I was struggling so much with the clawhammer style after getting my banjo a few days ago and this was the video that made it click for me. Thank you very much!
Your teaching style is really, really effective, and you teach at a skill level that most of youtube doesn't get to (most stop before hammer ons and pull offs). please keep teaching!
Man just got my first banjo literally playing it for the first time while watching this and your explanations are great. I tried watching other tabs for this and didn't really understand what was going on haha
I'm only about 10 minutes into the video but I can already tell you're my favorite RUclips banjo teacher so far. Thank you for the the lesson. I'm gonna make it through this one.
great video. i have been playing clawhammer for about 8 months. one thing i have learned there is a 100 ways to skin a cat! there are so many ways to play this tune, not to mention a lot of old time songs have tons of different lyrics lol as a beginner, it seems easier at first to try and follow one person/teacher and then branch out when you have the foundation securely under your belt. i first started watching tons of youtube videos of different musicians and it was too overwhelming. i agree that most online teachers don't break the tunes down enough for beginners. keep up the great work, looking forward to more of your videos.
Brilliant! Thanks for watching, and for the kind comment. I've been busy with fatherhood recently, but I'm coming back to make more videos in the coming months, so stay tuned
Fantastic! This is the first song lesson I followed along with after just recently getting a banjo. And I can't believe how quickly I was able to pick things up with your instruction! 😲 It's just too much fun to play, it's hard to remind myself to slow down and practice things more accurately 😅 Thanks and I can't wait to watch more of your videos!
Just want to say a massive thank you! You got me started on this tune and banjo itself. I play it slightly different now after a friend gave me some in person help. I was stuck at a certain point . Yiu really broke it down so well for a total novice like me . So happy I can now play the whole tune . Obvs not that well, but improving day by day. Can’t express how happy I am .. Cheers!
Awesome! Thanks so much - glad you found it helpful. There are so many variations on Cripple Creek - ultimately it's just down to each individual to play it their own way. I will put out some more videos some point soonish!
Fantastic lesson. You make each section of the song understandable with great suggestions for when to pause and practice. I feel lucky to have found your channel. Thank you!
Thanks so much for this! Only just a hired a 5-string banjo and you’ve given me hope of being able to play a tune or two - with lots of practice course 😊
Okay... please keep posting. You're really a wonderful teacher. Seriously, your patience and humility when it comes to inspiring your students are such great qualities. I'm glued to your channel, hoping for more songs like Cripple Creek. Until then, I'll keep practicing this one. Huge thanks - Steve Spangler
To be honest, when I'm playing it (and any tune really) I won't necessarily play it the exact same way every time. But if you're a beginner I'd recommend trying to keep it as consistent as possible for now
I’ve been working thru this with you for a couple of weeks. Most helpful. Thank you. 1. Can you teach us the rest of the song? (I assume this is the main part?) 2. Teach us more songs, please. 🪕
I do think it's all included in the video! Check out the tab in the description as well if you want to see it all in front of you (the soundslice link) Thanks for watching
@@clawhammerandfrailingbanjo6366 I am sure you’re busy with the rest of life, but we appreciate your approach and patience; will you post something else similar soon? Thanks again, btw.
@@revgotchrist Yes, I will! Got a few video ideas. Might do instructional videos on a few tunes! Definitely going to pay more attention to this all soon :)
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but will this lesson negatively affect my progress if I want to play more bluegrass than clawhammer style? I love the slowness and clarity of it, and haven't found any bluegrass-style lessons for this tune as good as this one.
It's not a stupid question at all! The reality is that learning a bit of clawhammer won't negatively affect your progress in bluegrass style but it will also not do much good for it either. The styles are very different, so if you're not wanting ot play clawhammer, it may simply be a waste of time! hope that helps
To be clear, on the hammers you’re not hitting any string you’re just pressing down on the fret fast to carry the noise? And if so is there a technique to it because im not very good at carrying the noise. Thank you for the very helpful video!
