Clawhammer Banjo for the Complete Beginner
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 พ.ค. 2018
- Banjo Heritage 👉 / cliftonhicks
In this video Clifton Hicks teaches the traditional, down-picked banjo technique known today as "clawhammer." If you have no experience playing the banjo, this video is for you.
When I was 13, I learned to play the banjo from two men: Ernie Williams of Alabama, and George Gibson of Kentucky. Williams learned from an older man in Sand Mountain, Alabama, who called this the "rapping" style. Gibson learned from his father, and several friends and neighbors, most of whom did not use terminology to describe their banjo playing styles. However, some terms that have historically been used in Kentucky include "drop-thumb," "hoe-down," and "overhand."
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#CliftonHicks #banjoheritage #banjo #clawhammerbanjo #oldtimebanjo #oldtimemusic #tradmusic #folkmusic #acousticmusic #traditionalbanjo #bluegrass #banjo - เพลง
What's problematic about the term clawhammer? I couldn't find anything relevant with a few searches
The term _clawhamner_ was never traditionally used to describe banjo playing. Folklorists from New York introduced the term around 1965.
Confusion between “clawhammer picking” and a “clawhammer” moonshine still maybe? Lol
I am 81 and just had a pacemaker in Dec. 23. I liked the sounds of the 5 string banjo, so I got one for kicks and to slow me down a bit. My hands are messed up from the years. I have decided the only way for me ls the two finger style. After two months on trying different ways your video today has helped alot. THANK YOU!!
How is your banjo journey going 2 months in?
I'm 30 now and played when I was a teen but stuck with guitar ever since, but now I am getting a real urge to play banjo again!
Clifton, I finally got my 5 string a week ago, and this tutorial IS AWSOME, I knew if I stuck with you I'd find my flow, it was yourself who 6 months ago convinced me I wasn't to old , Clifton THANKYOU so much ,, I owe it ALL to you, blessings,
I'm not sure what led me to this video as I've never been interested in banjo music, much less playing the banjo, BUT I know a good teacher when I see one and you sir are exceptional! I was engaged, interested, fascinated, and wanting to learn to play all from this video. Primo!
This is the clearest explanation I've ever seen/heard. The thumb stays home! That's where I always lost it. Now I get it. All of a sudden. Good stuff. Thanks!
man i can't tell you how helpful that was. as a complete noob, now i really have something to practice!
As a beginner that was probably the best explanation I’ve seen yet. I’ll be back boss!
FACTS! I swear to the gods I have a hard time following anyone on TH-cam. I’m a decent acoustic blues rhythm player so the Banjo is completely new to me. I don’t want to start with bad habits! Good job bro. I subscribed
I've been playing 'old timey" for 30 years and I still watched your entire video and enjoyed your explanation of the basic strum.
i was having one heck of a time getting the strum pattern down. I mentally knew what to do but my hand just would not cooperate to save my life...3 MONTHS of trying like all hell for like 5-10 minutes at least 12- 15 times a day😂 But NOW !!! 😊👌good 2 go. I can safely say, a huge motivator to not just lop my hand off and burn it with the banjo was hearing how amazing it all sounded when you played. It is like watching magic happen. You hear all these notes but you never see what the hell is happening to make em, Kinda like the 3 card monte of music. you know whats going on but it takes a DAMN Good eye to spot it happening, I can't Thank YOU enough for being a motivator to stay at it, It is truly my main outlet now😊😊😊
I have ADHD and this is the first person I can actually understand.....Great Teacher !!!!
Clifton, I had been thinking about trying banjo for almost a year, a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon your videos and became obsessed over night. A week ago today, thanks to you, I finally pulled the string (pun intended) and ordered a banjo, my first attempt at a stringed instrument. While waiting for it to arrive, I watched this vid, and your thumb lead vid countless times. At first I thought, overhand looks easy, thumb lead looks harder. My banjo arrived last Thursday; I'd under estimated the difficulty of overhand. But 10 hours later (and more countless watches of your vid), I'm strumming a bum ditty rhythm, and it feels so good. Thank you. The way you explain things, it just makes sense.
