Ban the Bum Ditty! - Licks and Ideas for Clawhammer

[@beehyde1455]

Something about the claw hammer is so intriguing! I love it!

[@JimPankey]

Sure is a lot of fun too.

[@mondocain]

I keep coming back to this lesson, over and over. One of the best lessons on improvising and spicing up any clawhammer tune!

[@ctsfiddler]

This video is gold, opens eyes for folks with timing issues like me.

[@JimPankey]

Glad I can help! 😊

[@bradwright602]

So great. I've been following your 3 finger lessons and they're awesome. I decided to commit 2022 to learn claw-hammer style and this lesson and Old Molly Hare have been so helpful. Thank you!

[@JimPankey]

Glad I can help ☺️

[@cartermartin2887]

Holy shit, I've been trying to learn drop thumb and couldn't figure out what it was called. This is a miracle

[@JimPankey]

Glad I can help!

[@RaisedbyaWildPackofCigarettes]

Good stuff, the 1/4 of a "Seth Rogan" laugh at the start made me laugh for a while. I figured out how to strike the strings correctly a few weeks ago and I'm re-learning cripple creek that way and by ear.

[@JimPankey]

Glad I can help - and make you smile. 😊

[@johnschneider4160]

You have enlightened me greatly, Guru Pankey! Thank you!

[@JimPankey]

Glad I can help 😊

[@revsolution]

Thanks ! You showed the use of drop thumb in the most practical way I've ever seen. Most helpful!

[@whackamole]

Great playing, great teaching, great beard! Thanks Jim 🙏🪕🤟

[@JimPankey]

Thanks for watching 😊

[@anthonymilesmusic]

This is amazing! Thank you!

[@JimPankey]

Hope it’s helpful 😊

[@andrewheck5704]

Thanks for helping some folks out of a rut and expanding our expansions!

[@mitchmason8386]

Man I love that claw hammer! Thanks Jim

[@JimPankey]

Fun, right?

[@mitchmason8386]

@@JimPankey I never had any luck at it I love it but never could get it to sound good like you do.

[@mondocain]

Really great lesson for mixing it up on the clawhammer banjo!

[@Zanehoward88]

Excellent video! I barrowed my friends banjo for a week to see if it was something I could even begin to learn and fell in love with it. I’m going to go pick one up and I’ll be following your every move. Keep em coming!

[@dotmargrave]

Thanks Jim, I’m a bit slow picking things up but I’m going to keep practising, I’m going to watch your video over and over again until I get it right

[@JimPankey]

You can do it!

[@harvdog5669]

Raymond Davies, yes go slow by all means, but don't forget to try to pick up the speed just a little bit from time to time to see if you're able to handle that and if you're not go back to doing a little bit slower. Yes slow is ideal. I just wanted to let you know that washing his videos over and over and over is good actually very good, most people do learn from watching, that's where the term comes from watch and listen instead of talking watch and listen, watching is a plus providing that you got good camera coverage, I am learning a bunch just from watching and I don't even have a banjo, well I can afford one I will get one, but what I want to do is go listen to somebody play a open back banjo, and then I'm going to have them play a resonator banjo back and forth a couple of times playing a couple of songs slow and fast and kind of hear and listen to the instrument and see what appeals to me best, I believe I'm going to end up with an open back and a resonator banjo. So there is nothing wrong with getting a quality open back banjo that she'd be glad to have if that's all you were ever going to have, and then later on if you were able to or could afford to buy one you could get a resonator banjo. I think it all really has to do with what are you going to do with it. I believe not that this is what I'm going to do but I believe that if you're going to do front porch picking or back porch picking or picking out in the yard or picking over at your friend's house, then all you really need is a open back, all depends on what kind of sound you want we we all know that they sound different, so I've been exploring and I I encourage everybody to explore the different sounds of the open back banjo in the different ways to play it along with two and three finger picking on the open back like you need to get someone to pick two and three fingers on the open back and play claw hammer style and then do the two and three finger picking and claw hammer style on the resonator banjo so whoever is investigating this and exploring the different sounds they can decide for themselves okay am I going to play really really fast or slow and how does that sound on each type of banjo on the open back or the resonator banjo slow and fast, so that's the same as the open back have somebody play it fast and slow and play the different types of two and three finger and claw hammer on the open back as well, and really get a good sound and a good feel for for the sound and ask yourself what sound are you attracted to the most, and which sound is more likely for you to be playing and and how would you be playing the most, cuz I think that buying a musical equipment is expensive for one, and you don't want to buy something you're never going to use, you want something that you're going to buy and use it all the time because that's what you like, so get around somebody playing both of them in all different styles on each type of banjo that is a must cuz there's no law that says you can't two finger and three finger pick on an open back banjo or there's nothing that says that you cannot claw hammer and go nice and slow on a resonator banjo. But I have learned this, once you learn the basics with the right hand, you don't have to stick to some certain pattern of picking or claw hammering or whatever you're doing with the right hand, you can change it up any way you want you can play it any way you want it's your banjo, the banjo is going to make its own sound because that's what it does and that's what I figured out, it's going to sound good whether you know what you're doing or not, but with just a little bit of practice you can either use two fingers picking and go slow and use two or three chords if you're lucky and play all kinds of songs and be perfectly happy with that and in time you'll pick it up and you'll go faster because there will be times that you want to go faster, anyway good luck and I hope that was some good information for you and some good encouragement, because with me it's all about encouragement encouragement encouragement it's all about encouraging people to keep moving forward in what they're doing and also with the Lord God Almighty. Y'all have a good day and a better tomorrow, and may the Lord God watch after you and watch over you.

