Three Styles of Old Time Banjo Demonstrated
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ค. 2010
- Ever wonder what the difference is between frailing / clawhammer, drop thumb, and round peak? This is Jeremy Stephens at The Bluegrass Shack in a short video demonstrating the song Cripple Creek in three different styles. (New Athens, IL)
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On the first style he was playing and looking around at the same time. When he mixes the double thumb with the drop thumb at the end, it started getting really complicated to play. I could hardly look away from the complexities on the right hand... but I noticed after a while that neither did he look away from his right hand, that looks very difficult and mind bending to play!
He makes it look so easy and almost looks like he's bored lol. Great playing and nice Gibson.
He's a great banjo player. I could was never able to get that drop-thumb style to work and then the last style he showed was beyond comprehension.
Hey there. Uncle Charlie Lowe was at best a shirt tail relative of Tommy Jarrell. His real nephew showed up in 1977 or 8 at the National Fiddle Championships in Wieser, Idaho. Meeting Ed Lowe was the highlight of my banjo career and he certainly had the chops that he had learned directly from Uncle Charley after he caught him messing with his banjo at a young age. At the age of 16 he was riding the running board of a Model A home with his banjo after a dance and got bucked off and the banjo broke, never to be repaired as the story went, as he entered the Merchant Marines shortly afterwards lying about his age of course. After retiring from the Longshoremen's Union in San Pedro he somehow got the urge to play the banjo again after 50+ years. He got ahold of a banjo but it had frets and he had never played with anything but a fretless. Not to worry as his neighbor was tearing off the aluminum siding from his house and Eddie snagged a bit of it, tore out the frets and glued it on the wreckage. You can see the banjo here as well as get a good sense of his ragged but right Round Top style. th-cam.com/video/F6V6KwPj2ik/w-d-xo.html There were several of us clawhammerer's there at Weiser that year that he had a real influence on as he was not only a great banjo player but a heck of a nice guy! Up at 7 every morning to shave and get to the pancake breakfast that none of us ever made.....Not to mention the cut glass pitchers of ice cold Coors at Clifford's Tavern across from the Rodeo Grounds camping venue.
Hey I grew up not far from weiser idaho
Probably the best banjo-learnin video I've seen yet, probably because he's the best at the banjo I've seen yet! He actually cuts to the chase, and then starts playing. He obviously knows the difference in styles and how it all breaks down, great job
Thanks for this excellent demonstration...I've always loved old-time style banjo playing.
Never understood the difference in clawhammer styles until I saw this! Great summary and fantastic playing - thanks man!
Got my banjo about a year and ago, started out trying to learn Scruggs style, found it very hard and got very frustrated to the point that I wasn't enjoying it anymore, then I discovered Patrick Costello's daily frail vids. I've come such a long way in the last six months! I love my banjo!
Yes, Jeremy does an excellent job both explaining and demonstrating!
Just get the banjo. I got mine at age 32 and its the first instrument I ever played. This guy has obviously doing it for years, there are lots of fun and satisfying things to work through as a beginner. PAtrick Costello's beginner clawhammer lessons got me started (on TH-cam) but im sure there are other good ones too.
Sounded great...Round Peak is a very interesting style...Nice job....Thanks for posting...
Good Work, Chris! I really appreciate it
That's awesome! Glad that you are enjoying the banjo again!
Thank you Bluegrass Shack for being there!
Nice demonstration. Thank you.
Love this mate. Top job!
I was meandering through amazon.com for a tuner for my fiddle and came upon the banjos (i did say 'meandering') and found this video (because i can't let a new idea alone) and i am really really impressed. am thinking that maybe i might wanna learn banjo. that has been in the back of my mind since i heard some of the awesome mumford and son tunes last year. impressive and awesome Jeremy is!
This is an awesome video!!!
Great demo and explanation!
I have learnt from you over the years.. thanks man🪕🪕🪕
Such an amazing player! I hope I'll be able to reach that level of skill some day :)
This guy REALLY CAN PLAY THE BANJO!!! Greetings from Russia!!!
He makes it look so easy.
