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How To Play Tenor Banjo

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across the forefinger between the tip of the finger and the first
joint, and at right angles to the finger. The ball of the thumb
is then placed against it (Fig. 51).

When playing single notes the down stroke is used. The right
hand is moved downward and the pick is swept across the
string.

The short eighth and quarter notes are usually played at one
stroke, but the longer half notes and whole notes are played
with the tremolo. This is a rapid up-and-down movement of the
pick over one string which sustains the tone for the required
length of time. You should practice the tremolo a good deal, be-
cause it is used all the time in playing the Tenor Banjo.

Be sure always to start the tremolo with a down stroke and
end it with an up stroke. By ending the tremolo on an up
stroke your hand is always in position for the next down stroke
or the next tremolo.

Making the Notes on the Banjo

The frets (raised cross pieces) on the neck and fingerboard
of the banjo are spaced one half-tone apart.

Accordingly, if you wish to play A# on the A string, you
put your finger on the string at the first fret and press down.
This gives you A#, which is a half-tone higher than A, the tone
of the open string. To get B, a whole tone higher than A, you
put your finger on the string at the second fret, and so on up