Someone please explain what Ralph Stanley did to develop his 3 finger picking after the 2 finger style discussed here: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/193071 .
I've almost got it, but not quite. Getting the proper roll at speed to get that machine gun effect has been elusive to me. The index lead and picking towards the bridge I get, but I'm not sure about the roll. The type roll he used in Little Maggie. It sounds like I-M-I-M-T-M-I-M, but I noticed on some videos that Ralph does drop his thumb at times, it's not all index lead.
My brain is full, so if you're not sure, don't tell me wrong, as I can be wrong very effectively.
I'm about to go speeding through Steve Sparkman's municipality so he gets me on a traffic stop so I can pick his brain.