Bonaparte's Retreat - Clawhammer Banjo Lesson

[17Hongo]

an amazing feel on the banjo - I am a fiddle and guitar player, who hopes to move onto banjo as soon as i can get enough money to buy a cheap one.

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks. A lot of people seem to like the Goodtime for a relatively cheap banjo. The Harmony I'm playing here cost about a hundred bucks, used. I did some work on it but it was playable when I got it.

[17Hongo]

@HunterRobertson I actually got the opportunity to play on a Goodtime - they are nice cheap Banjos. Like my guitar, an Almeria - mass produced but still good quality. there's one in a store in manchester for about £115 - a little more expensive than yours - I'm probably covering shipping costs

[craigmulcahy]

Hi!

Can i just ask a rhythm question? On the B part are you playing index finger strike. then thumb. or is it like a normal clawhammer, index index thumb?

And on the C part, its index thumb. but does the hammer-on fall at the same time as the thumb?

I hope i'm making sense. When i do it, it doesn't sound quite right,

Craig.

[HunterRobertson]

On the B part, several of the notes are played by an unstruck pull-off, then index -thumb, the 4th and 7th frets especially.

I don't think there is a hammer-on at the same time as the thumb in the C part, but there are places where I tend to play the first index note, skip the second index/brush (but leave the time) and then hit the thumb string. Hope that makes sense! Feel free to ask more if it doesn't.

Hunter

[craigmulcahy]

@HunterRobertson

Hey, Thanks for the reply. I think i've nailed the B part. the rhythm clicked into place for me, i was playing the rhythm slightly wrong on the last phrases of the A part. but all working now.

The extra bit at the end of the C part tho. Is that double thumbing the whole time?

5th fret, thumb, 2nd fret, thumb. (like that)

or is it 5th fret, 2nd, thumb? in a normal bum titty rhythm. Sorry i'm finding that bit hard.

Really appreciate you helping me out with this one.

[HunterRobertson]

@craigmulcahy

Good on the B part!

On C: You could play it either way, but I'm playing "5th fret, thumb, 2nd fret, thumb" etc. The thumbed notes are relatively light however. Watch the emphasis. If you can put a video up once you've got it down I'd enjoy seeing it.

By the way, this and another 9 tunes will be on an instructional DVD I've got coming out sometime in the near future, professionally filmed though so much easier to see what's going on.

Hunter

[ivanrorick]

Excellent arrangement and lesson! That's some of the best clawhammer I've ever heard. My dad's learning clawhammer and I have forwarded this to him.

[msdaizyjane]

i was transcribing thsi from a cd onto banjo when i ran across this....great arrangement ...you really captured stepp's fiddle part...thanx and great job

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks, glad it helped.

[zellerauer1]

sounds super!

[zepablo]

great Hunter. One of my favorites from your last LP. A bientôt j'espère.

[HunterRobertson]

Cool Pablo, thanks.

[zepablo]

Hi Hunter

On the B part why not using the open third string instead of the 7 fret on the four string ?

[KristianHerner]

Sounds like he is using the 7th fret on the 4th string so he can do a pull off to keep the bass drone going. I guess he can confirm that himself though ;-)

[HunterRobertson]

Yup, that's about the size of it Kristian!

[HunterRobertson]

Hi Pablo,

Well, that's how it fell under my fingers! Stepp has a smooth droning sound on that part of the tune that I found I could get by playing it all on the same string - you get a smooth rhythm and the same timbre throughout.

[HunterRobertson]

You can get the same notes by playing the open third string and then drop-thumbing the open fourth string, as you suggest. Try it both ways and do the one you prefer, or some other way!

[stigandr5]

This is a wonderful instructional video. Thank you for posting it.

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks, glad it helped.

[nobanjono]

very nice Hunter! You nail Stepp's version.

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Joe.

[Bisbonian]

Great video..really nice playing, and good instruction. It might be a while before I tackle this one, but I'll now where to look.

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Lawrence. Get the tune well embedded in your head and you'll be playing it in no time.

[jwoodman]

Great playing and video. The left and right hand filming angles were great when you played the tune at medium tempo. It would have been perfect if you could have kept the same angles when you played it slowly. It's not an easy tune, and I need all the help you can provide. Please keep the instruction coming.

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks for letting me know about the angles - I'm still working out this video making business!

Good luck with the tune.

[YoppyKyabetsu]

I think the first time I heard this was on a mountain dulcimer. I have fought with it off and on trying to catch it on the banjo. I think maybe you've just helped me get it cornered.

[HunterRobertson]

Thanks Yopp - post a video when you've got it tamed!

[gavman41]

Very cool video! I am proud to call you a member of my family!

[HunterRobertson]

A pleasure to be part of yours too Gav.