Hell yeah! I'm not a banjo player either. I play drums and regular acoustic/electric guitar. I'm ordering a banjo now though. I want to learn all these old songs. (And the Rittenhouse ballad)
I'm a guitarist, a heavy Hendrix and rock, electric blues, Chicago, country blues, delta blues, country, bluegrass, reggae, rock and more rock influenced player. I've been watching your vids since learning about you through Little Nora, who blew me away with her talent, and I am seriously considering taking up the banjo. I've got significant time on a mandolin as well but I think I may have held a banjo once. Lights were going off all through this vid. It never occurred to me that the banjo is essentially a drum and is played in a percussive fashion rather than finger picking as on a guitar. I can fingerpick on guitar but use a pick most of the time. Anyway, sorry for the novel but this video was most helpful: subbed and watching. Thanks, keep up the great work!
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
@@CliftonHicksbanjo I have been watching & listening Alot to you & one other older guy. Need to buy a banjo.
Maybe an R-35. I will look up the name of the company.
Need to get one soon.
Can you do that abit slower with a real close up shots with camera of both hands.
Thanks
you are a diamond in the rough sir! been looking for a good online banjo teacher but youtube is so awash in bluegrass pickers i was losing hope that id find someone so engaged with the traditional ways. if you find yourself in Vancouver, BC any time you have a gig and a friend!
I get my first banjo tomorrow. This video has me so amped up to start practicing. Made it very simple
I have a 5 string sitting gathering dust as I could never get the tuning sorted. Now that you’ve given it to me I’ll definitely try this style of playing. I do prefer it to the picking style. Thanks for posting this brilliant introduction.
You are a wonderful teacher Mr. Hicks keep em coming!
Love this guys teaching. Easy to follow
"You're thumb goes home".. Lol I love your videos man.. I just started playing banjo (long time guitar player) and these videos of yours have helped immensely. You are a great teacher my friend, thank you :)
Fantastic run through of the playing the banjo!
Clifton, your precision, clear explanation, and helpful repetition offers folks like me the very best chance of learning the claw hammer technique. Thank you so much. Best wishes from the San Francisco Bay Area. - Tim
Many thanks, practicing my banjo here in the UK and this is a massive help.
Ive been tryin to learn for almost a year now and your twelve minute video got me farther the 2 hours worth of others. Thanks.
Make time and keep going at it man, just takes time.
I said the same ,why some people teaching make it so difficult.
I’m a guitar player and just ordered a banjo. Your channels awesome! Love the lessons and the history!
I just bought a banjo today because of your videos and I would like more of your beginner videos. I love your style...
You're the man Clifton! Imma go get a banjo this week. I've wanted to for ages. Imma take the plunge.
Thank you Cathy, what an education. I've always love the "happiness" of the banjo, but had no idea why there so many different sounds.
Thank you so much Mr C.H. for sharing your talent and time . You rock! love this style .
Amazing technique. Revolutionary banjo player. Thanks.
I love the respect and mindfulness you show throughout this video! Truly shows your appreciation for not just the music, but the people and culture behind the music.
I’ve only just started learning the banjo and I was trying some new things and this really helped
STOP hypnotizing me with your eyes! lol... enjoyed that. who knew it could start so simple. i pick a banjo and have NEVER even tried clawhammer, until today.
One of better 101 Claw hammer flicks.
Thanks Clifton. Great explanation. I wish I had seen this a couple of years ago when I was learning this technique - this makes more sense to me. Love your work.
At 9 months or so of practice and I’m getting a lot better. Love the claw hammer style! Looking forward to getting 10 years in. Thanks for the lesson!
Excellent explanation of the 'clawhammer' technique. I can't wait to get my hands on that 'broomstick' to thump out some rhythms. Thanks
That makes so much sense now! Thanks for explaining why my notes don’t sound as strong as they could be! Tyvm man!
Dude! Killer tips. Thank you. I’m teaching myself atm. I Play bass and guitar but have always wanted to learn so here we go.
Great intro to banjo Clifton. Really appreciate the insights. Respect.
Only watched 5 min of this video and your conversational style is SO addictive! SO FRIENDLY!! 😻😻😻 Just set up my new banjo and will watch more of your videos!
I’ve seen a lot of over hand banjo tutorials but this is honestly the best one so far. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I’ve been trying to make the transition from three finger Scruggs to overhand for a while now
Thank you for the nice lesson, Clifton.