[@harvdog5669]

@@JimPankey Jim what is the oldest way to play the banjo two finger or claw hammer or was there another way in the past like just strumming which is the oldest which is truly a traditional way of playing the banjo in our country if you know that that would be a good help to me and maybe other people. I'm sure somebody else might want to know that answer too. You have a good afternoon may the Lord watch over you

[@harvdog5669]

@@JimPankey hi again there Jim, I have a little different question, and that question is about overalls, I noticed different people wear them differently and some of them wear them like you do with the snaps in the front part of the bib all the way to the top where there's not much room between the shoulders and the front part of the bed it just goes all the way up near the shoulders, is that the way they're supposed to be war where you want to attach it as close to the top as you can get how do you get that all the way to the top if the crotch is already pulling on you cuz you got them pulled up as far as I can go in the bib can only go up so far right once you got the bottom part where they need to be the top part of the bib is only going to go so high right, I only wore a pair of bib overalls way back when I was a kid but I was only about 65 lb as a small child I think I was about 10 years old I was a small kid. And I was a long time ago so I don't really remember and I don't really know how you're supposed to wear them I know when you're skinny little kid or a skinny person the big part will be all the way up towards the shoulders more when you attach the straps to it. And one other thing how do you know what size to buy so that they fit good I guess you want them to be a little bit loose so what do you do buy it like if you're if you're wearing a size 36 pants you buy a 38 and overalls for the waist size or if you wear a 33 you want to buy a 35 or you go 1 inch more if you wear a 36 you buy a 37 or if you you know how does that work and then I guess sometimes you have to have the the blade part altered so they'll be either the right length otherwise they'll be too long, that's what I'm thinking I'm thinking I'm going to have to have the legs altered because they're going to be too long, is that a common thing having the short in the legs on the pant leg. I hope that wasn't too confusing, right now I'm watching the doing away with the bum Diddy but not really video. Have a good afternoon may the Lord watch over you

[@helenmorgan8892]

You make it look so easy.

[@JimPankey]

It is; just takes a little practice. 🙂

[@Gooch1911]

Great as all the others Jim, thanks. God that's a pretty banjo.

[@JimPankey]

Thanks ☺️

[@vyperv2199]

hi Jim, I'm from Germany, and I've been trying to learn Bajo for about 6 months. I know a lot of videos, but none of them are as great as you! Unfortunately there are no good teachers in Germany. please continue like this many many thanks and all the happiness in the world! Thanks!!!!! Sven ps: is there a way on youtube to subtitle german? unfortunately my english is not that good ..... thank you Google Translate

[@JimPankey]

I wish I could have subtitles in German… Spanish… French…. Unfortunately I don’t know how to do that.

