You've been a fantastic teacher. As a teen, I bounced off playing guitar because of social anxiety. The classroom setting was murder on me. But I always regretted not learning an instrument because I love music so much and want to create some of my own! Now, I'm just coming out of a bad depression and discovered Amigo the Devil. His music was a real breakthrough for me and well... I started researching. What banjo does he play? What are the styles? Could I learn to play one of his songs? And BOOM! That's how I found you, and that really cemented the plan. The clawhammer style just... I mean, it sounds awesome, right? So, here I am. Five days in and feeling really confident about my strumming. So really, I can't thank you enough for these videos. Folks like you who put this sort of instruction up for free? That's just the best of humanity right there.
As always ... super straightforward instruction ... Thanks so much for putting these videos together. They are super helpful. Barry 65 yr old Frailing beginner
This video is incredible. Claw hammer day 1-2-3 is such an amazing series. Thank you for putting this out. Very inspiring and answered so many questions I had in terms of learning. Meditations on repetition and practice. Thank you.
I revisited this video after a year and half and I cansee the improvements that I have made. Also picked up on points that I missed the first time through. Thanks for sharing your journey and your invite on playing. It is very much appreciated.
Hi Steve I agree with you. You teach me what they taught you with the banjo. I will teach other things that I know. I'm already a little older. I remember that, at the beginning of the internet, the philosophy was to share, not to negotiate. Now it seems that everyone has to do business with their knowledge. Today for you tomorrow for me. You have helped me a lot with these videos to start with the banjo. I do not know how far I will go but at least it does not seem so heavy and boring to repeat and repeat the steps. Every week I see that I have advanced a few pocomas and that makes me happy. Greetings in these tough days for everyone.
Hi Steve, A big THANKS for your help and inspiration. Now I have your lesson „Day Three“ behind me. You’ve taught exactly the things that interest me and answered my open questions. It seems like I have received now material to practice intensively for the next three months. That's why I'm very happy that day four does’nt exist :-) Probably because I'm a bassist, it fascinates me to play the banjo slowly, when it sounds like a mix between harp, guitar, bass and banjo and it immediately triggers the desire to make a song from the sequence of finger exercises. Your recommendation to sing to the sounds of the exercise to make it more interesting, is worth gold. Friendly greetings from Switzerland
I really appreciate these videos! they feel so natural. Easy to follow. Perfect pace, like hanging out with a friend that is teaching you to jam on the banjo!
Hey Steve, thank you so much for your honesty. You have really have helped me. I now know for certain that I can learn to play the banjo. I love the Clawhammer style and I have been practicing on my Banjolele You have answered all the questions I had by just talking so freely about how you started, and what came up for you. I will continue to watch your videos. Blessings my friend !!! And keep doing what your doing...THANKS!!!
i just stumbled onto Steve's lessons and completely resonate with his approach. I'm a fiddle and mandolin player, who had a beautiful banjo made, but have avoided playing it...because it's so different and I frustrated myself by misunderstanding the building blocks of a different way of playing. This is about creating new brain patterns-one at a time-to find my way of playing banjo. Thanks for the philosophic and practical approach combined!
Hey, thanks for this series. I am a guitar player, but I just bought my first banjo, and am so excited about it. I won’t get my banjo until a couple days from today, but the past 5 days, I’ve been looking up, reading, and watching everything I can about the banjo so when it arrives, I will know exactly what style I want to learn for singing with it. You have definitely sold me on clawhammer style, and what exactly to practice over and over again when my banjo arrives.
This set of three videos has been VERY helpful. I like your focus on starting with single string rather than strums. It’s a bit harder, but it is the right place to put it. I’ve made much more progress than I expected. Granted, I already play mandolin and fingerstyle ragtime guitar pretty well and play by ear. Insisting on tabs for claw hammer is sort of like insisting on walking with crutches-before long it slows one down more than it helps.
Love it man, I am working on self taught and these videos make me feel you are looking over my shoulder and guiding me, and telling me just relax, no stress just play and it will come to you.