Killer vid man,
Great playing and video
been playing banjo for several years, and never could quite figure out the clawhammer style. i been playing sort of a pre scruggs thing with just the thumb and the index. something you'd see a lot of folks doing with monroe and such, but i think i'm finally getting the clawhammer. awesome demo, down with finger picks!
I think if you can afford some lessons and there is someone nearby to teach you, I would recommend that. You can't ask a video questions, and a video can't tell you if you are doing something incorrectly. I think videos are great, though, and are certainly very helpful.
Great job !
All of styles sound good!
OUTSTANDING thanks
Love it
I have a five string banjo, and there is a wealth of information and music available online for it. I don't have a 4 string so I couldn't tell you much about it except it that its lowest string generally gets tuned lower so you can play some more bassy things, and 6 string banjos are basically guitars that sound like banjos.
I faced the same sort of problem, although I have had an early musical background ;) Consequently, picking up banjo was simple already knowing a thing or two about music. Banjo chords and scales are easy, and there is plenty of sheet music to be found on the internet of can be purchased at your local music store. Don't ever let what other people may say get in the way of you're venture; they are probably just jealous anyway!
guitar, the gateway instrument. I like that :D
I must say, that I did love how it all sounded.. do you buy chance have a slower version of cripple creek? or maybe even the tab? thank you for sharing
nice pickin, I fancy the moonshine jug in the hallway too!
Start with a banjo, . I prefer an open back for clawhammer. I started 8 months ago at age 67. I love it and you are never to old to learn
I think many people find clawhammer easier to play than 3-finger style. You should certainly give it a try if you are interested. You may discover that it is the perfect style for you.
No matter what instrument you choose, you will have things that will be difficult for you. If your heart is set on banjo, then you should play banjo. Otherwise, you'll always be wondering where you'd be at on the banjo if you had started it first. Dive in and enjoy yourself while you learn -- bad notes and all! If you are having fun, that is all that matters!
This guy is amazingly good!!
Nice playing .I always think of Clarance Tom Ashley when I see a Bow Tie Gibson ...
brilliant!
That would give me something to work on for a while
Really useful
EXCELLENT!
I hope to play like that!
Great! Thanks
You can play any style, but you get different sounds based on the banjo and its setup. People generally play clawhammer style on open back banjos because you get a less bright tone quality and less volume. Most clawhammer players prefer a plunkier sound. The resonator amplifies the sound of the banjo, and with a tighter banjo head, you get a much brighter sound for 3-finger style.
Great playing! Round Peake N.C style? That style was also being done in West Va, and Virginia at the same time those other folks were also playing it. The term, Round Peake has become popular because some of the players doing that style were very active and were being recorded early on at the festivals that became popular with a lot of folks wanting to learn. Term infers that it started in NC...met those folks back in 60's. Wade Ward, Kyle Creed etc. Super nice folks.Wade let me play his RB-11
Great! Thanks so much. Is two finger style considered an old style of banjo playing? I have seen what looks like multiple styles of 2 finger playing.
very much so, yes.
what year is his banjo? I have that exact rb250 from 1956. archtop and all! great banjos!
Anyone know of a Cripple Creek tab close to what's demonstrated here?
I started out pickin, learned a tune or two then tried frailin, I can pick Cripple Creek but just cant seem to frail it at all. I live on an Island north of Scotland and out of 22000 people, none play the 5 String! Nice frailing by the way!
What year is that "Bowtie" Mastertone? I had one similiar to that one in 1959.
Yeah man! Go Cat Go! Great pickin!
@shal0mnurh0me Since I play 3-finger style, I've always wondered what the difference was, if any. Jeremy can play any style. When he came by the shop the other day, I asked him to show me the difference. Then I decided to video it because I knew there would be others out there wanting to know as much as I did!
This style might be best!
Niiiiccceee
Thanks for sharing! This was helpful. Do you know what kind of banjo Jeremy is playing here? (like model, and all?)
I'm hunting for the right banjo for me (without being able to try them out at the store since there aren't any near me) and this is really helpful!
It is a pre-war Gibson bowtie. I don't know exactly what year, and I don't remember if this was his banjo or not. Set up is going to be the most important thing. That will give you the best sound for that banjo and will determine how easy it is to play.
I'll be getting a banjo soon and just wanted to know if it's better to find lessons or learn from the web?
