Intro to Banjo Up-Picking for the Complete Beginner (Seeger Style)

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In this video I'll introduce you to an oft-overlooked style of traditional banjo playing known today mostly as "up-picking" or "Seeger style" because it was introduced to mainstream audiences by Pete Seeger circa 1950. I learned it by watching George Gibson and Matt Kinman and listening to recordings of Roan Mountain, TN banjoist, Creed Birchfield. It's also worth noting that Elizabeth Cotten was a great up-picker--hardly anyone seems interested in her picking style beyond the fact that she was left-handed. Although her up-picking is fairly different from my own, we share more similarities than differences.
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[@Bostoncrocus]

BINGO this is what Im looking for. Thanks so much. Excellent teaching style. I got my banjo just yesterday 1-15-25. Robin in NC.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Glad to hear it! For more detailed tutorials on this up-picking, two-finger, and overhand (clawhammer) you might consider my online course at www.BanjoHeritage.com

[@amrussell42]

You know when I was learning clawhammer banjo from a book, I was used to Earl Scruggs style. So, when I was playing at first it was up hand! I called it galloping after I realized that clawhammer was played using the fingernail.

[@rjwh67220]

This is what I’ve been looking for. Pete Seeger was my first real hero, back in the early sixties. I’ve got his book but some videos are really welcome.

[@thinkpad20]

That Lincoln Brigade hat is so cool. Thanks for the lesson!

[@KrisHammes]

Very beginning of learning. 2 finger felt the best, clawhammer I love the sound of but really disliked striking with fingernail and found myself uppicking, so its awesome to find its a style :)

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Glad to hear it. If you’re interested in more detailed tutorials on up-picking, you might like my survey course at www.BanjoHeritage.com

[@KrisHammes]

@CliftonHicksbanjo didn't expect a reply but thankyou I'll check it out

[@skylarjon3464]

As someone who is picking up a banjo for the first time after playing bass for 20 years, this seems like the technique that's gonna really flow naturally for me. Thanks for posting this

[@bccutube]

I first taught my self clawhammer, but this actually sounds a lot smoother, reckon I'll break out the old Pete Seeger banjo manual and try some of those tunes

[@thebunnyman367]

Thank you kindly for posting this video so helpful . Have a lovely Christmas xx

[@quintenhuggins2142]

Thank you so much for breaking this down. I have playing Scruggs style for a while and have had a hard time switching styles but after watching this I think there is now hope for me.

[@wiscgaloot]

I think I'll build a Carver minstrel-style fretless banjo from a kit soon. I'm nearly 61 and bored with my other instruments, guitar and mando. And since I'm a fingerstyle (Travis) guitar picker, this up style is likely to come a lot more naturally to me. Thanks for the video!

[@stevewinters5895]

Thanks Clifton. I was wondering who in the past I was pickin like and now I know. I've been working on that style for a couple years now because it felt more natural for me that clawhammer. You sure are a wealth of banjo information and history. Thanks again

[@beeoxford255]

This is everything I’ve been looking for! Best I structural video I’ve seen for this style. Concise, clear, and helpful. I’ve always played clawhammer or overhand, and love learning something new!

[@kylebushey4590]

Would love to hear more tips and anything about ur upstroke style. Its so great and was one of the first things that got me interested in your channel.

[@atillion79]

Thanks for pointing me here 🙏🏼🔥🪕

[@IamUncledeuce]

60s... pops told me if I wanted to play guitar it would be classical with lessons. Okay, no problem. Classical instructions began. Big sister took to it and flourished. Me? I took it and panned out to electric bass and tenor banjo (finger style) and later 5-string banjo (bare handed). I tried and tried Clawhammer but my classical training really solidified my up-stroke and with much difficulty Clawhammer over hand never really took hold. But up-stroke was never a problem at all. So up-stroke it was. And I think (perhaps incorrectly) that overhand interrupted MY fluidity of movement as my muscle memory was cast in stone towards up-stroke because of strict classical guitar pedagogue through the Stephanopoulos Pappas approach. In saying all of that, I remain awestruck when watching traditional claw stylists who frail with ease.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Overhand, to me, is very counterintuitive. I also disliked three-finger Scruggs style picking. For that reason, I actually started my banjo journey as a two-finger picker before I even knew that was "a thing."

