Banjo lesson #7 - Cripple Creek! (Beginners tutorial - frailing / clawhammer banjo)

In this episode we put the three techniques from last time (hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides) into practice by learning the fab tune Cripple Creek. It might take a little while, but once you've got the hang of it this is a really fun tune to play with the frailing style. Oh, and beer helps!
.........................................................................
Hey everyone :) Welcome to the banjo ranks! I'm Banjo Jen - a singer-songwriter from Sheffield in the UK. I don't really play loads of old tunes (even though they're cool) and I don't focus overly on too much theory or technical aspects. But I use the wonderful frailing banjo style to play and create songs, and - most importantly - to play for fun. So I hope that I can help you to do the same thing and get enjoyment out of this fab instrument if you're just starting out (just be aware you will always be the butt of jokes in folk music circles if you play the banjo!). Please join me in the uphill struggle to make banjo cool!
If you're interested in my original singer-songwriter material, please check out my website www.banjojen.com and subscribe to my main KZbin channel / banjojen . Thank you :)
Other links:
Facebook: / banjojenmusic
Instagram: / banjojen
Twitter: / banjojen
Bandcamp: banjojen.bandcamp.com/releases
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/3YOVX...
These tutorials are of course available for free, but if you feel that you'd like to contribute anything, obviously any donations to poor banjo players are always appreciated in these tough times! My PayPal account is www.paypal.me/banjojen for any of those exceptionally lovely humans :)
And finally, always remember …pick tunes not fights!
Jen xx

[@digitaldemocracyai-rob]

Beer and Banjo. Subscribed

[@joannmoore6437]

By George, I think I'm about to get it! I'm doing slides, hammers on and pulloffs and I'm playing cripple creek, yippie! You are the best teacher, thank you so much for going slow enough for me to follow. You are awesome!

[@kangarookazoo9529]

Finally I’m able to play a recognizable version of cripple creek! I started banjo this past June and I’ve learned so much through your tutorials. Thank you so much for these lessons!

[@madamex6552]

Oh, I am so happy that I found your banjo lessons, and now so sad to now know that there is just a small collection of lessons. You are such a great teacher, and I love your enthusiastic and laid-back approach. I am a fingerstyle guitar player who has had a big ol' resonator banjo gathering dust for awhile. I finally decided to take it in hand and learn clawhammer/frailing. I watched video lessons by several different people before I found your channel, and now I'm passably playing Cripple Creek after just a few hours of practicing. And, when I got to the video in which you pulled out a can of beer and said that it makes everything better about learning to play banjo, I had to stop and call my partner upstairs to see it--it was so adorable! I'm going to focus on being very happy for the videos you have had the time to make, which I completely understand. We working women need to try harder not to overdo it, which is really hard when we know what we're capable of--which is everything!. Thank you so much for taking the time to make these videos for all of us and best of everything from a new USofA convert to banjos and beer! If everyone just sat down and played music with each other, maybe we'd all learn to get along.

[@caseybruce8414]

I just went from a “boom chick-a” first lesson yesterday to fairly fluently playing Cripple Creek in less than an hour with your instruction! Thanks so much for this tutorial all the way from the Folk Capital of the South, small town Arkansas, USA!

[@jimburns6232]

Hi It's me again just had to tell you I've got it can play along with you without error's part one and two in normal playback speed I'm over the moon can't praise you enough from your number one fan aged 88, take care.

[@frailingatlife7755]

So pleased you've cracked it! :)

[@jimburns6232]

Hi , You are the best instructor for miles around I thought it would take me a while to play Cripple Creek but your instructions are so easy to follow I'm playing this song in less than a week all down to your lessons thanks a million..

[@finneire2081]

God where have you been all of my life banjo and beer 🍺 woman after my own heart. thanks so much for your lesson I am learning this my first tune you helped thank you keep up the good work . Greetings from the Emerald Isle

[@davs0mm1ns]

I was watching some tutorials by a teacher who ended all the lessons by saying, "...and remember Jesus loves you." Beer and banjo go together much better! Thanks for the video, it's very helpful.