That's correct - ideally you're hitting it hard enough to sound again, so it's a little bit more than just carrying the noise. Honestly, it's just practice! Try to get your fretting hand position right (look at mine and other players') and just do it on repeat lot! Thanks for watching :)
@@clawhammerandfrailingbanjo6366I really appreciate your teaching strategies, I was having trouble with the hammering so I switched them out for slides doesn’t sound the exact same but whenever I get better with hammering i will switch them out then thank you! Just got to the point where I can play the entire song through and through just not as fast lol thank you again!
Getting back into clawhammer after an extended break, thank for posting this, its what I need to get my chops back up. It's true what they say, if you don't use it, you loose it. A quick question, what is the finger pick you use? I prefer playing with my middle finger as well, but the volume is quieter than when I use my index, and I'm wondering if what you wear will help with that.
Glad you find this helpful! Playing with a fimgerpick will definitely make your playing louder. I also find it to be more accurate, which is why I first started doing it. I use a few different ones, but they're all much the same. I'd recommend just buying 2 or 3 different types of metal (they have to be metal!) fimgerpicks and trying them out, to see what suits you. Dunlop is always a good bet. You may need to shape the pick to best suit you. Basically, experiment and try a few things out 👍
I’m one week into owning my first banjo and I’m hoping to be able to learn this painstakingly slow so that I can play it well. How long will it take? I have no idea, but thank you for aiming your teaching at those such as me 😊
Just take your time - it can take a while for it all to come together, but it will eventually. Clawhammer is a weird style to get used to, but once you have it it's quite straightforward
I've tried different picks over the years, but I always prefer metal ones. Ultimately, I'd advise trying out a bunch to see if you like them. If you keep your finger nails shorter, like I do, it will help you with accuracy, tone and volume!
Best banjo depends on your budget - I reckon buy the best you can afford. Most consumer reviews are fairly accurate I think. And there is no best method, they're all quite different with different strengths and weaknesses. Clawhammer is coolest though 😎
Hey! You don't need a pick - you could just grow out your striking nail slightly. If you do want to use a pick (I do!) then most normal metal ginger picks will do. You just need to wear them back to front so that it acts as a fake nail. I have experimented with different fingerpicks and loads work equally well. I'd encourage you to buy a few types and see what works for you. I've only ever liked the metal ones (partly because I can bend them to the perfect shape and angle) but your mileage may vary!
I was struggling so much with the clawhammer style after getting my banjo a few days ago and this was the video that made it click for me. Thank you very much!
Thanks so much - glad you found it helpful. I'll be putting up more lessons soon :)
Your teaching style is really, really effective, and you teach at a skill level that most of youtube doesn't get to (most stop before hammer ons and pull offs). please keep teaching!
Thanks! I really appreciate the kind words - and yes, I will have some more videos coming out soon. Watch this space :)
Man just got my first banjo literally playing it for the first time while watching this and your explanations are great. I tried watching other tabs for this and didn't really understand what was going on haha
I'm only about 10 minutes into the video but I can already tell you're my favorite RUclips banjo teacher so far. Thank you for the the lesson. I'm gonna make it through this one.
great video. i have been playing clawhammer for about 8 months. one thing i have learned there is a 100 ways to skin a cat! there are so many ways to play this tune, not to mention a lot of old time songs have tons of different lyrics lol as a beginner, it seems easier at first to try and follow one person/teacher and then branch out when you have the foundation securely under your belt. i first started watching tons of youtube videos of different musicians and it was too overwhelming. i agree that most online teachers don't break the tunes down enough for beginners. keep up the great work, looking forward to more of your videos.
Thanks! glad you liked the video - I'll definitely be uploading more :)
This has been the best explanation and it clicked as I worked through it - so many thanks 😎
You have no idea how helpful this lesson was! Thank you!!!!
Thanks so much for watching!
Thank you very much for this, working through it slowly and struggling with the hammer-ons, but I will get there!
I scored a banjo for dirt cheap yesterday, and this is the first video I've found that made everything make sense for an absolute beginner. Thank you
Brilliant! Thanks for watching, and for the kind comment.