[@dominiquesirgy8057]

Such great teaching, thank you

[@MusicGeekmcgrath]

I really appreciate you doing these videos they have helped me out so much and I like your approach to teaching

[@rogerletsom2127]

Thanks, Clifton! I'm trying to learn this style of playing. I've tried clawhammer and Scruggs style. Up picking seems to come more naturally for me. I'm mostly acquainted with Pete's playing but I will look up the others you mentioned.

[@mdb9501]

Excellent video

[@PepperDarlington]

You ever fancy a gig local? Bluegrass and BBQ is booked up but I'd say you'd catch a good following if you ever cared to step on stage anywhere around here.

[@WildwoodT]

Hi Clifton. Thank you for this video. Will definitely be watching it over and over again. I've been playing banjo for about two years and have been trying to get this sound. I never knew there was such a thing as up-picking. I always thought the up-picking sound was done with the overhand style. I feel like I'm in a whole new world of banjo playing. Many thanks!

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Glad to be of some use. I first saw George Gibson of Knott County Kentucky play Little Birdie using a really beautiful, percussive up-picking technique (I think he called it "up-stroke"). I only saw him do it once when I was very young and then I never saw it again until years and years later when I met Matt Kinman (who plays banjo almost exclusively up-stroke style).

[@aaronflinner6431]

I'm very interested in learning this style. I'm new to banjo, and this seems like it would be easier than regular stroke style.

[@HiNinqi]

Hook & Line is always a pleasure

[@ajeje1996]

Matt Kinman's Brother Green is brilliant. Thanks for clarifying this concept, now I just need to work on my alternate string pull offs!

[@christopherfilding4158]

Thank you✌️

[@tonytotten408]

Nice didn't know of that style sound louder and more in your face thanks for info.. 👍

[@PawansUkulele]

This was fantastic, and you are great!

[@johnnybx3254]

Great fun learning 👍👏👏

[@jamesantkeegan83]

Hey Clifton James here from Ireland! I've been playing a long neck goldtone using up picking for a few years now! The only thing I'm worried about is singing in key! Could you please do a video on how to sing correctly! Thank you soldier!

[@robkunkel8833]

Listening to Pete Seeger’s “American Favorite Ballads Vol 1”, I was blown away by the constant sound that he made on the D and G strings for the whole song. I was trying to figure how he made this last so fast throughout the entire song ... like the wheels on a railroad train. Now I see your video and I suspect that it must be this style of right hand. I could find no videos of the young Pete doing it but there is a KZbin of Pete in 2013, barely able to walk on stage, still playing Wabash Cannonball and other tunes with Arlo Guthrie. I think he used this style of right hand. It wasn’t clawhammer, for sure. 🏆🙏🏽Nice lesson!

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

You're right Rob. Old Pete was a noted up-picker and even taught this style in his banjo manual circa 1950.

[@jakewollin6262]

Thanks for this video! You're a gentleman and inspiration personally. I learned the banjo because of Pete Seeger but i play fretless mt. banjo, mostly up-picking. My Left ring finger doesn't bend at the last joint and it makes fancy chords and such difficult. Thanks for touching on all these topics. I feel like it's helping me understand my playing better! ALSO, you talked about Boone NC and I was just wondering what connection (if any) you have with my friend Charlie Glenn. Just curious. Have a good day man!

[@robkunkel8833]

It makes perfect sense to me now ... you don’t know how frustrating it was for me to try to make sense on that 7 tunings video that you did. I wrote all that down and sort of had it but I had to mentally start with the universally god given, g D G B D .... Now, with ;your old banjo, I get it. Tha first two fret region is your personal music room. That is where you can get away from the nut with your vocal sounds. Then, starting with the third fret, you’re back in the Scruggs Happy Bluegrass territory.

