Many of the techniques used for an early style banjo such as the one I hold (1858 Levi Brown replica by Jim Hartel) in large part died out as the 'stroke' style favored in these tunes (which itself was a descendent of West African techniques on ancestral lute type instruments) evolved into the 'frailing' or 'clawhammer' so well known and loved in old time music. In this piece, Butler's Jig from Frank Converse's banjo tutor of 1865 (tab'd by Joseph Weidlich), you can see the thumb technique that

Rhiannon Giddens on the Unknown Black Legacy of the Banjo, and Why a New Generation Is Reclaiming It

So much fun to play with Seckou Keita and Francesco Turrisi. You can learn the banjo tab and history of this song, plus many more in my new book “Go Back and Fetch It Recovering Early Black Music in the Americas for Fiddle and Banjo." | Rhiannon Giddens