CS: My quick and dirty advice is to try to find that place that balances both without over or under doing either aspect; i.e. being assertive but not heavy-handed , maintaining intensity and power without being too loud, having a good attack without undermining cleanliness, resonance, or tone, and playing with heart while being articulate. Also, push down those frets strongly and hold that pick firmly without tensing the rest of the hand and arm muscles. They might seem like opposites, but they're not -- it's all about finding that centered place where it all comes together instead of working against each other. Look very closely at how you approach each of these aspects, plus also listen very well to your sound. A good tremolo requires a firm yet light-handed approach. You should be able to tremolo very soft or loud while maintaining the very same control. Different people might have their different views of where that place of balance is for them; this is fine as it reflects our individual playing styles. But in general, "proper playing" is all about finding that balance and control so it's not in the way of you making music.

CS: I'm glad you found your perfect instrument! I hope I will hear a Just Poulsen banjo someday. The easiest way to see what CDs I have available is to click on "Recordings" on this website, and there you will see a complete list along with personnel and tunes for each recording. Also, I'm currently working on a new one, which will presumably be released in '07. I'm flattered that you enjoyed my playing even with my injury -- it sure was frustrating to play! But I still had a great time at that festival as always. You are right, I had Randy Reinhart with me, a fabulous horn player. Yes, we often still work together. In fact, he will be with me in a few days, performing at the German Embassy in Washington DC -- where I was invited to play because of my work in Dresden!! I wish you the best with your playing, Ole, and thank you so much for writing.

Hey, Cynthia!  i'm andres, 20 years old, from uruguay south america. just want to tell you that i love your music and i think you are great... i'm from south america, a very small country named uruguay, and i want to tell you that i have some friends here and we listen to you often but we don't have any album where you are playing yet... i have been looking for it but it's not very easy to find it here. maybe i go to usa this year and i will look for it there... anyway, could you recomend me some works of you that you like particulary... ok, thats more or less what i want to say. i'm sorry about my english. it is not the best but i'm doing what i can... the next question is: do you think theres a chance for you and the jazz band you have, the new orleans jazz band, to come to uruguay to play?... i know its difficult but just wondering, i could find good places for you to play...

mmmm, what else?... nothing else i think, im studing medicine in uruguay... and i want to repeat that i think you are amazing... kisses!! my best wishes for you! write me if you can... or if you want... so... good bye, and say hello for the guys in the jazz band, including woody... ok goodby. in spañish, adios -- andres -- itersopena@gmail.com. 7/19

CS: Thanks so much for your nice note, Andres! My parents were in Uruguay briefly last spring and remember beautiful landscape there. To answer your question about recordings, you can go to my website (www.cynthiasayer.com), click on "Recordings," and you will see what I have available. You can also order, using either PayPal or by printing out the order form and mailing it in with your payment. I wish you the very best with your career in medicine, Andres! Our Woody Allen Band is on break for the summer, but I will tell them you said hello when we start again in September! 7/19

CS: Love the recap of the evening, JF! And hey, we'll take all the groupies we can get. So glad you enjoyed it. I got a good laugh that you included driving directions for next year! It was a bit embarrassing that we got so lost after having played that venue so very many times! Oh well. Thanks so much for writing in, and looking forward to seeing you there again next year. Also, if you request a "two banjos at once," I'll do my best to comply. 7/11

Hey, Cynthia!  Dear Your Royal Highny, Queen of the Plectrum. I saw your CD’s on the Elderly Instruments sight. From there I found the your website. I was making supper and got so into it, I almost burnt the house down. I love banjos. I played bluegrass 5 string for years, until I got tendonitis in the fingers on my picking hand. Then I switched to clawhammer for a few years, until my thumb went bad on my picking hand. I then got an old Slinglander tenor, tunned it up like a mando (G 5ths), and played that for awhile. But alas, I started to get problems with ulnar tunnel in my cording hand because of all the action with the wide spacing of the notes. Now you have me inspired to explore the plectrum.

Do you think an open G tuning would work? It would be a tuning my synapses are already acquainted with and seems like I could keep my left hand in my pocket from time to time while I played in that tuning. What is the advantage of having the 4th string in C?

