Banjo lesson #1 - Intro and basic frailing strum. (Beginners tutorial - frailing / clawhammer banjo)

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This is the first in a series of tutorials designed for complete beginners on how to play frailing (clawhammer) banjo. In this first episode we focus on the basic frailing strum, which will be the foundation of everything we'll play.
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Hey everyone :) Welcome to the banjo ranks! I'm Banjo Jen - a singer-songwriter from Sheffield in the UK. I don't really play loads of old tunes and I don't focus overly on music theory or technical aspects. But I use the wonderful frailing banjo style to play and create songs, and - most importantly - to play for fun. So I hope that I can help you to do the same thing and get enjoyment out of this fab instrument if you're just starting out (just be aware you will always be the butt of jokes in folk music circles if you play the banjo!). Please join me in the uphill struggle to make banjo cool!
If you're interested in my original singer-songwriter material, please check out my website www.banjojen.com and subscribe to my main RU-vid channel / banjojen . Thank you :)
Other links:
Facebook: / banjojenmusic
Instagram: / banjojen
Twitter: / banjojen
Bandcamp: banjojen.bandc...
Spotify: open.spotify.c...
These tutorials are of course available for free, but if you feel that you'd like to contribute anything, obviously any donations to poor banjo players are always appreciated in these tough times! My PayPal account is www.paypal.me/... for any of those exceptionally lovely humans :)
And finally, always remember …pick tunes not fights!
Jen xx

Опубликовано:

24 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 125

@Emil-Antonowsky 7 месяцев назад

Well, I'm 96 years old next birthday and after finding my pappys old banjo out in the barn, I've decided to finally learn it like he always wanted me. These lessons are great as due to mobility issues, I only get to see him once a month.

@shadowshadow2485 Год назад

Thank you , for your lessons , 70 yr old beginner , from Florida, moe

@brentcauble5416 2 года назад

I cannot get over the name of your channel. Makes giggle. I feel like I'm frailing with getting any better with this dang banjer! So frustrating. But thanks for the info.

@idoeverything Год назад

Out of all the clawhammer lessons on RU-vid, yours is the only one I understood. I can do clawhammer now. Thank you 😊

@steamdean100 Год назад

Wow, great tutorial. I've watched about 30 first lesson tutorials, none except yours has inspired me to move onto lesson two. I just want to be able to play tune. Also love ya accent.

@michaelmclelland8440 3 года назад

I really like your Vedios I been claw hammering a banjo for 7 years now but you’re teaching me some new things thank you so much and your pretty and I love your accent

@johncfullerartist9863 2 года назад

nearly 80 and am going to learn ( I hope ) clawhammer banjo Very refreshing to hear and English girl tutoring

@VictorVictor-hq7ui 2 года назад

Just bought a Banjo yesterday and now, like it or not, you are my new best freind! Love this channel and how you teach. Thanks Jen Banjo!

@amandasanders1141 5 месяцев назад

This is the clearest explanation I’ve found. Thank you!

@stephenhall5430 2 года назад

Just found your lessons just starting. You are a talented person .hope you never find teaching dull. Thanks for your patience. Here we go

@chrisbiltcliffe9999 Год назад

I've just inherited a banjo and this is a wonderful way to start the banjo journey. A a bass player, the whole thing is a mystery but watching this first video has really go me started well and I'm really looking forward to learning this brilliant intrument. Thanks for putting it on youtube.

@GaryBook 9 месяцев назад

The key part is start slowly and ONLY DOWN STROKES!!!

@jeffkennedy6932 3 года назад

Best beginner video on clawhammer. Thanks so much.

@landscapesoflibby 3 года назад

I've been struggling so much as a new frailer and your tip about letting the heel of the palm rest on the banjo head helps so much! Thank you!

@s.jordanlee7072 2 года назад

Agreed.

