This is good stuff! FWIW, the fellow I learned to play from, Dan Gellert, does it almost the same. His emphasis (clawhammer) is on picking direction toward the head in a controlled manner so you can decide to drop in a tap on the head or the next string. You are almost always pushing through the string down to the head rather than parallel to the strings like a strum.
This is my go-to style of banjo picking. Thank you for letting me know I wasn't playing embarrassingly bad, and I actually have a style lol. I have a song on my channel called "The Ghost" that I wrote using this technique.
Since I got comfortable with upstroke I find myself changing between overhand and upstroke mid-song to emphasise different parts of the tune, or to add variation.
I know this is an old video, but isn't the way you play "Little Birdy" very similar to the style you use to play "Sally Anne"? As a NC resident, I gotta learn your way of playing Sally Anne...lol. I know I said I was living close to Buffalo National in Arkansas the other day... about half the time and the other half in NC. I've had hours a day to fiddle around on the banjo lately, and have been enjoying the heck outta your videos, patreon and band camp stuff too. Heck I even got a couple of "Old Leatherstocking" shirts, a long-sleeved and a short-sleeved the other day. 😂 Love that Leatherstocking character!
When I first was learning clawhammer banjo. I was use to Scruggs style banjo playing, and so I did that to the clawhammer rhythm. After a while I realized that I wasn’t playing clawhammer, and so I did the down stroke. I called that style “galloping” after I realized the difference.
I’m not an awesome up picker but I do the percussion for stroke style when I do rocky island and buck creek girls it’s a good backup technique and tapping your feet is another good technique for backup.
Great stuff again! I've been lately watching and enjoying your videos for hours. So fantastic info you gave from those South East Kentucky old timers using the upstroke style!
hi Mr. Hicks Great video as usual. I've been watching your channel for a while now. I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask a quick question but I was wondering which type of banjo is, in general, louder: a tack-head banjo or a mountain style banjo. I'm sure size and wood matters but is one generally louder if size and wood are the same on both? I'm in the middle of building my first mountain banjo and am already starting to think about the next project. Thanks.
In my experience the popular type of mountain banjo (i.e. with the internal sheet metal tension hoop) is generally louder and more "twangy" than a typical tack-head banjo. That metal tension hoop inside doubles as a tone ring and, if well-made, those banjos are generally louder than the considerably mellower, plunkier tack-head.
Either the frame rate is slow, my tuner is wrong, or your little birdy tuning is flat so instead of E it's nearer to D#. I believe it's the latter most. I like it. I'm learning banjo after many years of guitar and am finding the tunings I want to revolve around most. I like lower pitches so this is great. Thanks!
Sir, how realistic would it be to arrange “Mother Necessity” by Blossom Dearie on Schoolhouse Rock for bjo? Or, “Won’t You be My Neighbor?” Or, Bill Bailey? I can play BB on the tenor, but I don’t have the chops for 5 string folk style. Thanks for all you info.
Anyone else having trouble tapping the drum with the index finger? I can do it on the highest string, but my finger just doesn't seem to fit between the strings on the lower strings 😓 and I've got small lady fingers so don't understand!
You'll only really feel/hear it on that bottom first string. Sounds like you're doing fine. A bridge with wider spacing helps, also. I recommend ordering something from banjothimble.com
Interesting....I like the sound of the upstroke and I also liked "little birdie" when you played it really slow- just to show us. Banjoists are always playing so fast....I remember when I my mother brought home the soundtrack version of "buffalo gals" from that 70's "sue-eee" movie ruclips.net/video/1Itq8p6lRTg/видео.html I would pick up the needle when it would double time and start it over, just fascinated by that slow-pickin banjo sound.
This is good stuff! FWIW, the fellow I learned to play from, Dan Gellert, does it almost the same. His emphasis (clawhammer) is on picking direction toward the head in a controlled manner so you can decide to drop in a tap on the head or the next string. You are almost always pushing through the string down to the head rather than parallel to the strings like a strum.
This is my go-to style of banjo picking. Thank you for letting me know I wasn't playing embarrassingly bad, and I actually have a style lol. I have a song on my channel called "The Ghost" that I wrote using this technique.