[@barbbrown4713]

Thanks Jim! I am learning a lot from you!

[@Inflatable__Elvis]

I just wanted to say THANK YOU for this video and your entire channel has helped me so much you’re amazing !! ❤️

[@JimPankey]

Happy to help!

[@robertdriscoll84]

So clear and easy to understand. I've been looking for exactly this. Thank you!!

[@JimPankey]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ajeje1996]

Excellent, straightforward introduction to intermediate banjo concepts. Well done!

[@alfike]

Fantastic options! Thx, Jim!

[@JimPankey]

Glad I can help 😊

[@catnutritionorg]

Very cool. You make it seem do-able (you always do).

[@JimPankey]

You can do it!

[@nyartist]

very interesting Jim.. I've been playing bum ditty for years and was starting to get sick of it! Running into your video was good for me. What I've been doing is bum ditty and singing,. always singing, never play without voice. and they're folk songs, Dylan, seege and standards like cripple creek. I'll listen to this video over and over until I get it. thanks - really an entertaining way of doing it the way you do.

[@JimPankey]

Glad I could help. It’s good to have options.

[@johnwebb5840]

Thanks Jim your videos have really helped me!

[@davidmarks509]

Silly question can you do the clawhammer style on a bluegrass banjo? Love the lessons Thank you.

[@TheBlueYodelingDad]

Sure! You'll get quite a different sound -- louder and more twangy, but there are no rules against doing it. In fact, I can't remember where the video is, but there's a gentleman somewhere on KZbin that does a medley of songs using clawhammer on a "bluegrass" banjo.

[@DovidM]

I talked to one guy at a session who was using a Deering resonator banjo. His Dad used to play Don Reno-style bluegrass banjo on it but he preferred clawhammer. It would have more volume, which can be an advantage.

[@captaincavemanfpv9772]

Please make more videos like this! Thank you so much!

[@JimPankey]

Pretty showed you everything I know in this one. 😂

[@captaincavemanfpv9772]

@JimPankey I really enjoy your lessons and teaching style. I'm a clawhammer player and learned alot for your videos. It's sometimes difficult for me to adapt the bluegrass style to clawhammer .

[@grannyblaylock623]

I like the bum. Ditty haven't Heard it in a long time..THANK YOU.👍👍👍🤗

[@JimPankey]

Thanks

[@kennethbransford820]

===== Thank you for this Jim as arthritis is setting in now. Thank you very much for this video. ===

[@JimPankey]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TREEHUGGAH1]

thank you sir. much respect

[@JimPankey]

You are very welcome

[@longtalljay]

Exceptional!

[@JimPankey]

Thanks 😊

[@mr.rogers9849]

Thank you. Jim, this really helped me break out of my shell and travel up the neck.

[@werdidiana]

Thank You so much I enjoy every lesson with your help and wanted to ask if You can teach us to play * Happy Birthday on the Banjo :D Thank You for Your time

[@PLINKER]

Thanks!

[@JimPankey]

You bet!

[@peckerwood1639]

Excellent

[@JimPankey]

Thanks!

[@maplelane125]

hi Jim, I've got the 10 lessons down and I am accustomed to bluegrass style pickin. Now i want to learn clawhammer so I can learn to play Sandy Boys...is this Ban the Bum Ditty a good place to start?

[@jackorbit7258]

Me too!

[@JimPankey]

Old Time Frailing for the Bluegrass Picker - Lesson 1kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJKVg4l8l5iqjtU

[@ratpilesolo3416]

Hey so I keep hitting the 1st string on an up stroke on accident is any tip on fixing that?

[@JimPankey]

The fact that you're aware of it should make it easy to stop doing it. Keep practicing. :)

[@jackorbit7258]

Thanks Jim! 👍👍

[@tomnelson3362]

Watched your 1-,2-1,5 strum and can not pick up how you get the sound on the 1 string @ 2:39.

[@JimPankey]

Did you go thru my basic frailing lessons?

[@tomnelson3362]

No, I did not.@@JimPankey

[@jimburns6232]

Hi Jim , Played the bum ditty for months but was told to change to BUM DITTY BUMP -A -DITTY but cant remember where i think the song was oh Susanna iv'e tried to play it but have had no success have you ever played it like that ?

