Hijack away, 5 String!
My latest banjo news is that I installed a couple of capo spikes on my banjo last night. A bit nerve wracking but they came out fine.

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Got wood?
http://www.Busmanwhistles.com
Let me custom make one for you!

Hi Paul-speaking of 5th string spikes check this out-it made my day. I tried it and it works fine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8JhPOdeD4k

Yeah, I love it! But 5, about that handle, isn't it a bit redundant?

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Charlie Gravel

“I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.”
― Oscar Wilde

Yup-- I tried that first and it did work OK. Pretty clever bit of McGyvering. I found that it popped out from time to time, and I lost the one I made pretty quickly due to its size. The spikes seemed the best option for me.

_________________
Got wood?
http://www.Busmanwhistles.com
Let me custom make one for you!

I opted for the Shubb 5th string capo. It was expensive, hard to install, and works about half the time. Should have gone with the spikes.

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The crwth will set you free!

Tim Smith
Kindred Spirit
www.kspirit.info

Crooked:redundant is my middle name. And my first name... As far as 5th string spikes go, I do a lot of fretting on the 5th string, playing melodic style, and I wonder if ther spikes might get in my way. Anyone have any experience with this? On another subject altogether today I had a kind of breakthrough-I started up-and-down picking individual strings with the thumbpick. I started doing this in order to execute triplets on the 5th string without having to shift several fingers rapidly, and while it will take a little while to integrate into my technique I can already use it for the desired purpose. This is related to a flamenco guitar technique called, I think, alzapua. Has anyone else tried this on the banjo? If so. how's it working? Anyway for me it is exciting and enough inspirationto keep me going through the new year . Lastly and of course it should have been first: a very Happy Safe and Prosperous New Year to all, filled with the joy of making music.

Hey, Fool. You should not have a problem fingering around a RR spike. I only install them at the seventh fret for the A note. It's uncommon to use in other positions. Players who need more go with a fifth string sliding capo. RR spike on steel strings is barely a millimeter high. You can install them back near the sixth fret so its out of your way... Bob

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Oh body swayed to music, O brightening glance,
How can we know the dancer from the dance?... WB Yeats

Been taking 5-string lessons for just over a year now - love it!! We covered the full range of styles. Up-picking (i.e., 2-finger and 3-finger) works best for me. I found clawhammer really difficult.