Good, am interested in learning
Since I got comfortable with upstroke I find myself changing between overhand and upstroke mid-song to emphasise different parts of the tune, or to add variation.
Well you just confirmed that I actually have a real style. I am going to continue this style, and lock it down. Thanks!
Please do! A great style worth reviving.
I know this is an old video, but isn't the way you play "Little Birdy" very similar to the style you use to play "Sally Anne"?
As a NC resident, I gotta learn your way of playing Sally Anne...lol. I know I said I was living close to Buffalo National in Arkansas the other day... about half the time and the other half in NC. I've had hours a day to fiddle around on the banjo lately, and have been enjoying the heck outta your videos, patreon and band camp stuff too. Heck I even got a couple of "Old Leatherstocking" shirts, a long-sleeved and a short-sleeved the other day. 😂
Love that Leatherstocking character!
If you're interested in the banjo and its history, consider supporting this project at Patreon.com/CliftonHicks
So much technics and material to creat. Your are really a gift Clifton, thanks.
Great lesson! Thanks Mr. Hicks!
Thanks Great lesson. When I thought of percussive banjo Hobart Smiths Banging breakdown came to mind
When I first was learning clawhammer banjo. I was use to Scruggs style banjo playing, and so I did that to the clawhammer rhythm. After a while I realized that I wasn’t playing clawhammer, and so I did the down stroke. I called that style “galloping” after I realized the difference.
Thank you so much!
I’m not an awesome up picker but I do the percussion for stroke style when I do rocky island and buck creek girls it’s a good backup technique and tapping your feet is another good technique for backup.
So the melody note is an Up picked..not down like claw hammer 👍
How do the upstroke 2 and the cool thing is I learned it from you
Great stuff again! I've been lately watching and enjoying your videos for hours. So fantastic info you gave from those South East Kentucky old timers using the upstroke style!
I've seen videos of Roscoe Holcomb doing it.
Great vid and great old Kalamazoo.
Great! So thats like Roscoe Holcomb did on the two filmed versions of him performing that song?
I'm not sure if I've seen that. Many old-timers played Little Birdie that way.
hi Mr. Hicks
Great video as usual. I've been watching your channel for a while now. I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask a quick question but I was wondering which type of banjo is, in general, louder: a tack-head banjo or a mountain style banjo. I'm sure size and wood matters but is one generally louder if size and wood are the same on both? I'm in the middle of building my first mountain banjo and am already starting to think about the next project. Thanks.
In my experience the popular type of mountain banjo (i.e. with the internal sheet metal tension hoop) is generally louder and more "twangy" than a typical tack-head banjo. That metal tension hoop inside doubles as a tone ring and, if well-made, those banjos are generally louder than the considerably mellower, plunkier tack-head.
Hi I am learning,but I use my thumb just before or on thumb pluck.am I wrong.Love from UK.
NICE
Either the frame rate is slow, my tuner is wrong, or your little birdy tuning is flat so instead of E it's nearer to D#. I believe it's the latter most. I like it. I'm learning banjo after many years of guitar and am finding the tunings I want to revolve around most. I like lower pitches so this is great. Thanks!
Sir, how realistic would it be to arrange “Mother Necessity” by Blossom Dearie on Schoolhouse Rock for bjo? Or, “Won’t You be My Neighbor?” Or, Bill Bailey? I can play BB on the tenor, but I don’t have the chops for 5 string folk style. Thanks for all you info.
Anyone else having trouble tapping the drum with the index finger? I can do it on the highest string, but my finger just doesn't seem to fit between the strings on the lower strings 😓 and I've got small lady fingers so don't understand!
You'll only really feel/hear it on that bottom first string. Sounds like you're doing fine. A bridge with wider spacing helps, also. I recommend ordering something from banjothimble.com
I knew there was another reasonng for a drum head...heeee
Interesting....I like the sound of the upstroke and I also liked "little birdie" when you played it really slow- just to show us. Banjoists are always playing so fast....I remember when I my mother brought home the soundtrack version of "buffalo gals" from that 70's "sue-eee" movie ruclips.net/video/1Itq8p6lRTg/видео.html I would pick up the needle when it would double time and start it over, just fascinated by that slow-pickin banjo sound.
You can't beat percussion...
wait...
👍🏽👍🏽