I've been busy with fatherhood recently, but I'm coming back to make more videos in the coming months, so stay tuned
Fantastic! This is the first song lesson I followed along with after just recently getting a banjo. And I can't believe how quickly I was able to pick things up with your instruction! 😲 It's just too much fun to play, it's hard to remind myself to slow down and practice things more accurately 😅 Thanks and I can't wait to watch more of your videos!
Thanks so much. I'll be putting some more videos out soon!
Just want to say a massive thank you! You got me started on this tune and banjo itself. I play it slightly different now after a friend gave me some in person help. I was stuck at a certain point .
Yiu really broke it down so well for a total novice like me .
So happy I can now play the whole tune . Obvs not that well, but improving day by day.
Can’t express how happy I am ..
Cheers!
Awesome! Thanks so much - glad you found it helpful.
There are so many variations on Cripple Creek - ultimately it's just down to each individual to play it their own way. I will put out some more videos some point soonish!
Fantastic lesson. You make each section of the song understandable with great suggestions for when to pause and practice. I feel lucky to have found your channel. Thank you!
Thanks so much, glad it was useful for you! 😊
Thanks so much for this! Only just a hired a 5-string banjo and you’ve given me hope of being able to play a tune or two - with lots of practice course 😊
Awesome! Glad to be of help. More videos will be coming out soon to help anyone learning clawhammer! :)
Super stoked to have found your lessons 🔥🪕
Thank you brotha
Thanks so much! More will come out soon :)
Excellent lesson. I really like your teaching style! Thanks
Thanks so much! Glad to be of help
Could you do Sourwood Mountain and Cluck Old Hen tutorials because the way you teach is really easy to understand! Thanks
Okay... please keep posting. You're really a wonderful teacher. Seriously, your patience and humility when it comes to inspiring your students are such great qualities. I'm glued to your channel, hoping for more songs like Cripple Creek. Until then, I'll keep practicing this one. Huge thanks - Steve Spangler
:D Thanks so much. I'll be posting some new videos soonish I hope! Thanks for the kind words
Thanks my friend. Like this banjo sound. Maybe i can play it one day. Take care and god bless.
You'll definitely get it down soon enough! Just keep on keeping on
Thank you,absolutely spot on.
Man that's so clean, sounds great!
Thanks!
This is perfect and exactly how i need to learn, i appreciate you breaking it down and explaining so well.
No worries. Thanks for watching! I'll do some more videos at some point!
This is so good ugh thank you!!
Thanks for watching!
@Clawhammer and Frailing Banjo Another question: At the end of part 1, you dont do 2 strums and 1 g string pluck like that tabs say. Whys that?
To be honest, when I'm playing it (and any tune really) I won't necessarily play it the exact same way every time. But if you're a beginner I'd recommend trying to keep it as consistent as possible for now
Breaking it down by phrase is known as woodchipping, or woodsheding... Important technique in learning any tune.
This is great, do you post the tabs anywhere for your lessons?
Some tabs can be found on here! www.soundslice.com/users/BigYellowPraxis/
Cripple Creek specifically is here www.soundslice.com/slices/9gM4c/
@@clawhammerandfrailingbanjo6366 great thanks
I’ve been working thru this with you for a couple of weeks. Most helpful. Thank you.
1. Can you teach us the rest of the song? (I assume this is the main part?)
2. Teach us more songs, please. 🪕
I do think it's all included in the video! Check out the tab in the description as well if you want to see it all in front of you (the soundslice link)
Thanks for watching
@@clawhammerandfrailingbanjo6366 I am sure you’re busy with the rest of life, but we appreciate your approach and patience; will you post something else similar soon?
Thanks again, btw.
@@revgotchrist Yes, I will! Got a few video ideas. Might do instructional videos on a few tunes! Definitely going to pay more attention to this all soon :)
@Clawhammer and Frailing Banjo Early on when you say to pluck, which string with what finger are you actually plucking?
The high G string (the short one)! Thanks for watching
I play scruggs style, and want to learn clawhammer! But it looks so hard!!!!
It's not actually too hard, just unintuitive! I have a few other videos that might help, and will be posting more!
