Clawhammer Banjo Techniques 1

Banjo Heritage 👉 / cliftonhicks
Traditional down-picking techniques for five-string banjo, part 1. My banjo is tuned ~ gDGCD. Opening music is "Cluck, Old Hen" from George Gibson of Knott County, Kentucky.
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BanjoHeritage.org
Bandcamp
cliftonhicks.bandcamp.com
PayPal
paypal.me/cliftonhicksbanjo
#banjo #clawhammerbanjo #oldtimebanjo #oldtimemusic #traditionalmusic #bluegrassbanjo #cliftonhicks

[@Tbowie13]

Hey Clifton, do you have any recordings that can be purchased? Ive found the George Gibson, "Last Possum up a Tree" but man, I love to hear your renditions of his ol tunes. Your Cluck ol'Hen is just awesome. Anyhow, Im hoping there is such an album.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

👉🏿 Cliftonhicks.bandcamp.com

[@Texicus_Reddicus]

The slow drag in the cuckoo is what made me star playing. Such a nice sound, you can almost feel it in your body.

[@robertjohnson5795]

Wow. I had felt like clawhammer was kind of second-nature to me. These Elements vids are showing me how much I didn't know. Thank you!

[@danieleriksson5728]

what are you doin playing around with the banjo mr Johnsons?

[@1970banjoman]

Man I feel like this video was meant for me and where I am and need to be in my playing and learning right now. Thank you so much.

[@swedneck9054]

I must say, finding a comment here from someone I recognize from Instagram of all damn places was fairly unexpected. :D

[@1970banjoman]

@@swedneck9054 Hey! Ha! Good to see you here. He's a good teacher for sure.

[@tonyturquoise]

This is great. I watch a lot of your videos and have learned a bunch from your concise and coherent breakdowns of techniques, as well as just enjoying your playing. I have been noticing the double noting and bending in your playing, but it is great to have a little teaching time dedicated to the techniques and licks. Thanks a million for all you do.

[@JGHoff]

Thank you for breaking down these very important techniques into very bite-size chunks. Great teaching!

[@alexhage8092]

Dear Clifton, thank you for all the videos and content about traditional americana music, especially stuff about the banjo.

[@r.artilesuriarte599]

Love your videos, learn lots of new stuff from them.

[@JohnyG29]

Great video. Super helpful. Playing classical guitar has definitely helped me transition to various stringed instruments.

[@alesiaarnold4259]

This is amazing. What a gift you are!

[@johndally7994]

Wow, terrific video. This is a lot of technique delivered very well. I’m going to up my Patreon commitment.

[@daveyjoweaver6282]

Much heritage in the mountains came from Scotland, Ireland and England. In that traditional music and as you well know, often bend the notes when playing the pipes and the whistle. It’s a Sweet addition to the music. Thanks Kindly Clifton! Many Blessings and Much Music! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania

[@benkiserappalachianmusic]

That's one of the most badass sounding banjos I've ever heard 👍

[@albertmorgan9021]

Appreciate you for what you're doing here

[@johnschneider4160]

Keep pulling these videos out of your closet for us, Clifton! Thank you!

[@bryandovbergman5654]

Great tips. Thanks!

[@jesuschavarria5574]

Im learning a lot brother, keep it going

[@WestboundCityTrain]

Thanks for sharing bro. This has been really helpful!

[@SleddogMicker]

hellla yeah for adding this!

[@StirlingTimelapse]

That was great. Thanks

[@5150show]

Outstanding

[@patrickfoster4586]

Great lesson! Thanks for posting \m/

[@TheGrowlery]

Thanks!

[@slowerpicker]

This weekend happens to be Mt Airy (it rained pretty good last night, but that didn’t stop the music!), and I’m slowly working through Brad Leftwich’s book on Round Peak playing. Along comes your great video with its many nods to KY, TN and VA styles - a timely reminder of all the other musical traditions to learn from than my corner of NC. Thanks for this video! Your thoughts on bending were inspiring. I agree about those long fretted slides.

[@punishedmatteson7108]

Ayyyyy I'm down 52 in Winston! Need a fiddle player?

[@gbadeboitunu545]

Thanks for putting me through you do great I want to know how to play it .

[@oldcrownestshop5025]

Like it.

[@justinreynolds2143]

I am really enjoying your content. I don't know anything about patreon but I will be finding out for support. Found your page because I have been wanting to get a Pisgah. Thanks, again!

[@gerard9098]

I know the galax lick as an indexfinger, in-rithm down-strum of 2 strings, followed by one thumb (5th string) quarter note . (that makes 4 eight note timing. "Molly put the kettle on" as played by Adam Hurt is an example

[@ajeje1996]

MORE! MORE! MORE!