I have a number of 5 string banjos, I guess one could just take off the 5th string, yank the side winder tuning peg out and walla. I have a few with resonators, and a few open backs. I have been leaning more for the plunky sound lately, it seems there would be a small area in a good plectrum instrument where one could get brightness, and still have the chords not sound like breaking dishes. Is there a future for a more plunky style of plectrum, say the blues? Or a setting of just a few people when it isn’t necessary to cut through the other players sound?

Thank You for warming an old man’s heart............Don Peterson -- dp55304@earthlink.net

CS: First, Don, I must thank you most sincerely for addressing me as you did. I was starting to wonder if I was the only one who recognized that I have a royal highny! I am sorry to learn of your hand troubles, but find your perserverence and flexibility quite impressive.

Choosing C-tuning versus open G-tuning is really a combo of 1) choosing your personal taste in sound, plus 2) how you prioritize playing convenience. As you probably know, different tunings alter the "flavor" of an instrument's sound. Standard plectrum C-tuning generally offers a slightly lower note on the bottom of the chord, therefore giving the sound a bit more "bottom" than with open G-tuning. For example, if you play a "C chord" using your open G-tuning ( 4th string tuned to "D"), with a "G" note on top (barring straight across all strings on your 5th fret), you will see that your bottom note of the chord is a "G." If you now play a "C chord" in C-tuning (4th string tuned to "C") and put that same "G" note on top, your hand position will alter very slightly (3 top string barred across and 1 fret lower on your 4th string) and your bottom note will be 2 whole steps lower, an "E." My own taste instantly prefers that lower "E" as it offers a bit more bottom to the chord, which goes with the more rounded, full-bodied sound that I prefer. But maybe you prefer a tighter sound. I agree to avoid breaking dishes sounds at all cost! Or maybe these sound differences are too small next to the ease of using a familiar tuning. Only you can say. By the way, sound quality (brightness, plunkiness, etc.) is enormously affected by string gages, tightness of the head, action level, etc. -- plus of course your instrument's capabilities. Tip: Plectrum players generally use a wound "G" string for added body.

Yes, just get rid of that short 5th string and peg, and viola, you have yourself enough of a plectrum to do the job. It might encumber when playing high on the neck, or even discourage going there, but hopefully not. And yes, playing situations like size of group, instrumentation, etc. can definitely affect your sound needs from your instrument.

As far as whether there is a future playing blues, I'll let you know the next time I read the future. I vote to play whatever draws you in, and enjoy.

CS: Several people have written here seeking information on this band. FINALLY we have an answer for you, thanks to Claude, who wrote back with this information: The OPSO isn't around anymore, but it changed to another group called "The Melody Makers" which includes former OPSO players: www.melodymakers.cz/. A great group.

CS: Hi Peter! Nice to hear from you. I do hope we'll meet when you are in town -- at least at the Carlyle! I'll be gone for part of that time but not all (May 25-29, see Performances page). I'll gladly make a few NYC music-listening suggestions, and will send a separate email. Thanks so much for writing, and best wishes to you!

Hey, Cynthia!  Was completely taken by surprise to see you on Channel 11 News about your stalker problem! How terrible! I had no idea!! And for 8 years?! That's incredible. You have been through a lot. I'm a fan of yours, and I sure hope this is all behind you now. S.T.

CS: Sincerest thanks, ST. It is indeed behind me now and seems like a lifetime ago! I did the show because I support anything involving public awareness of this crime plus self-protection info. Luckily, I've moved on and life is great! Thanks for your nice note.

Hey, Cynthia!  Thanks for your advice on tremolo! It's getting better all the time. I took lesson from a mandolinist (bluegrass-- that's what's available around here) and he advised me that my pick was too pointed and that I should use a rounder one or even play with the shoulder of the pick. It's true that this sure makes things easier, but it does change the tone-- makes it darker. Any advice on pointiness? Is he leading me astray? By the way, your Jazz At Home CD is great! Thanks so much, Erik -- eshild@engin.umich.edu.

CS: Glad your tremolo is coming along!! I don't agree with the advice you were given, actually. I feel that it does indeed undermine the tone on banjo. Maybe this approach works fine on mandolin; I don't know. I feel you must not take the path of least resistance, but rather get used to using the pointed part of the pick and make sure it is reasonably perpendicular to the strings so that the tone is as clear and clean as possible. A harder pick also helps clarify the tone. Otherwise it can sound like a sort of blanket over the tone. Good luck! Keep me posted.