Ken Perlman Banjo Clinic: Syncopated Double-Thumbing Patterns

Syncopated Double-Thumbing Patterns

Following Pete Seeger’s terminology, double-thumbing is using the the thumb alternately on long string and 5^th string. If you substitute “skip-strokes” (some call them “ghost-brushes”) for one or more down-strokes in a double-thumbing sequence, this results in compelling syncopated rhythms – an effect enhanced by the fact that there are at least a dozen different kinds of double-thumbing sequences that can be brought into play. In this workshop, Ken goes over several double-thumbing types, shows you how to create syncopated rhythms from them all, and then illustrates how these rhythms apply to both “traditional” and melodic clawhammer picking styles. One important corollary: syncopated double-thumbing patterns also make for a very effective accompaniment approach, akin to Travis-picking on guitar.