This is awesome! I currently taking
Clawhammer classes and this made so much more sense☺️. Will be watching more!
Thanks for this! Especially good to hear the explanation of the plane one hits the strings at - none of the instruction books make this clear so it was very helpful to have that clarified. Best wishes! Russell, UK.
k this is super helpful stuff, stoked to dive into this channel. picked up a banjo awhile back and have been soooo bad about teaching myself but quarantine got me like ...
Wow. Just started clawhammer lessons, but this is the best demonstration and explanation of the basic technique that I've seen. I'm ok when someone explains the "how", but it's 100% better if they include the "why". Thanks for this.
Good stuff Clifton, thanks. This is the kinda Banjo that really sounds right...
Excellent tutorial
The broomstick position is actually really useful for more complex shapes if you use the thumb
I have wanted to learn to play banjo for several years, and Ive finally convinced myself I'm going to give it a go. This video was super helpful just for me as someone who hasnt yet taken the plunge to buying a banjo and starting, but to understand what I would need to do to get to playing.
My son is buying his first banjo tomorrow. I just got back into learning guitar but I have no clue as to how to help him on banjo. We listen to a lot of bluegrass and folk music and he decided to give it a go. I wanted to say thanks for your channel and this beginners video on this method. Your style of instruction is simple, understandable, and is like listening to a friend. I subscribed so we can go through your videos together. Thanks for what you do for the community at large, it isn't easy to spend time making videos to teach others. El bless you.
Good lesson and info Clifton, you explain it really well.
Love your videos and tunes. My wife just got me a lefty Gold Tone to learn on. I've been a drummer for over 20 years and used to play all over the Midwest. I can't wait to learn the banjo. Keep up the awesome channel! Thanks for all your info. I also could tell you weren't on G and it sounds great! Nice deep key.
Great way of explaining it! Awesome stuff
Very helpful to me as a struggling beginner. Nuances I haven't picked up another beginner videos.
Love the Abraham Lincoln Brigade hat! Its a great story that deserves to be more well known.
Thanks for all the banjo tutorials man. Was learning bluegrass/3 finger style but came across you on youtube and fell in love with your style. Keep up the amazing work man!
Any idea where I could get that hat?
Very very helpful!! Got tired of just messing around aimlessly and decided to start watching tutorials and learning and this was great!
That was good, Thank you. Just start playing and have been doing thumb lead but kind of like the sound of the Overhand.
It is a relief for me to learn that placing my thumb on the back of the neck is acceptable technique! I do have a bad habit of allowing my picking thumb to dance about! It certainly affects my accuracy! I'll work on it! Thanks, Clifton!
Hey, just commenting to mention that the thumbnail for this vid is like the sixth image to come up on google when you look up clawhammer banjo.
That is the most concise way I’ve heard anyone tell me how to play claw hammer banjo. I get it now !!!Thank you so much
Excellent instructions
I've wanted to learn the banjo for about ten years now, and I dunno what's stopped me, but I think this video has convinced me I can learn it. Thanks, man
Its a racist instrument.
If playing Banjo makes me a "racist" then I guess I'm a racist? That's such a smooth brain comment 🤣 Calling everything racist has lost its meaning, try and cry harder. 🤣
Ok, lololol, i think i got it by actually slowing down and watching what my right hand is doing.....it's actually; brush 5-1, brush 5-3, brush 5-1, brush 5-3 and so forth...is that correct? Haha, i need to get this down before anything else. Thanks
It's a very big help to me thanks
Thank you.
Best explanation out there. No kidding.
Helpful thanks! More - yes.
I learned more about using a musical instrument in this short tutorial than I ever did in a year of high school band! This makes me want to learn the banjo right now! Thanks! New sub, too at least watch your teaching style. Terrific.
That help me a lot brother, thank you .
Excellent teaching. A young banjo player would be wise to take lessons from you.
Mr hicks, I have always wanted to learn banjo, I'm a drummer of 30 years with very rudimentary knowledge of basic guitar cords, if even that, but Iearn very fast by watching and I found this beginner lesson so valuable, and I haven't even bought my banjo yet but practiced with a broom handle, and he'll if I didn't get it, tour teaching technique is perfect for me, I hope I haven't left this too late to learn and have the joy of singing and playing the great songs out there, I'm 49, is that to late?