Good work Steve. Pretty helpful. Great philosophy on enjoying an activity. I took up banjo a few weeks ago to do something exacting as I was engaged in selling a major property. Lots of stress in what I do but it is not possible for me to get fired at banjo playing. It is you, Patrick, and the Lemonade Banjo girl who have been most helpful. Your efforts are fun and helpful. Hope you keep at it. Best, Don
Thanks Steve, I bought a banjo a few years ago and really wanted to learn but I didn't dare touch it because I have been a guitar player for 25+ years and I didn't want to play the banjo like a guitar. I chose to learn clawhammer first rather than Bluegrass because that is further away from guitar style. Your videos have helped me to learn the techniques and basics of failing banjo and I am getting better and really enjoying the process, so thanks again for sharing the knowledge.
I just got my banjo last week. I've been looking for claw hammer lessons, and yours are the best out there. Thanks a lot, man. Enjoy a few more beers for me.
Thank you, Steve, for the time and effort that you invested in these videos, which are exactly what I've been looking for - visceral and meditative. I've never played the banjo before, but have long admired the clawhammer skills of Sarah Jarosz, Laurel Premo of Red Tail Ring, and others, and after a couple hours of practicing with a borrowed banjo and your videos, I experienced a rush because I heard and felt a faint hint of what is possible. Thank you!!!
Man, I've been watching and learning from your videos for quite a while and you are definitely my preferred instructor, thank you. But I must have skipped this one for some reason. Maybe because it was over my head and playing ability on "day 3". But this lesson, now speaks so clearly to my approach on the banjo that I want to give you a great big hug. You are 'da bomb! n.
Awesome stuff, over the past few days I find myself doing exactly what you're doing in this video... cannot get enough of this freestyle experimentation/ expression. The video is most encouraging.
Hey man! I really enjoyed your past three videos! I just got a banjo for my birthday last December of 2017 so I'm pretty new to the banjo. I've been playing guitar for about 16-17 years now and I've learned the banjo is a whole different animal and I've learned a few new techniques for guitar. I didn't have my banjo on me while watching your videos but when I get home I know I've got a lot of homework to do so thank you very much. Keep up the good work!
Jake Willey that’s great. I try to go back and forth between guitar and banjo too. Helps me see the chords and frets in a different way. (Of course my guitar playing ain’t so hot. 😄)
Day 1. 830 pm last night, bought Pisgah Dobson Rambler from a friend who happened to have one for sale. Dark cherry neck and pot , aged brass, upgraded fret board number 575 on dowel with nice hard case,. he paid $1400 I paid $600. I will upgrade bridge , tail piece and go with Goat Skin to make it personal. I like it super plunky. Right hand last night for 15 minutes. worked today and tried it again 10 minutes ago and had moments that sounded like this video thanks to you! I tried middle finger but I keep going back to index. I think my middle finger is too long,,, I must be a freak.
I appreciate your videos! I bought a banjo a few years ago and started to play it and actually started getting somewhere on it but had to sell it due to Hard Times now I'm getting into clawhammer Style and your videos are really helpful. And you're right there's some guys on here that give you a good juicy lick then they want you to pay tons of money for a course.... I understand people have to make money these days but there's nothing wrong with just giving some good ol free information to people trying to learn either so thank you!
Karen Stinson glad to help! As Patrick always says, drop thumb is just another way to break the quarter note in half. But unlike the other dynamics (like hammer ons) they really disrupt the rhythmic flow, so it takes a bit of practice to get that muscle memory to sprinkle it in when it feels right. Something I’m still trying to get right. What has helped me, recently, was to focus on playing softer and not hit the strings so heavy handed.
I've enjoyed your videos since I switched from 3 finger style to clawhammer, a few years ago. You have a knack for teaching and explaining the finer points! Thanks for all your excellent tutelage! Do you still play your Deering Senator?
Great videos first of all. Can you break down the basic frailing strum, or have you already in a video? I struggle getting that rhythm in the strum. Thanks a lot!!
I am having trouble getting any volume out of the middle strings when im picking. I get plenty of volume off the bottom string When i hit it but when i come straight down on the middle strings it seems like i want to flick at it as i come down to get more sound out of it. Any advise or demo is welcomed.