[@meagandoesthings]

Banjo Lemonade! She's also good for teaching. :)

[@commentingisdangerous7530]

why can't you drink beer, play the banjo, and know that jesus love you?

[@davs0mm1ns]

@@commentingisdangerous7530 I can only do the first :)

[@matthewstevens943]

This is definitely one of the most helpful banjo instructional videos I've come across. Thanks for sharing!

[@robmccue6279]

“Pick tunes not fights!” Amazing!

[@lasshrugged]

Just got my first banjo and learned to play this in two hours from you. First song I ever learned! Thanks for learning me how!

[@JH-uf4ey]

Great lesson. I’ve played guitar for years but my wife just bought me a banjo and the way this is broken down is extremely practical and allows a beginner like me to pick it up quickly. Thanks!!

[@lindamarkey780]

Thank you so much for your simple instructions. Started with your double thumbing exercise (which I will be practicing). I wanted to check out another of your videos so stumbled upon Cripple Creek which I play in a very simple way. After this I feel like a whiz kid! Thank you again & I'm looking forward to more of your videos. You're a great instructor. I think I'll go have a beer now...

[@lloydmorrison5979]

You are so awesome! I love your English accent. I could listen to you all day long.

[@AikiSys]

Greeting from Dublin Ireland - great lesson. Thanks so much for sharing. 👏👏👏👏🙏🏿

[@anneparsell8637]

Love these videos. i feel right at home because your room looks like my Music room. The piano. the guitar, the books and the banjo! I am still a beginner at banjo and am loving your style. No beer for me, though. Wine is my tipple! Annie (from Tasmania.)

[@jadefg1353]

I'm so excited that I can play Cripple Creek now thanks to your awesome video!! Thank you so much 😊

[@killtheheretik7975]

You have made my whole world with this video, as a complete instrument beginner I was able to learn the complete A and B parts in only a few piecemeal watches. Thank you!!

[@ldonkers]

Thanks for sharing! Just picked up a Banjo and looking forward to trying this.

[@JR-bj3uf]

A story: Back years ago I was playing bass for several blue grass bands. Our group had landed a spot on a morning TV show promoting an upcoming Bluegrass Festival. We had done our stick, played our tune and we had gone to a commercial break prior to the final segment. Our banjo player put his banjo in the lap of the host lady. He said "pluck this string, this string, this string and this string." She did. "Now" he said, "do it again." She did and in the space if less than three minutes he taught her a simple banjo roll on an open cord. We came back and she did her lines all while doing a good job playing that little roll. After we were done I don't think I have ever seen someone so overjoyed in my life. She kept saying "I played the banjo, I played the banjo!"

[@philburns961]

Best tutorial yet, feel like I can actually play the banjo now. Many thanks, will keep learning along with you x

[@markharden4871]

just want to say THANK YOU .started playing banjo three weeks ago and just finished lesson 7 ! like you say havin great fun with slides hammer ons and pull offs ....i couldnt have done it without you....now wheres that beer? :)

[@sarinamann9135]

Thanks so much for making this!! I'm new to banjo and this was so fun and helpful :)

[@Jimmietwotimes]

Just picked up clawhammer banjo at 55 and found this. You're a wonderful teacher and beer is always welcome. Subscribed, followed, all that shite.

[@miradee]

Thank you so much for this. You made this so simple and easy to follow. Keep it up, girl! You’re awesome!❤

[@jemglen]

Wow, fab lesson! Thank you.

[@EmilioArroyoFoto]

Amiga. Gracias por tus vídeos. Estoy aprendiendo a tocar con libertad gracias a ti. Creo que eres muy simpática y preciosa. Algún día encontraré a una mujer como tú, con ilusión por la música y la vida. Gracias.

[@amari6229]

“I do recommend a beer when playing the banjo” Me, a 12 year old: 👁👄👁

[@thetruthisoutthere8598]

That's when I started!😄

[@poopymcgee]

A glass of milk pairs well as well!

[@ndenisi]

@@thetruthisoutthere8598 ....late starter!😂

[@thetruthisoutthere8598]

@@ndenisi 😄😄😄I know, right?