@AlicatMusic101 2 года назад

Greetings to you from the San Francisco Bay Area. I, like many others out here in RU-vid Land, recently stumbled onto your channel quite coincidently. As it happens, I just purchased a well-worn banjo at an estate yard sale of all places, only a few days ago. So now, between my new banjo and your lovely series of tutorials, I'm primed and ready to go. Thanks so much for sharing your talent and enthusiasm.

@banjobobby1 3 года назад

Hello Banjo Jen from Sheffield. I'm Bobby Banjo from Kent. It's nice to see a Yorkshire Lass teaching frailing banjo. I struggled with a heavy Gibson resonator banjo for years, trying to master bluegrass. Eventually I had to give up and the banjo was lost in the loft for nigh on 18 years.. Quite by chance, I stumbled on Patrick Costello's lessons on You Tube during the summer last year. Then I found Deerings tutorials which prompted me to buy a Deering Goodtime banjo online from a shop in Huddersfield. I try to practice every day, but I'm never going to be a virtuoso! My weakness is that I do not have a strong sense of rythum, unlike my Dad who was a drummer in a marching band back in the 30's. Musical aptitude seems to have skipped my generation, but our son is an accomplished guitar player. Dear old dad here, has to really work hard to make a decent sound. I haven't yet looked at your other tutorials, but I'm sure I will enjoy them! l

@frailingatlife7755 3 года назад

Hi Bobby Banjo from Kent :) I believe the Huddersfield shop you mentioned is Eagle Music! I go there for all my banjo needs, they're a great company! Luckily I live within driving distance which is handy. Keep up the frailing, the rhythm will get better the more you practise. You could try using a metronome at a really slow pace to start with. Also play along to tunes / songs, just strumming the chords and not worrying about anything extra but focusing on keeping the rhythm even with the tune. Good luck!

@banjobobby1 3 года назад

@@frailingatlife7755 . Hello Jen. Yes indeed it was Eagle Music. I do try to kerep a steady rhythm with a metronome and I think I am getting a lot better. At least I don't look down at my right hand any more, and only rarely glance up at my fretting hand. i think I'm improving slowly. Thank you for your sound advice.

@fruitypebbles803 3 года назад

Wow, thank you! I come from the bluegrass world, where claw hammer was an unfathomable mystery. My teachers told me I’d need to get a special teacher in order to learn clawhammer and it takes a long time, but you make it look so easy! Thank you so much for the clear explanation, so I can come on over to the frailing side! ❤️

@paulgrady4183 3 года назад

I'm new to banjo and I'm wanting to learn clawhammer,I've been learning and practicing for around 8 month's and I'm loving it and just found your channel and just want to thank you, you are a breath of fresh air and the way you teach is brilliant for me so thanks 😁👍

@frailingatlife7755 3 года назад

Ah great - you're welcome! Glad the lessons help and that you're loving playing. Keep it up :)

@finneire2081 Год назад

Absolutely love your channel I'm undertaking my failing banjo journey like you I would be more into singing strumming than tunes . Started with Irish folk music picking rolls . However I haenow fell in love with old-time failing music and songs . Thanks so much for your help to us beginners keep them coming

@kp1049 Год назад

just come across your tuition on the banjo ,i play Scruggs style and i, m defiantly going to have a go at the frailing you are teaching ----------based in rossington south yorkshire thanks for uploading brill!!

@joyciejd9673 2 года назад

thank you for the lesson. when I get it down, I'll be back for lesson two!

@banjomikeinkyusa3743 3 года назад

Banjo Mike in KY USA - Oh love to hear you saying “fiddle bits”. Enjoying your sharing of your banjo experience! Very encouraging!

@j80hdmanos 4 года назад

Thank You Banjo Jen for doing learning videos. I like seeing lessons like this available because most places where people live have few if any people teaching Banjo, and people in all these places love the sound of a good ol Banjo. Between you and Patrick Costello I drift to learn because you both have a good way of explaining the joy off frailing . Keep up the good work, your doing a great thing.

