As a self-taught beginner-ish banjo player, I've been strumming away with my basic frailing and wishing I could make the beautiful sound I hear other clawhammer players making by mixing in drop-thumb. This is so helpful! It's such a beautiful instrument and playing style and I'm so excited to be progressing on it with the help of people like you who so generously make these free tutorials.
That lesson has solved all my problems about how you get the banjo sound I like! No one else I have found has been so simply clear! Thank you so much. You have made my day!
Thank u for your videos Steve...you hav helped me immensely with my clawhammer playing...ive watched many tutorials...but your style of teaching seems to really to make sense...thank u...from South Australia
You Opened My Eyes To Clawhammer - Steve I’ve taken a few clawhammer lessons in my younger years and learned the basic rhythm. Then I switched to guitar and formed a band and sang lead vocal. Our band was together for 12 years. It was 43 years before I went back to the banjo. It took me 2 years to get my clawhammer rhythm back up to speed. Then I found your videos on drop thumb. It was just what I needed. Your effort on that video has given me a whole new musical life. I’ve always loved the banjo....now it is a wide open road for me thanks to you and your videos.
10:22 you are playing a song called blackberry blossom ❤Irish fiddle tune originally but often covered by bluegrass artists, famously Tony Rice & Norman Blake
@@StevePlaysBanjo It's a huge deal when someone gets their head wrapped around the drop thumb. Changes everything. You did a good job 'splain'n it.. Good..
I finally got the basic rhythm down by listening and then making my banjo sound like that. AHA! Now I am working on the drop thumb and the mix - listen to the music. Thank you - it may take all summer, but you made my summer.
Thank you! Best drop thumb tutorial I've BEEN ABLE TO USE. Nicely done and methodical. Takes time and I have what it takes to practice from this lesson.
Hey buddy! Im a upright bassplayer who decided half a year ago that i should try the banjo. Fell in love instantly with the clawhammer style of it. Your chanel has helped so much you wouldnt belive. Keep it going
I find your instruction very helpful. I've been playing banjo for 59 years ( Dixie band accompaniment) , but I am just getting back to basics. Initially I was taught in the "classic style" plucking individual strings but now approaching "clawhammer" my fingers have their own memory which is slowing me down ( a lot ) I hope to persevere !!!
Alan Birkinhead I'm having the same problem but for a different reason. I'm going from N. Mississippi Hill Country rhythm blues to Clawhammer banjo. It's like trying to go from slide whistle to trombone, both my instruments have strings, but are played in two vastly different ways.
Hi Steve Great instruction on all aspects of playing the banjo . I recently acquired the 5 string banjo that Billy Connolly played and I am learning from all your videos Many thanks Dave from st Andrews in Scotland
Thanks Steve. This a really good video. I play and sing a lot of standard clawhammer, but never got into drop thumb. You break this stuff down to make it most simplistic. I feel like I’m learning banjo for the first time all over again with practicing drop thumb. 😂👍
Everything is upside down coming from the guitar. Thumb on the upbeat and picking with the back of the nail, it's like I'm taking crazy pills. Lots of fun though.
dodo dodo I think there’s something to that. The two finger technique is similar to the Carter Strum where you might occasionally brush the strings with the fat of your thumb. But, with Clawhammer you strum with the hardened middle finger nail. Different texture for sure.
Steve - that's really excellent instruction. I've been working on drop thumb for a while and you've given me a real incentive to struggle on. Rob London, England
This is a great video, but do you have one or can you make one where you go into more detail on the 'fusion' of the drop thumb and standard frailing strum? I'd like an exercise or a slower breakdown of that portion of the progression. Thank you so much!
My biggest problem is that my thumb plucks the 5th string to hard. Whether I do it fast or slow it's almost as if my thumb is hooking onto the string and plucking it hard. Everyone elses thumb seems to glide off of the 5th string without tension. Mine is more like "Brush - BOING"
You're probably making a "plucking" motion with your thumb unconsciously. You don't actually pluck the string, but just lift your thumb off the strut as your hand picks up to start the next hit.
Hey Steve, great video. I tend to noticed the fingers in my "claw hand" tend to splay out when attempting speed. I never see any gapes between your frail fingers during your videos. Is there a trick to develop this ?
STEVE , JUST CURIOUS WHAT STATE DO U RESIDE IN?p.s. WE JUST DONATED $500. to local boy scout troop from jam donations.thank you for the great coaching.
Steve I am buying a Deering Artisan 5 string special open back with the sound ring. I have a question on your opinion of a scooped neck? First I'm not sure I can get use to the look, but that I am trying to be more interested in the sound. I noticed that the banjo you play is scooped, Why?? I really like and enjoy your teaching style.
Hi Steve! How much tension do you use on your thumb.. I mean... when we hit the fifth strings in frailing is almost automatic, no tension, just the weight of our hands.. its the same for drop thumb? Do you relax the thumb in other strings or do you put tension in your thumb to hit the other strings?