[@daleorchard2634]

thankyou for teaching me my first banjo song!

[@toms1341]

Very helpful,,, you are a very good teacher, thank you for the lessons.

[@fredanugent2253]

I've had my banjo for about 3 months. After initially trying frailing I switched to Bluegrass style. It takes me ages to learn a bluegrass song and as a mediocre guitar/ukulele strummer, it doesn't come naturally. Also, I enjoy being able to strum and sing (badly, but for fun) which I find difficult to do in that style. Sometimes I struggle to recognise a tune as there are so many notes lol. This sounds great and I had a go and picked it up really quickly. Just need to get the bum ditty as second nature. I love the mix of chords and notes. I am going to try more of your songs. Great video.

[@kydragon42]

Check out Patrick Costello vids for basics on frailing. You can do it!

[@slq3263]

Best CC video on the Internet thank you

[@linterpretemehariste9081]

Chapeau! Well done! Thank you very much!

[@terridrimel1056]

Fantastic! New subscriber with this video. Loved the way you broke it down and the way you sang the actions you were doing on the banjo. Reminded me of how I learned and memorized difficult concepts in college. Never thought to use that with banjo!

[@paulgrady4183]

Just wanted to say thanks, you got me playing this tune,so thanks 👍

[@terrygray6078]

Absolutely brilliant

[@davidkuhn4055]

I discovered that when you play this video at 0.5 speed it makes the opening beer comments even funnier.

[@ChrisJones-rm3bb]

Love this video! It's timing is perfect for a newbie like me....other videos go way too fast! And an English accent too. Ideal! #subscribed #fanboy!

[@jimburns6232]

Just found you playing and singing the video BANJO PICKEN GIRL WITH BIRDSONG THOUGHT YOU WERE FAANTASTIC THEN FOUND YOU SINGING THE SONG FINE LINE I'm over the moon will listen to them over and over , 😀😃😄

[@5150show]

Absolutely brilliant thank you

[@taftphotography]

That was really fun and super helpful! Thank you!

[@christopherturner2238]

Thank you for making these videos. I bumped into this channel. Your explanations are incredibly clear - I can be too dependent on tabs. I have been learning this version of Cripple Creek with far more success, and learnt a song a lot quicker than usual.

[@frailingatlife7755]

Ah great! Glad it's helped. It's such a fun tune to play :)

[@harvdog5669]

@@frailingatlife7755 Howdy young lady, Can anybody learn to play banjo. I want to do story telling & old fashion country gospel hymns & songs for small Bible study groups at church and in private homes. For devotions and front porch pickin too.. Am thinking of nylon strings on a RECORDING KING R--35 Resenator Banjo, hoping for the traditional sound with the Resenator to help bring out the warm sound.. Let me know what you may be thinking of my ideas. Thanks, your fan..USA

[@sweetlife031]

@@frailingatlife7755 Are you from England?

[@dwaingibbs93]

I loved the beer part and I love the name your Channel

[@jimburns6232]

Love the lesson, played the video playback speed at 0-5 and found I could play along with you will speed it up after more practice the funny side of slowing the video is that you sound if you have been drinking all day ha ha made me laugh .

[@ndenisi]

a beer goes with absolutely everything 😂🍻

[@djihadmohammedi9152]

MY FAVOURITE VERSION

[@gazgf]

Yay, I can finally do it! Thank you, thank you ,thank you 😬🍺

[@anthonymilesmusic]

Oh wow! This channel is great! Just what I’ve been looking for in my brand new Banjo playing quest! Thank you so much. I’m ‘like’ 100 btw.

[@johnaslin2635]

getting to grips now Jen,another week see more progress i hope,thanks for your help.

[@stephenduren1394]

You was very very helpful thank you for going over cripple creek slow your right a cold beer helps and relaxes me while practicing my banjo I'm from Alabama

[@frailingatlife7755]

You're welcome :) Glad the video (and beer) has been helpful! Happy playing

[@jethrobodine4638]

Awesome! Just bought a banjo and hoping to play half as good as you at some point!