[@JimPankey]

I demonstrate what would sound like bumpaditty in the video, but I just don’t think like that I guess. While I’ve never played old Susanna in clawhammer style I’m sure I could play it with any right hand pattern I could think up.

[@slq3263]

Jim do you teach clawhammer on your patreon page or just bluegrass?

[@JimPankey]

I do have a clawhammer series here on KZbin.

[@roryyeatman7703]

Hey Jim, I’ve seen your video on how to play duelling banjos. Could you do a video where you break down the fast part, thanks.

[@Genetherapy3232]

Is there a Jim video on how to get the banjo into double c? I tried searching. Thanks

[@JimPankey]

I don't think I have a video for that. it's gCGCD

[@adamm2716]

i been watching alot of videos and i kept seeing clawhammer guys dropping the thumb but i wasn't sure if that was proper technique or not

[@JimPankey]

It's a very useful technique.

[@digitalme4404]

Imagine a relative named Hank Pankey, that would be a cool name

[@JimPankey]

🙄

[@williamjones1602]

what are the tabs for 'train that carried..'? I can't figure out which notes you're playing

[@JimPankey]

You can figure it out. The melody is on one string. Find the melody, apply the right hand technique.

[@williamjones1602]

@@JimPankey i just realized that the reason i couldnt figure it out is because the 1st string is out of tune on the higher frets, even though the open string is tuned to D; does this mean that the bridge wasnt set correctly?

[@JimPankey]

That’s correct.

[@zion6680]

I like how you use the camera lol

[@JimPankey]

When you’ve only got one camera and the goal is to feature the banjo…

[@rk845b]

Thanks for the vid. I'm a beginner and trying to figure out what's going on here. Are there chord changes in the song example? If so, playing on one string seems a lot easier than learning chords. Could you play on one string in a different key by simply using a capo? Any help would be appreciated. Rick

[@JimPankey]

Not exactly a great video for someone that’s just beginning. I used that tune as just a background for the different techniques.

[@PLINKER]

Are you picking the first and second strings with you first or middle finger?

[@JimPankey]

Well.. yes. I use both. Sometimes the index, sometimes the middle.

[@hunterwoodson375]

Man where did the beard go! 🙁

[@thoreaukilbourne3911]

Does anybody know what model banjo he’s playing?

[@JimPankey]

I’m playing a Ramsey Woody

[@thoreaukilbourne3911]

@@JimPankey thank you, it has such a nostalgic sound!

[@dwightdiller]

I have been teaching "clawhammer style banjo" since 1971. The worst technique that has ever been dreamed up and has destroyed many students ability to ever learn to PLAY THE BANJO IS THE CURSED "BUM DIDDY". It was foisted onto the public by a man who could never truly play a banjo but released a banjo instruction book approximately 60-70 years ago. It has been so sad the amount of damage he did to banjo playing over these decades. Some students would come to me with that "BUM DITTY" branded on their internal pulse and it would often take several years of anguished tears to get it amputated. Only then could their banjo "SING OUT"?

[@alanwann9318]

I have been removing the brushstroke from my playing lately and finding new territory, Donald zepp videos also helped me improvise chosen melody at will.For song acc I prefer playing bum ditty from the fourth string through out the chord sequence creating a bass line automatically (g c g bd) tuning or standard tuning.I to have disagree here Pete seegar helped me on my way look at the weavers original fims or the CD if I had a hammer definitive collection .I have been playing 5 yrs self taught and reflect a lot of bad advice is given from tutors whitch I think delayed my progress e.g.brush across 5 strings, bluegrass tutors, no song acc advice, tying to sing to g tuning,an improvement is tuning down to f ,or dropped c capped to 2nd fret (d) I have used this a lot, happily and using a pick fred Kelly or pro pick with a flattened tip projects well for outside performance.

[@Toon-pb9fg]

What tuning is this in?

[@JimPankey]

Double C

[@matthewchristian169]

What tuning is he using?

[@JimPankey]

Matthew Christian I’m in Double C

[@BookieCrook]

Everything in moderation, including moderation, I suppose. -Tod Snider

[@aaron29851]

The beard 😪