@frailingatlife7755 4 года назад

Thanks John! Glad you're enjoying the videos. Happy playing :)

@alanrichards1462 Год назад

Thank you for making me feel as if I could play the banjo. Very newbie... Really liking the way you teach. Thanks again. Alan..

@linterpretemehariste9081 2 года назад

Chapeau! You're the new Tracy Newman 0.2 ! Love it!

@martin701 2 года назад

Just picked up your channel (excuse the pun!) and you break the bum ditty down beautifully. Very straightforward explanations which work! I’ve been playing off and for some time, with varying degrees of success, but keep coming back to the basics which doesn’t do any harm. I’ve heard it said that the left hand is what you know and the right hand is who you are. Getting the right hand “right” has always, to me anyway, been the difficult bit.

@Kosmoski99 3 года назад

Just started working through lesson 1 and enjoying it so far. Thanks for taking the time and effort to make these videos, much appreciated.

@vyperv2199 3 года назад

Thx for your Videos, i am com from Germany, 50years , i learning 1/2 jear. You are so good. Thx thx thx , LG Sven .... sorry my English..

@williamfitch1137 3 года назад

I really like your style of teaching Claw Hammer banjo! I will be watching your videos! I'm from Texas and I love your British accent! And you're happy!

@merickel1 Год назад

I've spent years following the Murphy method. Looking forward to watching your videos.

@dmc949 4 года назад

Hi Jen greetings from Russia. I play guitar and mandolin and now have a banjo. I wasnt sure what banjo style to start one but your videos have convinced me to start with clawhammer. Keep up the good work many thanks. Dave.

@frailingatlife7755 4 года назад

Ah great! Welcome to the dark side haha :)

@mikeclarke9281 2 года назад

These lessons are perfect for me, thanks 😊

@coils1945 2 года назад

Thank you so much for this video. Been playing for bout a year now but work gets in the way. Looking forward to watching the rest of your channel. Keep it up!!!

@craigjohnson4871 3 года назад

Thank you for this video... Just starting out... Great advice here.

@KlausRockwell 4 года назад

Splendid. Thanks for this.

@senojekim579 6 месяцев назад

Hi, your style of banjo is exactly what I am looking for. I have just ordered a 5string banjo. I'm a guitar player so I do expect some problems, but I'm sure you will get me through okay. Thanks

@adelemccarthy9365 3 года назад

Fantastic! I’m glad I found your channel because I wasn’t quite understanding clawhammer, but you’ve explained it really well that I now ‘get it’ .

@68tri1 3 года назад

I just ran across her channel tonight. Looking forward to getting started. Like you I’ve never quite understood clawhamer. I hope this is the magic potion. Happy Playing!!

@lynphillips2109 3 года назад

Very good details and insight

@mikeclarke9281 Год назад

Your an amazing player and teacher. Thank you

@banjobobby1 3 года назад

Good news. Patrick is back with a new frailing tutorial.

@nwilson2167 3 года назад

Just had my first banjo, never played before, however self tought on the uke. This will be a challenge, still, hopefully worth it

@Exod365 20 дней назад

Dang I was totally not thinking you were in the UK. Before the video started I thought there's a banjo picking mama. 😊 Pretty too..

@edwardmorton6691 3 года назад

I'm beginning banjo at the very ripe age of 59 and I love it. Your videos are very clear and easy to follow and you've got a smashing personality for teaching. Oh and a cheeky sense of humour. I'm picking things up faster than I expected and it's good fun learning from you. I have watched some of your performances on RU-vid and you're an extremely astute song writer with the balls to say it how you see it. I admire that honestly and spirit. I hope with this covid ballocks out of the way that this year and future years will see you get the rewards and recognition you so rightly deserve. Right then what was I doing? Oh aye : bum ditty , bum ditty, bum ditty.......