[@merlincameron1270]

Your awesome thaks so much for the tutorial you explain evreything very clearly

[@Banjo_Dave]

I love your channel name! Great video :)

[@merickel1]

Great lesson!

[@johnbell3405]

good stuff, a decent teacher, im getting there

[@maciejchaubinski7419]

I love your channel. I hope you are doing well after those pandemic years

[@zaccrogers]

Nice one thank you so much very helpful

[@malinnomeland9052]

Thank you so much ! Know i finnaly know how to play it clawhammer style

[@Ogrim88]

Hoping I can get a banjo sometime this year and follow along! :)

[@jaymaxfield5056]

Great lesson Love your accent!!

[@frankprior924]

Love all your video lessons and can play some of your songs in front of my friend's so marking good headway all down to yuor very enjoyable video's , have you ever played a banjo lesson of Bottle Of Wine clawhammer style one of my favourites would love to here you playing and singing it, 🤞😊

[@Tbowie13]

😂 I'm thinking of the irony of me sitting in NC close to the Scruggs museum watching a Brittish (I think 🤔) woman teach me how to play Cripple Creek. 😂 *edit... OK in all seriousness, you're an awesome teacher. I have down my basics pretty well, and this video popped up on my suggestions. I've watched a number of teachers say do this and that, but your style us very easy to follow. You show enough, but not too much to where it's redundant. Maybe where I'm at with my learning just fits how you're teaching, but whatever it is, I'm impressed. You have a new sub. I know this is an old video, I'll probably power watch your channel this weekend.

[@gittaradau8790]

Thank You Thank You Thank You

[@twoowls5570]

Great lesson, you got my attention real quick with this technique and I an making progress. Thanks for the lessons and looking forward to more! From Kentucky, USA regards, Jimp

[@kydragon42]

Were you at in Ky? Im in Lou. Ky!

[@thetruthisoutthere8598]

@@kydragon42 Louisville here too!

[@chuckjeffery944]

Neat video. (perhaps the beer helps😁) You are doing a great service. Thank you.

[@frailingatlife7755]

You're welcome! Beer helps everything ;) #lifeadvice

[@sman7099]

This is very challenging for me but I'm determined to get it!

[@johnmandagaran6999]

Jen, fantastic lesson. I started learning three fingered picking (Scruggs) banjo a few years ago (and I'm getting a bit long in the tooth for picking up an instrument) but I'm interested in clawhammer and your lesson is spot on! You're a very good teacher!! One thing...beer may be good for frustration... Manhattans make things more difficult. ;) Nevada USA here. Great job.

[@frailingatlife7755]

Cheers! Welcome to the dark side of clawhammer and beer ;)

[@DinzeLord]

Nice, I realy like your version of the A part

[@juanemiliosanchezfernandez6076]

Gracias!!!!

[@rustysmoviecollectibles5875]

Subscribed 🍺

[@copperair3417]

this is as great as all get out.

[@JimPriest]

Love the tune and "Frailing at life" Lot of that going around lately :)

[@frailingatlife7755]

Cheers! Ha, yeah the name worked for me on a few levels ;)

[@stephenduren1394]

Oh yea I like your acent

[@THEWORDCHRISTIANMINISTRY]

Very good. Have a pint for me !

[@glennblanks3662]

You are great

[@TomClarkSouthLondon]

Beer, Banjo, and a Babe! I Subscribed🤗

[@thebanjoman4215]

hi Jen- are there any more lessons coming? I look forward to it - especially your explanation about singing and playing is great. i learned a lot from it. greetings / guy

[@frailingatlife7755]

Cheers Guy, glad you're finding the lessons helpful. Yes, I'll be putting some more up soon - the day job is just a bit busy at the moment :)

[@joepeter4512]

I think I just fell in love

[@johncfullerartist9863]

Hi Can I pluck the base string with a drop thumb I keep messing it on a usual strick

[@rattyfingers8621]

Another Deering banjo!

