Hi. I just recently got a banjo (deering goodtime classic open back), and have started to play clawhammer style. This is my first time playing banjo, but I have been a mandolni/guitar player for years so I think i'm picking it up pretty quickly (no pun intended). I love that soft old time sound. I never realized how much fun it would be, I am literally blow away and surprised by how great playing banjo is!
My question is this: I am playing using my index finger as my striker. I tried middle but settled on the index as more comfortable for me. I get a great sound when I strike the 1st and 2nd string. But when I strike the 3rd or 4th it's often more muted and I get much less of a pluck. It's also more difficult to be precise on the 3rd and 4th than the 1st and 2nd, but I think that will come with practice. My question really is how do you strike the 3rd and 4th string and get it to sound as clear and bell like as the 1st and 2nd? Any advice or help would be apprciated.
Thanks!
-Ben