[@evanmcroberts5427]

Do you know what particular style Gary brewer plays? That stuff has intrigued me for years

[@gooberman9247]

If up-picking is essentially the same as overhand, how is the fretting affected? Why would it be simpler?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Basic notation is the same, but up-picking is a much simpler/more elegant motion of the right hand compared to down-picking. Drop-thumbing is also difficult to execute smoothly while up-picking, so most up-pickers do not drop-thumb it only drop-thumb in special context.

[@gooberman9247]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo Hm, I guess I still don't fully get what you mean at 3:30 when you say that the left hand is a lot simpler. Why is the left hand simpler, or different at all, for up-picking?

[@gooberman9247]

I enjoyed the video by the way; I was recently watching this video of Roscoe Holcomb playing and was wondering how exactly he was playing to get that strong percussive element: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6iqmKmYfciar8U so I'm glad to have that question answered!

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

I guess what I was trying to say is that I tend to reduce my typical, high level of left hand activity when up-picking vs overhand. It's not always the case, for example, I execute a ton of complex movements via both hands when up-picking "Going Up North." In the video I uploaded of this song some years ago, I employ all of the left-hand techniques I typically employ, as well as an unusual percussive right hand technique coupled with a blend of up- and down-picking.

[@gooberman9247]

Makes sense--thanks for the explanation!

[@cragslist8987]

Im curious why you prefer calling clawhammer stroke style

[@Timothydlol]

Clifton great to see you playing and making so many videos these days. What kind of strings do you use? They are so much more mellow than most banjo strings I have ever used.

[@terrywood3268]

I can't grow my fingernails long because they just break so finding your tutorials on upstroke really helpful. However i have noticed that your fingernails aren't particularly long yet you play down stroke clawhammer very well which seems contrary to popular opinion that you need long fingernails. I would be grateful if you would share your thoughts on this. Thanks for the video's they are truly inspiring

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Terry, from time to time people ask me this question. It is a "festival banjo" myth that a long nail is required to play overhand. I've always kept my nails quite short to prevent them from getting packed with dirt and breaking.

[@terrywood3268]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo Cheers Clifton

[@erstwhilerambler]

@clifton hicks You’re right that it’s not necessary. It does lend a different tone - if you can and want to have it long - just like different guitar picks and/or no pick affects the tone you’ll get. In fact, I even notice a difference between striking primarily with the index vs. the middle. One lends a softer sound whereas the other is more “direct” and a little louder.

[@benfischer9907]

Mr. Hicks, hello. I'm about a year into playing banjo and inadvertently started playing this way as opposed to clawhammer (which I was more interested in playing before realizing the majority of banjo players I love play two finger). I reckon it's a good substitute? Is there anything stylistically that I'd be missing by up-picking rather than clawhammer?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

There are minor differences, but they are very similar. Eventually, you'll probably learn two or three styles.

[@frednavrotski8936]

There is a lot going on ...you da man. I play two finger but does not come close to your sound. keep this string going.

[@robkunkel8833]

Hi - You’re in relative tuning, one stop below g C G C D , right? Loving that instrument. Slightly delirious. 🎶🌴〰

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Yes, Rob. Or at least close to 1 step low.

[@d.l.loonabide9981]

Hi, Is this the picking technique used by Charlie Poole?

[@williamtsanders]

this is like two finger + drop thumb... interesting!

[@richardportman8912]

Me personally, I find them hard them hard driving straight banjo players, they don't have it

[@krimskrams]

do you know if pete seeger played his version of "mrs mc grath" in the double c tuning perhaps?

[@ProfesserLuigi]

Pete was more likely to use drop-c over double C in pretty much every case.

[@PermacultureAppalachia]

👍🏽👍🏽