a simple question about my picking. I am getting an ‘un-clean’ picking tone as I pick the string I am hearing an initial scratch / buzzing noise. I am using Dunlop .020 finger picks and a Dunlop large thumb pick. Can you suggest what I might be doing wrong.

I love what I have seen of banjoexpert.com so far and I find that having your video go over the music and techniques slowly is giving me the confidence to try things I had previously been unable to grasp.

p.s. I am another one your overseas pupils. I live in Jersey (not New Jersey but the original one!) an island in the English Channel close to the French coast.

Regards,
Jonathan

Answer:

Jonathan,

When you start out on the banjo it is very common to be hesitant with your picking stroke. This will often cause a scratchy tone at the very start of the stroke when you pick a string. It’s simply caused by not exerting enough force from your finger to the string.

The solution is to play with more energy and more confidence even though it may feel awkward in the beginning. Try playing your favorite roll or song as loudly as possible. This will teach your fingers that it’s ok to play with more energy.

When you learn to play with much power and then back off in a controlled manner you will be in the beginning stages of practicing dynamics which is a powerful technique in banjo playing.

It’s simply a matter of training your picking hand to play with more control and giving it a little more umphhh in times of need! Give it a try and let me know if the scratchyness disappears. Thanks for the great question!

Ryan