[@paulmurray4679]

Thank you for this excellent tutorial, can you tell me what is the head you've put on your Deering' looks like a fibre-skin but With 2 rows of tiny dots, is it some kind of pickup ? Sunnyvenice hebden bridge west yorkshire

[@frailingatlife7755]

It is a fibre skin head. The dots are from the Kavanjo pickup fitted through the head :)

[@jimburns6232]

" Jen , Do we have to play the full C chord in this song as I find it easier just using part of the C .

[@Familyof4WD]

Hi BanjoJen can you post your lyrics for this? So many versions out there

[@chriseddy7992]

Great video Jen. I have the exact same banjo. I've just started this clawhammer journey. I'm usually a Scruggs style guy but figured why not, so got a used Deering and well give it a go. Always enjoyed the sound of clawhammer/old time banjo. Just wondering what type or name brand banjo bridge do you have on your banjo. I'm not sure the one I have on mine is the right kind, or just want to try a different one/type. thanks

[@frailingatlife7755]

I don’t know the name / brand of the bridge but it’s a ‘compensated’ one which helps to stop the middle G string going too sharp when it’s fretted (a common problem with banjos). It’s something that’s always annoyed me so I always get the bridge changed to a compensated one. Just personal choice, it isn’t necessary.

[@johncfullerartist9863]

I’ve tuned my banjo correctly. But it does not sound like yours on a strum. Are you strumming the base string on your strum or are you just strumming strings ½/ and three

[@mick947]

I’ll be content if I can actually work up to being able to say strike, strum, thumb, pull off! Before I’ve had a beer obviously.

[@TerryFree3]

I'm 75 and just a beginner but I'm loving the lessons Jen although my slide isn't too good. Are my strings too low?

[@frailingatlife7755]

Doubtful that the strings are too low - usually problems come from strings being too high (they call it the 'action' - if the action is too high the folks at the instrument shop can lower it if necessary)

[@TheReclinerPilot]

I’m in love:))

[@JamesBlack-xm7oy]

Are you from Huddersfield ??

[@djihadmohammedi9152]

There is only u and Costello who play it this way

[@abdullahyusuf2247]

Hi Banjo Jen Why Will we be the butt of jokes for Loving Banjo ? is it That Deliverance Hill Billy Thang? My Missus Says it Might Be But Who Really Cares We Are From NZ & That Can get Wild at Times ThankYou For Your Videos Theyre a Real Help Do You Know Any Ivor Biggun Tunes ? Hes From Lancashire I Believe

[@joepeter4512]

Do you do zoom lessons or what

[@rab1978uk]

I would love ye to play cripple creek in full. That’s what made me want to learn the banjo. Billy Connolly….

[@rab1978uk]

Says a lot about my mind…..😂

[@Stray1One]

I’ve got it ,can’t thank you enough, I lost my first banjo at pawn shop years ago and literally just asked the universe to get me a banjo,a year after a friend bought me one with a stand even,.bag extra strings plecks .i cried that night when it sank in I think.david holt set me off,but this lesson with his has made playing make my day everyday now I’ve got the tech neck .ive subbed ,yeah I’m a twat.for saying I’ll only sub if I can pull it off.ive Just got it a month ago .im just really happy happy coz I never had enough time to learn claw hammer before pawn shop got it I paid for it 10 times over I reckon,but I had to let it go.ill do a song on my channel if I do it justice.thanks again. Stray1 the type of man not to challenge Ferguson yet beat fury.

[@bettybrink6905]

Is that a Deering Goodtime? Why is the banjo not having frets close to the circle? Sorry I am a n00b

[@mermaid10x]

It’s a claw hammer style banjo with the upper frets removed because it’s sometimes played up the neck instead of over the drum.

[@Spiderv13]

🙂🥰🙂

[@Stray1One]

If I can pull this off, I will sub to ya. I’ve never seen this explained the way you have done it.cheers. I’ll put it on my channel soon hopefully. Stray1 the type of man not to challenge Ferguson yet beat fury.

[@jimritchie4021]

Just like with this pandemic social distancing required with English beer !

[@pickinglanes4824]

You are lovely.