Thanks
Sorry if this is a stupid question, but will this lesson negatively affect my progress if I want to play more bluegrass than clawhammer style? I love the slowness and clarity of it, and haven't found any bluegrass-style lessons for this tune as good as this one.
It's not a stupid question at all! The reality is that learning a bit of clawhammer won't negatively affect your progress in bluegrass style but it will also not do much good for it either. The styles are very different, so if you're not wanting ot play clawhammer, it may simply be a waste of time! hope that helps
@@clawhammerandfrailingbanjo6366 Thanks!
this is great thanks so much!
Glad you like it!
To be clear, on the hammers you’re not hitting any string you’re just pressing down on the fret fast to carry the noise? And if so is there a technique to it because im not very good at carrying the noise. Thank you for the very helpful video!
That's correct - ideally you're hitting it hard enough to sound again, so it's a little bit more than just carrying the noise. Honestly, it's just practice! Try to get your fretting hand position right (look at mine and other players') and just do it on repeat lot!
Thanks for watching :)
@@clawhammerandfrailingbanjo6366awesome thank you!!
@@clawhammerandfrailingbanjo6366I really appreciate your teaching strategies, I was having trouble with the hammering so I switched them out for slides doesn’t sound the exact same but whenever I get better with hammering i will switch them out then thank you! Just got to the point where I can play the entire song through and through just not as fast lol thank you again!
@@legacygravy1174 That's so kind, thank you! Stick around for more videos! They should all be useful for beginner to intermediate players
How is your banjo tuned? Mine doesn't sound the same
Getting back into clawhammer after an extended break, thank for posting this, its what I need to get my chops back up. It's true what they say, if you don't use it, you loose it. A quick question, what is the finger pick you use? I prefer playing with my middle finger as well, but the volume is quieter than when I use my index, and I'm wondering if what you wear will help with that.
Glad you find this helpful!
Playing with a fimgerpick will definitely make your playing louder. I also find it to be more accurate, which is why I first started doing it.
I use a few different ones, but they're all much the same. I'd recommend just buying 2 or 3 different types of metal (they have to be metal!) fimgerpicks and trying them out, to see what suits you.
Dunlop is always a good bet. You may need to shape the pick to best suit you. Basically, experiment and try a few things out 👍
I’m one week into owning my first banjo and I’m hoping to be able to learn this painstakingly slow so that I can play it well. How long will it take? I have no idea, but thank you for aiming your teaching at those such as me 😊
Just take your time - it can take a while for it all to come together, but it will eventually. Clawhammer is a weird style to get used to, but once you have it it's quite straightforward
I am curious about the pick you use on your middle finger. Could you tell me about?
I've tried different picks over the years, but I always prefer metal ones. Ultimately, I'd advise trying out a bunch to see if you like them. If you keep your finger nails shorter, like I do, it will help you with accuracy, tone and volume!
What is the best banjo for a beginner and is claw Hamer the best method
Best banjo depends on your budget - I reckon buy the best you can afford. Most consumer reviews are fairly accurate I think.
And there is no best method, they're all quite different with different strengths and weaknesses.
Clawhammer is coolest though 😎
I love your tutoring of this song I’d like it if you could do one on Wildwood Flower. I subscribe to your Chanel so I can find it if you do 👍
Thanks so much. Glad you liked it. I'll add that suggestion to the list 👍
@@clawhammerandfrailingbanjo6366 would also love wildwood flower, its one of my favs
Hey man what type of pick do i need for clawhamer
Hey! You don't need a pick - you could just grow out your striking nail slightly.
If you do want to use a pick (I do!) then most normal metal ginger picks will do. You just need to wear them back to front so that it acts as a fake nail.
I have experimented with different fingerpicks and loads work equally well. I'd encourage you to buy a few types and see what works for you. I've only ever liked the metal ones (partly because I can bend them to the perfect shape and angle) but your mileage may vary!
@@clawhammerandfrailingbanjo6366 thank you so much man
No worries. Good luck!
This cool mostly your not showing the bum diddy great job thanks a million excellent
Glad to be of help! Thanks for watching