@frailingatlife7755 3 года назад

Thank you so much :)

@robertjohnson1246 3 года назад

Beautiful. Thank you

@peterfalahee 10 месяцев назад

Great lesson well done love it

@mackprice8202 3 года назад

Great technique.

@stephenbaker645 3 года назад

How great to see this, thank you so much, all you said resonated (scuse the pun) with me . Got a bit stuck with other styles over the years with v slow progress saw you at Kitchen gardens in kings Heath a while ago and have recently focused on claw hammer, I was looking to go back to Patrick and came across your vid! Serendipity indeed ....Cheers 👍

@frailingatlife7755 3 года назад

Oh great! Hope these tutorials help. Ah, the lovely Kitchen Garden... can't wait until we can play proper gigs again!!

@garettpatria 3 года назад

Your videos are GREAT

@dorindacontreras1094 3 года назад

Very informative and interesting 😌 I really enjoy all the practical tips. Super helpful. For those of you who are looking for someone else who has some banjo teaching and some instruction check out Dwight Diller. He’s from West Virginia and has taught clawhammer banjo for over 50 years. Pretty awesome dude!

@MissLouLouD 4 года назад

Thanks for these great lessons. I've been teaching myself since lockdown started where I live and found your channel because I was searching for tutorials on how to play the song Banjo Pickin' Girl. It's the song I most want to learn. You play it so nicely. I'd be ever so grateful if you'd make a video teaching how to play it! Thanks again, I'm having fun following along with your videos.

@frailingatlife7755 4 года назад

Glad you're enjoying the tutorials! And yes, I can definitely do one for Banjo Pickin' Girl. It's one of my favourite things to play :)

@bendavis9253 11 месяцев назад

Youuuuuu, you make learning fun!!!!

@hannaharchdekin7455 Год назад

Thanks Jen ❤

@ctsfiddler 3 года назад

Excellent lesson, hope you get lots of views. I'm two yrs into it and trying to pick up speed.

@grahamdavey4142 3 года назад

I’ve just started out I’ve bought a banjo with a resonator can this still be used for the claw hammer strumming. Brilliant explanation for someone just starting out 👍

@TheJackscrimshaw 3 года назад

love this channel and all the tutorials. i'm a blind mutli-instrumentalist who also got a lot of influence from patrick. keep up the good work :)

@davemcevoy8122 2 года назад

OK, I'm a total beginner no musical training at and an engineer to boot. ie practical and without any artistic cells in my body. But I've always liked the banjo sound, so I've now got one. I've watched several instructors and they all assume some prior knowledge. You seem to be aimed at my zero knowledge level so her I am. Let's see how it goes. Oink.

@frankprior924 Год назад

Hi, Have you ever given a lesson on I walk the line frailing or finger picking would love to learn this song from you as you are a great teacher ☺

@markmajewski5775 3 года назад

Hi banjoJen, do you play other instruments too? I love your videos and your clear love for the banjo. Thanks

@tomnelson3362 8 месяцев назад

Saw a fellow frailing on RU-vid and his banjo was so low sounding it made me think he was playing on a hollow log. Great sound. I can't find the video again but do you have any idea what he might have been playing. Thanks for any help. I'm still working on your first lesson but I'm getting there.

@MrRw59 3 года назад

Great lesson thanks.. now subscribed

@alanr1062 Год назад

Hiya Jen, great video and a big help. I bought a grafton resonator several years ago, and after many failed attempts at learning the Scruggs bluegrass style, it got left in its case, and I returned to the guitar. I could never get the hang of anchoring my fingers on the banjo head. Recently, I've watched a few videos, including yours, Patrick Costello's, and Lukas Pool. After some perseverance, I can now perform the clawhammer basics. However, another thing that put me off this banjo was the weight. It can be quite uncomfortable. After watching yours and many other clawhammer tutorials I’ve decided to have a go at taking the damn resonator off this afternoon. (I hope I don't break it) P.S. I saw you once play at the Dorothy Pax, and you were excellent.

