I'm really grateful for these lessons, Tom. I learned the clawhammer style clumsily, through trial and error, and from piecing together what I could from various books and videos. I've never had it explained to me quite the way you have, and it's been eye-opening. I'm learning to make some much-needed adjustments through your videos and almost re-learning how to play clawhammer style. Thank you for the time you put into these videos; they really do make a difference for many of us!
that was a helpful explanation on how the thumb should be used. My struggle right now is keeping my thumb planted when i try and pick strings 2 3 and 4. When trying to pick other strings, my thumb raises above the strings
Hey Wolf....glad the video was helpful! You mention "planting" the thumb, and I want to steer you away from any planting. Just to clarify: you want the thumb to move with the rest of the hand regardless of string you're hitting. Think of knocking on a door: the thumb moves into the door with the rest of the hand, and the thumb comes with the hand as the hand moves out to prepare for another knock. A video that might help you is this one..."Clawhammer in 60 Seconds": th-cam.com/video/A2Sj4IOYWfg/w-d-xo.html . Strings 2, 3, and 4 can be real tricky. Here's a video I did on that: th-cam.com/video/PGsgZp8UV9s/w-d-xo.html If I've misunderstood your question, feel free to elaborate! Good luck and keep practicing. You WILL get it, and it will be awesome. Best, Tom
I experimented picking out tunes( by ear) using my thumb instead of an ordinary down stroke ,it improved my playing as my thumb is now lerning where the notes are so I can thumb other stringsq when I'm frailing, howèver i am sure I would benefit from a tutor as I'm the blind being led by no one .No banjo teachers in this town just me playing a bit every day.
Well I'm sorry but that did not make sense. I followed part 1 and can do basic downstroke finger then upstroke thumb. Is that bum di ? What you seemed to do in this vid is always sound the downstroke but alternate the thumb. Not what I was expecting.
Yup, that's exactly right, Steve. The first video is about "double thumbing". This one is the next step: the bum-ditty. Think of it as building your basic striking hand vocabulary. Best of luck, Tom
I'm really grateful for these lessons, Tom. I learned the clawhammer style clumsily, through trial and error, and from piecing together what I could from various books and videos. I've never had it explained to me quite the way you have, and it's been eye-opening. I'm learning to make some much-needed adjustments through your videos and almost re-learning how to play clawhammer style. Thank you for the time you put into these videos; they really do make a difference for many of us!
that was a helpful explanation on how the thumb should be used. My struggle right now is keeping my thumb planted when i try and pick strings 2 3 and 4. When trying to pick other strings, my thumb raises above the strings
Hey Wolf....glad the video was helpful! You mention "planting" the thumb, and I want to steer you away from any planting. Just to clarify: you want the thumb to move with the rest of the hand regardless of string you're hitting. Think of knocking on a door: the thumb moves into the door with the rest of the hand, and the thumb comes with the hand as the hand moves out to prepare for another knock. A video that might help you is this one..."Clawhammer in 60 Seconds": th-cam.com/video/A2Sj4IOYWfg/w-d-xo.html . Strings 2, 3, and 4 can be real tricky. Here's a video I did on that: th-cam.com/video/PGsgZp8UV9s/w-d-xo.html If I've misunderstood your question, feel free to elaborate! Good luck and keep practicing. You WILL get it, and it will be awesome. Best, Tom
Thank you so much for these lessons!
I experimented picking out tunes( by ear) using my thumb instead of an ordinary down stroke ,it improved my playing as my thumb is now lerning where the notes are so I can thumb other stringsq when I'm frailing, howèver i am sure I would benefit from a tutor as I'm the blind being led by no one .No banjo teachers in this town just me playing a bit every day.
Well I'm sorry but that did not make sense. I followed part 1 and can do basic downstroke finger then upstroke thumb. Is that bum di ? What you seemed to do in this vid is always sound the downstroke but alternate the thumb. Not what I was expecting.
Yup, that's exactly right, Steve. The first video is about "double thumbing". This one is the next step: the bum-ditty. Think of it as building your basic striking hand vocabulary. Best of luck, Tom