It really depends on the song you're playing, but I've seen beginner stuff saying to start with the bottom four or the bottom three. So far, as a fellow clawhammer beginner, I have not seen all five strings used in a "bum ditty" strum.
So random question, but what's with the wad of cash near the neck at 3.09?
I have no idea what you are talking about. You must be looking at the pockets on his shorts.
No I see what you are talking about. Under the metal bar on the top side of the body
Louis Waddle Okay, I see it now. I think it's just a dollar bill or two. Haven't you heard of the song "Long Journey Home"? The chorus says "lost all my money but a two dollar bill."
I have not, tbh my youtube surfing started no where near banjo's, it began with Node Lan Parties lol
Probably lunch money. I love that double drop thumb of the old guy who "died in the sixties or fifties" ...
I could do that, I think. Not drop dead in the sixties or fifties but double drop thumb.
Working on it...double dropped thumb...not...never mind. 🌴🎶🇻🇮 .
This may be off topic but was Jeremy Stephens a member in the Chuck Wagon Gang a little while ago.
A question for anyone who knows their banjo: I'm a complete beginner with no musical background aside from a bit of fooling around with bass guitar when I was a teen before I got distracted from it. I dearly want to learn to play the banjo, clawhammer style specifically, but I have to admit I'm a bit intimidated by how complex of an instrument it seems to be. Should I work my way up, using the guitar as a gateway instrument, or with the proper determination and patience can I just dive right in?
I played guitar before I played banjo and it helps a tiny bit with left hand fretting but not that much. I would start with banjo straight away if I were you.
This guy is good o.o; XD.
My Dad used to use an acrylic nail to protect his middle fingernail.
The fingers in "drop thumb" still strike downward, not up like Seeger, right?
Yeah. It's exactly the same as striking the high g string. It's weird to me that he's describing these as different styles. They're just different techniques commonly used together.
*takes banjo out of closet and blows the dust off it. Watches video and puts banjo back in the closet. Sits back on couch with a big bowl of potato chips and watches TV*
Whooooe.....Call it claw hammer, drop thumb, frailin' , whatever; that boy can sure pick a banjer. (Think I'll go practice up a tad longer!) Wheee dogigies, wish I could do that!
Do you strum up on claw hammer?
You probably already have the answer to this by now, but the answer is no. Thumb goes down and slightly out, and the fingers are bent so that the fingernail comes in contact with the strings as you strum down.
I always wanted to play a string, problem is my right arm and left arm both want 100% of my brain at the same time.
So that's a 5 string banjo? Is that the kind I wanna play if I'm a beginner banjo player?
Patrick's stuff if Awesome!!
holy christ dude
Thats how ya clawhammer! so many people play it so shallow, weak and lifeless. This guy really gets it, well studied.
3:10
Clawhammer banjo looks a lot harder that it actually is. The chords are easier than guitar chords, the strings are lighter so are easier to press, and the playing styles are quite different from guitar. The main thing with clawhammer is that the strum initially feels really unnatural, but if you practice for a few months the strum becomes easy and after that there are only a few basic tricks to learn. Good luck!
and....he's chewing gum
So when you have a stroke kids, make sure there's a banjo at hand, so at least when you go down, you go down humin and strumin
Great playing. Only problem is he's playing on a bluegrass banjo.
He didn't know I was going to ask him to do that. He plays both styles and has banjos for both styles, but this was the banjo he had with him that day. You'll just have to overlook that...
@@ChrisTalley1 OK John McEuen plays old timey on his bluegrass banjo too. John is one of my fav. banjo players.
Last style has too much 5th for me. Almost feel like thats all I hear. Just my opinion.
Very impressive banjo playing but no lessons how to get there
I'm glad you enjoyed it! It was not meant to be a teaching video -- just informational.
Kinda mostly showing off. Not real useful. So um. Yeah.
Well this was a demo, maybe a tutorial/lesson is what you had in mind
been playing banjo for several years, and never could quite figure out the clawhammer style. i been playing sort of a pre scruggs thing with just the thumb and the index. something you'd see a lot of folks doing with monroe and such, but i think i'm finally getting the clawhammer. awesome demo, down with finger picks!