@barriesansom2070 6 месяцев назад

Great stuff🪕

@veroldaley1 3 года назад

Thanks for your lessons Jen , very informative , the one problem i seems to get is loosing volume on the drone string when i start getting up to speed is this normal , thanks again

@tomnelson3362 8 месяцев назад

Very good videos!! Do you use picks? I have no nails so I'm going to have to get some help. Any recommendations?

@guthriemayfield8721 6 месяцев назад

Thank you ❤

@peachesnscream Год назад

definitely challenging to get down from having a guitarist background, also I keep naturally falling into instead of string, strum, thumb, going: string, strum, thumb, strum, more of a 2/4. Nonetheless I'll keep at it!

@leesimpson9694 3 года назад

I'm just starting out on banjo after years of playing guitar. I want to play this style but the hardest part is breaking the habit of finger picking so I always slip back in to the 3 finger style. Quite frustrating to be fair.

@pennsyltuckyreb9800 3 года назад

Part of "clawhammer" is also up-picking too! No need to give that up. For the banjo, it's a "two-finger" picking which used to be referred to as "fancy style." Then there's also drop-thumbing, etc. Basic "clawhammer/frailing/overhand/ho-down" is just the base of it all. Eventually, you can work in the regular finger picking as well. Look into Clifton Hicks on RU-vid. He regularly switches between clawhammer and two finger in his playing. Both methods were historically used. This song here, "Run, Jimmie, Run" he goes from down picking into two finger up picking halfway through the song: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aHce4l5m58Q.html

@reallyoldtom9352 2 года назад

Hello from Idaho , USA. Please tell us about your banjo.

@FaithPixel 4 года назад

Brilliant video, are there different types of banjos and a recommended brand for beginners?

@frailingatlife7755 4 года назад

Thanks! Yes, there are lots of different types and brands and it can get a bit overwhelming to be honest! If you're planning on playing clawhammer style, most people use open back banjos which generally give what I call a 'softer' sound, whereas bluegrass players tend to use the ones with resonators on the back as those are louder and brighter. However, if you already have a banjo with a resonator you can have it removed if you want to. I don't have much experience with different brands, but I can definitely recommend Deering. They do a range called 'Goodtime' banjos which are great for beginners because they're good quality but more affordable. The one I use in these videos and for my gigs is their 'Americana' one, which has a larger banjo head (12" instead of the standard 11"). I love it!

@runrig97 4 года назад

I learned on a Sears Silvertone that I picked up for $40, but I've since upgraded to a Gold Tone CC-Carlin 12 that costs not much more than the Deering Goodtime. Deering is perfectly good, and that's probably what I would've gotten if I didn't get the Gold Tone. Though I did see a Vega in the shop but I missed getting that by a couple of weeks due to indecision, it was a couple hundred more than the Gold Tone.

@curiousgeorge4608 3 года назад

So much easier to learn banjo from someone with an English accent :)

@jamesrogers5277 2 года назад

Not when she sings!

@joyciejd9673 2 года назад

ha! yes! but now my banjo playing still stinks but my English accent has improved

@ricknickle2831 3 года назад

Hi Banjo Jen! I am 43 years old and had a major stroke 11 years ago. I used to play the banjo and guitar pretty well. Since the stroke I have re-learned basic guitar... so, my left hand works LOL! My right hand, however has become quite frustrating! I cannot get the strum to sound like claw hammer. I know it takes time, but any tricks to get the bum ditty to sound like bum ditty? I do not think I made any sense :), sorry!!

@frailingatlife7755 3 года назад

Hey, gosh good on you for re-learning everything! If you're finding the right hand difficult I'd say just focus on the rhythm to get it sounding like the bum ditty - don't worry too much about being accurate with the initial strike. Ideally you want the first strike note to be one clear note on a single string but if that's difficult just catch whichever string you land on and don't worry if the finger hits a couple at the same time, then just do the strum and thumb as normal keeping the rhythm and it'll sound like the bum ditty. Then over time hopefully the hand will get better at hitting the strings clearly. Don't know if that helps! :)

@ricknickle2831 3 года назад

@@frailingatlife7755 thank you so much! Really enjoying re-learning with you!