I've seen people learn well past 49. Welcome aboard.
@@CliftonHicksbanjo thanks Mr hicks I'm in, and thanks for your reply and confidence booster, I'll be using your channel to learn, many blessings
yeay that makes sence, to me.. I started fifth string banjo yesterday.. And i used to my gitar and bangitar, so this is helpfull, with my fifthstring banjo..
This is really good and helpful! Thanks!!
Awesome lesson!!
I just thought I'd add to my previous comment by saying what I thought was particularly useful was the bit about the thumb staying 'home' on the 5th string, also how the strings are struck quite differently from a guitar. Now I know why the old timers referred to this style of playing as 'rapping' a banjo. Thanks again good buddy.
I could watch your video's for hours. And actually, I do so... Kind greetings from the Netherlands
Brand new to this thing (haven't played an instrument since high school, which was a woodwind, and over 20 years ago). Very glad you're showing the basics. I'm practicing in between my roommates being home, so hopefully I can get enough time to get better eventually! X-/
excellent lesson. im getting it. thank you maestro
Hey Clifton! Fantastic lesson. I’ve been a long time guitar player/classically trained and always wanted to learn the banjo. I finally picked one up a few weeks ago and I’m gradually getting accustomed to various styles of play. The overhand approach will take some getting used to!
I wonder whether you’d be interested in making up a tutorial for andy thorpe’s viral video of him playing to a fox on a mountain? It’s called “playing a banjo for a wild fox” and is what inspired me to finally pick myself up a banjo! Anyways, subscribed! Cheers!
Extremely helpful! Thank you!
Hey Clifton. Thanks for sharing this. Got myself a felon on two fingers of my left hand (the hammer ons and pull offs I guess). A good occasion to work on the right hand technique😁
Clifton youre the man. So glad i discovered your channel. Have you considered writing a book? Would love to read more of your thoughts on life and banjo and music.
Soooo helpful! Thank you!
I’m a fiddle/guitar player (only a little over a year into the fiddle) and I picked up an old open back to ping around on and found your comparison of the drone string to also remind me of the drone in double stops on the fiddle. Though I suppose it’s just a tad different since you can drone the same notes as fiddle pretty easy with g tuning. Right now whether right or wrong I’ve picked up thumb picking and two finger picking kind of naturally occasionally working in a third finger. I really need to work on the rhythms meshing with some leads. I find myself playing the leads from the old time fiddle songs I love the same way on banjo vice versa. It truly is a really cool instrument that has helped me find songs by ear so easily then translate them onto my fiddle.
That makes me think maybe I can play this thing. Thanks
Random, but the thumbnail TH-cam gave this video reminds me of the famous Johnny Cash giving the finger photo. Haha! Love all your videos. Thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us, Mr. Hicks!
Very helpful! Thank you!!
Gonna give this a try.
your my learning speed ......perfect
Thanks Clifton! 👌🏽👌🏽
Thought i would never be able to attempt this,until i seen this video very well taught .From the info i did on the banjo or rule goes for anything ,make sure you do it right the first time dont get into bad habits.You see Billy strings Bajo player and you say to your self i can only imagine how long it took him to be able to play like that,even his mandolin player is on a different level than most, they play like its part of them. Some people it comes easy, for others its a gift,for most it needs to be a passion and the love for it and the hard work.Like your other video the banjos there playing are completely different and technique with finger picks ,its like me reading Russian for the first time and saying what is this only. Thanks for the video , also doyou play the mandolin.
Hey, Cliff, you're a darn good teacher , not rushing, not making it complicated, and breaking it all down slowly where I can see, and know, what you're doing. Thanx a heap.
brilliant video thanks
Nice lesson, Thanks!
VERY helpful, thanks!
Nice lesson Clifton. I like your clawhammer style! Brian M
Thanks
Very helpful! Thanks
As someone whos been playing the blue grass style with picks. This seems a bit harder lol but i cant wait to try
It is a little easier to get started, but I think most will tell you the traditional styles are all easier once you get the first hurdle.
Nice. Thanks!