[@nvdawahyaify]

The slow drag is similar to the rasgueado from flamenco guitar. Rasgueado means rasping.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Thanks, that's interesting. I use wood rasps fairly often and (though I never thought of it before) that is an even better description than "slow drag."

[@nvdawahyaify]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo you are very welcome. The rasgueado actually has several forms and is usually done very quickly, but at a slow speed the idea and sound is similar to the slow drag. I think rasp or rake is a good name for the technique too.

[@domeniccarson9232]

Wow cool thanks for the info

[@nomdeplore7604]

👌yeah...you know what you're doing.

[@williammaderas6475]

Loving these vids Clifton. What are your thoughts on up picking??? It seems more instinctive and easier for me than over hand.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Up-picking is probably the easiest way to play the banjo. Matt Kinman once told me it uses the fewest and simplest movements of any traditional style--you'll notice he almost always up-strokes the banjo. I have a few videos discussing where I learned it and breaking down the sub-styles. Here's a good one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anyVYWqXr9J5nMU

[@guustpersoon456]

Interesting, I can do two-finger and clawhammer but for some reason I can't wrap my mind around up-picking!

[@Scoobz187]

Stop staring into my soul bro XD

[@bmmccall]

Thanks Clifton! What tuning are you in here?

[@f1948s]

Very good info. Thank you. Other than videos on the patreon site do you also have for like songs any tabs etc?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Franko, yes, I upload tabs for every song now.

[@thomasparker4787]

Hey Clifton, what type of tone ring do you have on that Pisgah? I saw your upload for removing the persimmon so I was curious if you put a metal one in there? Love the videos

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Yes, he put a brass Dobson ring in there. It definitely beings out a rich tone... almost too rich.

[@rudigervolke3995]

😎

[@MattyVicious1]

Man, I need to learn this song. Where can I find the tableture for the way you play it?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

I don't think anybody's tabbed out that approach to Cluck Old Hen (gDGCD). I learned it from George Gibson of Knott County, Kentucky. I have a couple video lessons on it @ patreon.com/cliftonhicks

[@MarkWYoung-ky4uc]

😊👍

[@jakewollin6262]

Greta video. Is bending the string restricted to nylgut or will it work for steel too?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Thanks, Jake. I find that steel strings project a bend much better than nylon or gut. The strings on this banjo are actually heavy gauge steel. I order custom diameter sets from JustStrings.com and recommend it.

[@invinciblecheng7844]

Do play any three finger Scruggs style?

[@dalejames13]

Are you a step down in tuning in this video?

[@commentingisdangerous7530]

all of the stuff at the beginning you were assuming people know how to do, is there a video on how to do all of that stuff???

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Clawhammer Banjo for the Complete Beginner kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqjSgZZ9a8mEoKM

[@danieleriksson5728]

love your videos dude! i'm a pretty well versed guitarist and would like to start playing the banjo, what would you say is a good serious beginner banjo to get?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

The best cheap banjo out there is the Recording King "Dirty 30s." These can be found sometimes as low as $200. It's actually higher quality than the more popular Deering "Goodtime," and is much cheaper. If you purchase one new, it comes with a lifetime warranty.

[@danieleriksson5728]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo thanks dude! i was kind of befuddled with all these guitar brands you know making banjos, kinda felt they're not what you'd want for a banjo. i don't know the availability of the brands you mention here in sweden but i'll keep a look out. thanks for your time!

[@pixie1345]

This is amazing, I love your lessons , what piece of music/lick is this please

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

That's "Cluck, Old Hen" from George Gibson ~ gDGCD.

[@PermacultureAppalachia]

👍🏽👍🏽

[@harvdog5669]

Mr Hicks, does this banjo have a rag in it and does it have any tone ring. Trying to compare sounds of a tone ring vs. no tone ring. All on claw hammer style.. Trying to decide between the Recording King OT25 Madison or the OT26 Madison. The OT25 has No tone ring.. While the OT26 has a white laydie tone ring.. 😊 Thankyou for some input. I know i like the clawhammer style and or a combo of two finger as well. I am drawed to this type of banjo 🪕🪕🪕🪕😊 Thankyou sir for your imput on this issue i am having. Wanting to play for folks at the retirement & rehabilitation center here in my local town.. Give some comfort to those folks who's family might not be visiting very much.. how sad people treat there family so badly...God bless you sir..😊

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

I never record or perform with a mute inside my banjo. That banjo I think had no tone ring.

[@bananarobotoverlord]

I didn't realize Tom Hardy played banjo.

[@darrenjones417]

He says he’s in G modal but I think he is in F modal

[@darrenjones417]

He says he’s in G modal, but I think he’s in F modal

[@oldcrownestshop5025]

Like it.