@peartree460 27 дней назад

Camt to learn banjo....wrote a song while i was waiting for the lesson to start😂😂😂 @10:00

@alanwann9318 9 месяцев назад

Take This advice ;most songs are 4/4 timing i.e. 1 2 + 3 4+ start on the 3rd str . Listen to Ola Belle . Lily May langford . For good example, s . Learn a part slowly repeated. The ornaments play a big part = hammer ons pull offs slides . Stroke lightly.i have been at the banjo 10 years its not easy. It is the opposite of guitar tech.

@marscellemieux1673 3 года назад

merci du Québec, Canada north américa

@laurameeks8653 2 года назад

My husband left me bc after practicing this for a week, I still have 0 rhythm and sounds the same terrible, seriously h-w many weeks will this take me to get

@GaryBook 9 месяцев назад

Do it very slowly for a while before you get it, after a while you can speed it up. But SLOW IS YOUR FRIEND!!!

@vio4jesus Год назад

Love the accent!

@lifeonasmallholdingfarm.5837 2 месяца назад

70 and given a really bad banjo. Gonna be expensive I recon. Yeay sheffield!!

@bebenavole 2 года назад

what kind of pickup are you using? tnx

@banjobobby1 3 года назад

What a shame that Patric Costello has removed all of his Banjo & Guitar videos from You Tube.

@frailingatlife7755 3 года назад

That’s definitely a shame :( Hopefully he’ll make them available again somewhere.

@sparehand65 3 года назад

Are you strumming with all fingers or just one?

@ingridthurston-polkey653 Год назад

Hi I’ve just got a left hand banjo from my lovely wife ❤due to nearly chopping my left hand of never played a banjo before any help would be great thank you 🙏

@g.pmoore4293 Год назад

Picks on your fingers or not ?

@Glace1221 3 года назад

My fingers hurt just looking at it.

@mikeclarke9281 Год назад

Iv been practicing for a while now, but finding it hard to speed up

@aprendemos5769 3 года назад

I want to have one banjo

@tomjacobson631 2 года назад

8 thumbs down. Wonder what they hated?

@Steve-cs8nd Год назад

Slap that thang till it’s under the house, ya slap that thang real good. I got pig at home in a pen, corn to feed him, All I needs a purdy lil gal to feed him when I’m gone!

@gerryhicks6849 Год назад

I am 80 wish me luck

@maxwelljones8442 4 года назад

Can you please tell me if you are looking for a Valentine ?

@daytoneman 2 года назад

Why the continued talking, I came to learn how to do it & ran out of patience! Less chatter dear!

@frailingatlife7755 2 года назад

Why the snide patronising comment, I came to put valuable resources online for free. Just a little tip, ‘dear’… if you can’t muster the patience to listen to some discussion of the style and instrument you intend to learn, you don’t stand much chance of having the patience to play well. But best of luck dear!

@daytoneman 2 года назад

My comment was neither snide or patronising, it was based on the fact that you spent too much time talking, therefore causing me to lose interest. I will say that you know what you’re talking about & appear very efficient on your banjo & I never intended to upset you. My apologies!!

@frailingatlife7755 2 года назад

@@daytoneman calling a female you don’t know ‘dear’ is always going to be patronising, and we live in an age where people are very quick to put their opinion in a comment online without thinking about the need for it …I’ve always felt it’d be a much nicer place if we stuck to the idea of ‘if you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say it’ and move on. But, thank you for the apologies and I do genuinely wish you well in your learning. There are loads of bite-size quicker style lessons on RU-vid so I’m sure you’ll find some good resources 👍🏼

@daytoneman 2 года назад

@@frailingatlife7755 Thank you!