Clawhammer Banjo, what part of the finger do you hit the strings with?

[clearbluemtns]

I bought a banjo about 6 months ago, always wanted to learn to play it cause it's such a happy instrument. Surfin' around on youtube I discovered your 'How to play banjo" and yep, you didn't even know that you was the one to teach me! well, I did watch some others but I won't go into that right now....just wanted to thank you for the free lessons. And, I'm learnin' a lot about banjos from your new "for the sake of a once treasured..." I'm a fan! Love the ratrod!!!

[rpeek]

@clearbluemtns That's awesome. I always love it when someone learns to play banjo, 'cause as you say it really is a happy instrument and it can make you happy too.. I've made another 7 or 8 videos and have the Supertone playable, but still got a bit more tweaking to do on it. I'm uploadin' them now, and hope to have them all up by tomorrow. Seems to take forever to load the darn things. Anyway, thanks for watchin' and good luck with the banjo.

[clearbluemtns]

@rpeek Thanks for the encouragement~dddddownloading ARHG! I'm just new to this new-fangeled vide,downloadin-uploadin-youtu­bin~~~man! that ain't our generations stuff!

[rpeek]

@clearbluemtns Yep, takes some doin'. but I like it.. Weeeeee..

[knunne1]

Just something friendly about banjo music every time I hear it. Thanks

[nightfrailer]

Frailing is a mystery only discovered by hitting the thing. Well said.

[stevieb620]

i can just about remember a tune played on the banjo,i think the name was foggy mountain breakdown,have you ever heard of it?.

also my wife jeanie is into Buddy Hollys music,although it's mostly elvis with her.

[rpeek]

@stevieb620 Sure. I've got a banjo tutorial of how to play Foggy Mountain Breakdown, and also I remember the day that Buddy Holley died..

[bluetoad2001]

it's fun to listen to. i ain't never gonna learn ta play da banjur.

buzz

[doberfag]

ol grandpa jones couldnt have done it better

[sbjennings99]

Dang,I Say You Can Tuna Banjo... Sounds Good..

[huerdon]

So you are only playing one string with the index finger and the thumb hit any or all of the others?

[rpeek]

@huerdon One at a time, mostly. I think that was your question. I play all the strings with one finger and sometimes my thumb, but mostly, especially in traditional "frailing" the thumb only hits the 5th string.

[shartne]

Man is the that the hydrostatic trans mission banjo it sounds sweet. clear and sweet ringing with sustain.

[rpeek]

@shartne Yes, it's the Dynaflow, made from the torque ring of a 1953 Cadillac tranny.

[Rev1981]

Sometimes you go down a few strings with you thumb, is that part of the song of is it part of your technique? Improvised in a way...

[rpeek]

@Rev1981 Technique. It's called "clawhammer". Frailing is where you only hit the 5th string with your thumb. Clawhammer is where you also get your thumb involved. I play what some folks call "Double Drop Thumb", which means I drop my thumb a lot, if'n I choose to.  Because I can I get to decide..

[Rev1981]

@rpeek Oh crap. Once again I messed it up in my head. I remember now. It's not bum-ditty but boom-sha-ka-la-ka.

[rpeek]

@Rev1981 there ya go!

[WILLARDJ]

pickin and grinnin....your havin to much fun...keep it up

[BigDaddyLov3]

Thank you so much that helped an awful lot.



[rpeek]

@BigDaddyLov3 Good deal!  Glad that worked for ya.