I love clawhammer banjo and I know the regular bum ditty stroke and double thumbing pretty well. I know how to drop thumb too, but my speed is not nearly as good and my stroke is not nearly as fluid as it is with the other two movements. I have no problem moving the thumb around in 3 finger or two finger uppicking, but the drop thumb movement in downpicking still seems awkward to me, though less so than before. I
I've noticed that most OT songs seem to use the bum ditty and double thumbing MUCH more than the drop thumb. (Frankly, I am not even sure WHY the drop thumb is used, though I'm sure it has a very sensible musical purpose.)
I know every song is different, but can anyone hazard a guess as to the ratio of drop thumbing to the other strokes in an "average" old time song? One or two drop thumbs to 10 or 20 of the other strokes on average? Something like that? Anybody else have a problem with the drop thumb move? As always, thanks.