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Super Bluegrass Banjo Picking Techniques
taught by: Alan Munde

Choking Strings - Part 2

by Bob Altschuler

Part 1 of Choking Strings in the last issue (December 2007) included background, how to play chokes and examples using a signature Scruggs string choke.

This second part includes other string chokes for your repertoire and can generate ideas for finding more chokes and incorporating them into your playing.

Chokes give variation and expression and can be part of developing your own style. Remember, as with any technique, overuse can lessen its effectiveness. Knowing when and where to use chokes tastefully will help to give your playing a bluesy, expressive and professional sound.

In addition to Earl Scruggs, check out recordings of Don Reno, Craig Smith, JD Crowe, Sammy Shelor and Steve Huber (to name a few). Listen for string chokes woven into the playing of these and many other top players. Also listen for subtle chokes, such as those Scruggs does at times when he plays a slide, hammer-on or pull-off on string 3 at frets 2 and 3. You can hear him bend the slides and pull-offs (Tony Trischka showed me this at Banjo Camp North a number of years ago). Also listen to Earl’s string chokes in Reuben and Nashville Blues to hear them played in D and D minor tunings.

Chokes can be played on any string at any fret, but some places are used more than others. String 2 fret 10 (and fret 6), string 3 fret 3, string 3 in any “F” position chord (choking the ring finger string 3 note) and, of course, the classic Scruggs choke on string 2 fret 11 in the E minor position are some more common chokes.

Here are descriptions of the twelve examples shown below in tab and on the MP3:

Example 1 shows the classic Scruggs choke on string 2 at fret 11, out of the E minor position at frets 8 and 9. Use your ring finger at fret 9 string 1, index at fret 8 string 2 and middle at fret 9 string 3. Play the choke with your pinky at fret 11 on string 2. Scruggs uses this position and choke as a standard tool throughout his playing. Listen to Sally Goodin’, Cumberland Gap, Little Maggie, Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Sally Ann, Lonesome Road Blues, String Bender and other songs to hear variations. Four examples are shown below of the many possible licks (check out Scruggs recordings and tablature). The E minor position can be used for G, E minor and D, and is moveable up and down the neck for other chords.

For the E minor lick used in a song, see Example 2 which shows the first part of Sally Goodin’.

Example 3 shows the same choke but with string 1 at fret 9 played at the same time in two measures of a variation of Cumberland Gap (Scruggs uses this in other songs also).

Example 4 shows the technique used in the classic Scruggs “Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits” two-measure ending.

Some trivia-- “two bits” is slang dating from colonial days when common US currency was the Spanish dollar, with a value of 8 “reales” (“pieces of eight”). The dollars were often cut into pieces (bits) to make change, and two bits became a US quarter dollar. The “shave and a haircut, two bits” musical phrase apparently began in 1899, and has been used in music, movies, television shows and elsewhere since then.

Example 5 moves down the neck and shows a string 2 fret 6 choke I used in Morocco Moonshine in the June issue of Banjo Sessions.

Example 6 shows a similar lick with a string 2 fret 4 choke.

Example 7 shows a combination of the previous two licks. (Examples 5, 6 and 7 can be used as tag licks).

Example 8 shows a moveable choke for barre chords using a C chord. The choke starts one fret above the chord.

Example 9 shows another moveable barre chord choke, with the choke starting below the C chord. Try examples 8 and 9 with other barre chords.

Example 10 shows a JD Crowe lick.

Example 11 shows another bluesy JD Crowe lick and is moveable for “F” position chords.

The last one is Example 12, which shows the first 2 measures of Nashville Skyline Rag with a string 2 fret 4 choke.

Choking String Part II mp3
Download the mp3:
ChokingStringsII.mp3

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About the Author

Bob Altschuler lives in upstate New York and has played bluegrass banjo since 1970. As a banjo instructor, his 25 years of experience includes teaching many students at Banjo Camp North, where he has been the Beginner Bluegrass Track Coordinator since 2003. Bob's training and work as a public school teacher sharpened his teaching abilities, and helped him become a patient and sought after banjo instructor (his day job is now with the NY State Retirement System).

Bob performs with the Dyer Switch band at concerts and festivals across the Northeast, Midwest and South, and recorded "American Airwaves" and "Family Business" CDs with the band. His banjo playing has also been heard on Northeast Public Radio and on television and radio commercials.

You can contact Bob at arobanjo@aol.com, or through the Dyer Switch website at www.dyerswitch.com.