Photograph by Anne Hamersky
FIGURE 3-1: For a comfortable fit, try attaching the strap below the neck and the tailpiece.
Photograph by Anne Hamersky
FIGURE 3-2: Getting the strap out of the way when it's time to put the banjo in its case.
Fitting the strap
Although some players wear the strap across the right shoulder, most players adjust the length of the strap so that it wraps over the left shoulder, around the back, and underneath the right arm. You can see both options in Figure 3-3.
As you fit the strap to the banjo, you need to properly adjust its length. The length of your strap determines the vertical placement of the banjo in relation to your body. Although you won't find any hard-and-fast rules, I like to have just enough length to the strap so that when I sit down I can divide the weight of the banjo between my shoulder and my knees.
After you've found a strap position that seems to work when sitting, try standing up with the banjo to see how the banjo feels in relation to your hands. You need to use the same strap length for both sitting and standing, so experiment to find a strap fit that works well for both situations.
Making three or four adjustments as you try to find the right strap position for your banjo isn't unusual. You may have to take the strap off the banjo each time to adjust its length until you find what feels just right. This is a minor hassle, but after the strap is set, you won't have to worry about it anymore and you'll be better able to find comfortable hand positions for playing.
Photographs by Anne Hamersky
FIGURE 3-3: Two different ways to wear a strap.
Sitting down to play
How you hold your banjo while sitting down is determined by how much you need to see the banjo fingerboard while you're playing. Some players use the position dots on the top side of the banjo neck to keep track of where they are on the banjo neck and don't actually look at the fingerboard directly at all, but most players prefer to actually see what their flying fretting fingers are doing.
You also want to find a chair around the house that allows you to comfortably sit upright, provides you with some back support (if you need it), and allows your arms to move freely (no recliners allowed!). When I'm playing around the house, I like to use an adjustable office chair with the side arms removed. As you sit, position the banjo so that you're able to see the fingerboard and the banjo head, but don't let the banjo be so low in your lap that you have to reach far around the neck to fret with the left hand.
After you've actually started to play banjo, take a look at photos of some of your favorite players and experiment with different neck angles to see what works the best for you. Figure 3-4 shows three different ways of holding the banjo while sitting. Note that the middle player, Jody, rests the banjo on his right thigh and doesn't need a strap at all. Erin (left) and yours truly (right) prefer straps on our heavier resonator banjos.
Photographs by Anne Hamersky
FIGURE 3-4: Erin (a), Jody (b), and Bill (c) show three different ways to enjoy playing the banjo while sitting.
Standing with your banjo
The key to being comfortable while standing with the banjo is to adopt a position that's similar to the position you use when sitting. If you've found a good sitting position (see the preceding section), stand up with the banjo and watch what happens. Try adjusting the strap length so that you have little to no change in the position of the banjo for both your sitting and standing positions.
DON'T LET “DUNLAP'S DISEASE” GET YOU DOWN
If you're in the prime years of your life like me, you may suffer from Dunlap's disease. What's that, you innocently ask? Well, Dunlap's disease is when your belly is so big that it “done laps” over your belt! If you suffer from this common malady, you may prefer to position the banjo a bit to the right side of your body, whether sitting or standing (see the section “Standing with your banjo”). Many players position the banjo squarely on their right thigh and may not need a strap to support the banjo at all while sitting. When standing with a strap, you want to position the banjo in a similar way at the right side of your body. If you're a Dunlapper, don't be afraid to move your banjo around until you find a position that's comfortable for you.
Note also the relationship of your hands to the instrument as you both sit and stand. You want these positions to be as close as possible to one another whether you're up or down. Keep your arms relaxed and your elbows bent while standing and remember not to raise the peghead above eye level. Your left hand should easily be able to fret at any point along the banjo fingerboard, and your right hand should have easy access for striking the strings.
Figure 3-5 shows three different ways of standing while playing banjo. Erin (a) holds the banjo a little lower and off to the side of her body. Jody (b) angles the banjo neck a little higher and holds the banjo a bit more off to the side, while yours truly (c) holds the banjo higher on the body and more out in front. All are fine ways to take a stand for better playing.
Photographs by Anne Hamersky
FIGURE 3-5: Erin (a), Jody (b), and Bill (c) use straps for standing while playing and hold their banjos slightly differently.