posted 09-28-2001 06:46 AM               

Coincidently, I was just thinking about trying that on guitar the other day. But for this, the fingerpicks gotta go, don't they?

posted 09-28-2001 10:07 AM               

Thumbpick of course is just fine, and I've been considering using one myself (although I'm now leaning away from it as a personal preference.)

In terms of the two finger up stroke, I think that's a problem because, if you have my book or have seen the basic pattern in tablature form, the upstroke is almost always on a single string (that's usually your melody note). I can't imagine that you could effectively pluck one string with two fingers, or why you would want to.

I think the basic pattern (index up, middle [or ring?] down, and thumb) is pretty easy once you internalize it. You're making it too hard if you throw in an extra finger on the first note.

Them's my thoughts.

Glad y'all are interested in frailing.

c.u.
steve baughman

posted 09-28-2001 10:14 AM               

It's wacky, but it works.

posted 09-28-2001 03:13 PM               

Onward!

posted 09-28-2001 03:18 PM               

In the meantime, looking at the tablature, it not only looks great visually, but seems very plausible as well.

Clawhammering on a banjo is described as achieving a "thump-ditty" rythm, going for it on guitar must be a method of re-interpreting it to a "boom chuck-AH". I've been able to achieve the "thum-ditty" in terms of rythm, but the bass notes always wind up falling where they usually do, on the down beat, or odd beat number of the measure no matter the time signature. That is a rut I've been trying to get out of for a long time.

My fingerpicks and I have been in love for years, and the idea of turning one around for the downward brush is a great idea, Paul. I won't have to leave them behind.

posted 09-28-2001 05:13 PM               

First, I've just launched www.frailing.com with MP3 files on the basic stuff. It might help you to listen to that basic pattern over and over until it's in your blood. Or listen to the AG lesson on frailing, which has the same pattern in it. Please remember that your "thum-ditty" actually has the thumb fall on the "ty" of "ditty". If you're thumbing on the downbeat you'll miss out on the groove.

I'm not sure what "double fretting" means in Pete Seeger's words. BUT, I know that I have started plucking two strings on the upward pluck of the frail pattern and fretting both at the same time. It gets me a nice parallel fourths or fifths sound without too much more effort. Perhaps that's what Pete meant.

Onward!

posted 09-30-2001 01:39 PM               

While attempting frailing the last couple of days, I found my middle finger playing the first beat on the first string and brush, and the index finger playing the first beat on the inside strings. This worked for me in my past life playing clawhammer banjo. Depending on one's particular fingers, some may find it useful to use the middle finger on upstrokes.

posted 10-01-2001 07:49 AM               

I took some time this weekend to try frailing, but am not at the internalizing point, rather figuring out what to internalize.

I turned a fingerpick around on my ring finger, and used that for the downward brush. I've never used that finger before, so it'll take it some time to get into shape, but I can feel that will work. Once I've got the technique down I'll be glad that my middle finger is freed up.

posted 10-01-2001 10:16 AM               

I want to STRESS, however, the key ingredient is THUMB ON THE UPBEAT. Whatever else you do is secondary. Frailing is not just the downward brush (contrary to what many sources say). It's the thumb pickup note that creates the groove!

It is CRUCIAL to get that basic groove in your blood before you start working on arrangements.

posted 10-05-2001 12:25 PM               

As a matter of historical interest, Jody informs me that a FLAIL is farming implement used to separate wheat from chaff. The term later morphed into the word FRAIL and was used as a pejorative term by banjo players to refer to someone who is just whipping away at the banjo.

I informed Jody that any attempt to reform terminology will be a losing battle since the term "frailng" has entered the guitar lexicon and assumed a very broad range of meanings to a wide variety of people. (Kind of like the words "justice," "freedom" or "God.") I confess that I have played a role in the loosening (bastardization?) of that term.

But it is nice to have some historical background info on frailing as a word. Thanks Jody!

c.u.
steve baughman