"Cluck Old Hen" Clawhammer Banjo Lesson

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"Cluck Old Hen" Traditional Banjo Lesson ~ gDGCD
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[@1970banjoman]

Coolest version of Cluck ole Hen ever! Been playing the same old generic version everybody plays. Just watched and learned it your way. Sweet. Now gonna watch the close ups video. My new way of playing Cluck ole Hen! Thanks Clifton. Also listened to your podcast interview on Coffee with Comrades last night at work. Good show man, good show.

[@TheBlueYodelingDad]

Becoming my new way as well. My biggest struggle has been switching back and forth between overhand down-picking and up-down strumming. I didn't realize how "locked" I was into the overhand rhythm. I'm starting to get the hang of it, though, and I think it will end up making me a bit more versatile.

[@harlanfields6737]

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[@merilee222]

Clifton, of course the lyrics do make sense! As chickens get older they can slow down how many eggs they lay in a day or in a week until they finally stop laying altogether. And that's when they are destined for the stew pot. And hens cluck a LOT when they're laying, so Cluck and sing means lots of eggs coming, and if she ain't laid an egg since late last Fall, she's been a good hen but she's being watched and the owner is assessing whether it's time to make chicken soup out of her.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Oh yeah, I get you. We once owned 50+ chickens and guineas.

[@kevinnistor1954]

You're an absolute UNIT on that flippin banjo

[@MarkArrand-cf4cl]

I have recently purchased a Banjo by mail. I can't wait for it to arrive so I can learn to play it. As it stands, I am a rank beginner with it. It is a trip watching you play. You make one banjo sound like two.

[@grettagip]

Much respect to you for sharing your wealth of knowledge of old time banjo, and for giving credit where credit it due; the old time players. The pickers out there that are using these techniques and taking the credit are doing an injustice to the history and traditions of old time banjo. I appreciate your generous spirit in homage to the culture. It's the only way to keep it alive.

[@MarkArrand-cf4cl]

I don't normally respond twice to a video. There is a version of Cluck Old Hen done by the Hillbillies way back in 1923 that has words. It is worth a listen.

[@joshz8803]

*JUST* got a beginner banjo! I’m gonna learn this first!

[@tylerbarlow8427]

Thanks!

[@mondocain]

I've heard this song for years, but I don't think I've ever heard a version like this. The drive behind this is so unique. Wow. Thanks Clifton. I'm gonna work on all your techniques here.

[@daynapirso]

yes! excellent lesson. I agree that it's, for some reason, a bit of a jokey song every time someone plays it. I'm excited about this version switching things up. thanks!

[@miker.9587]

Man! I just finally started learning some finger picking.... and now this is persuading me back to clawhammer! Maybe both now? My first full song in finger picking is Man of Constant Sorrow. I’m not sure why it’s been so difficult since I came from guitar but for what ever reason it has been. It’s been all good and fun anyway.

[@Davepacheco1986]

That's a gnarly banjo

[@davesiler4064]

Clifton, you always come up with something new!

[@clawhammer704]

He's got the banjo brain..it's on his mind abt all the time

[@tylerbarlow8427]

Thanks Clif, I appreciate this! , Been looking for a more expressive way to play cluck old hen!! Cheers.

[@slayde1087]

That's an unusual banjo with the partial frets and nylon strings. Do you have a video that you talk about it? Thanks!

[@toadeepants]

I toadally agree with Brian! 👍🏾

[@ernestmitchell7088]

I know this one all too well, makes you want to dance a jig and shoot a hole in your selling! 😂🤣

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Sir, you cut me to the quick! Few people know I spent part of my childhood in a bullet-riddled Airstream trailer in South Carolina. 💘

[@sartainja]

What about wanting to pull a cork and break out the bug juice?

[@n.d.w8504]

I learned it in open G. It's a whole lot more tricky but it works

[@lucasw3490]

Thank you for the great lessons Clifton. Will the tabs be available on your patreon?

[@JacobvsRex]

I hear you mention George on several of your videos. Forgive my ignorance, which George are we talking about? Love your videos.

[@themartialartsmermaid]

I love this so much!

[@bdavis8utube]

This may be the last great link between the history of the banjo and the future of the banjo. No pressure 😉

[@Timshels]

Very well done! Thanks.

[@DRNEGOLICIS]

Not sure why I have so much trouble with this....

[@simonolsen9995]

Hi Clifton. Good to see you looking well. Great video! Yes. I too only know a generic version and will happily put in the hours to reprogram the grey matter for this far superior version. Thanks to you (and George) for so kindly sharing. I politely disagree about the lyrics being "filler". I reckon its message is a simple and grim reminder of what happens to hens (and by implication - us} when we become unproductive. That hen is heading for the pot! And any doubt is removed by the murder ballad tuning, eh? Also, did I miss a video? I can't recall you showcasing that banjo. Its nice. Flush fret, yes? Thanks again.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Thanks, Simon. Here's the "showcase" video from a while back: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmfKhn6saNWIoMk

[@slowerpicker]

Simon Olsen my wife, bird lover and vegetarian, sings the lyric this way “My old hen she cackles a lot / next time she cackled another biddy I got”

[@DustyWhytis]

Doug, your wife might enjoy the lyrics I use! I'm with Simon on what the lyrics are about but I didn't want to sing them myself: My old hen's a good old hen She lays eggs in an old dust bin Cluck ol' hen, cluck and sit Sit them eggs and hatch some chicks Cluck ol' hen, cluck and squall Ain't laid an egg since way last fall Cluck ol' hen, cluck and sing Stepped outside first time last spring My old hen's only got one leg Best damn hen ever laid an egg Spent her life in a wire cage Now she's hopping all over the place Cluck ol' hen, cluck and squall Ain't laid an egg since way last fall Cluck ol' hen, cluck and sing Stepped outside first time last spring

[@DustyWhytis]

Two more verses: My old hen, she cackles in the morn Cackles and caws for scratching corn Cluck ol' hen, cluck and scratch Dig them bugs in the garden patch Cluck ol' hen, as you please Bathe in the dust by the old pine tree Life was hard in the factory Now she lives a life of ease

[@jacobwright4653]

Yeah baby!

[@donaldroberts7055]

cool

[@deanwatt]

Do you write out tabs for your Patreon? Two finger style tabs seem to be thin on the ground..

[@hellseeker-inc9756]

Stellar! And Awesome! 😃 2 questions? Any chance of u teaching us how to do (soldiers eyes on banjo) the guitar part would be awsome if it was on a banjo, but no one has done it😳 And 2nd question, i always hear people say no upstroke or upward plucking in clawhammer (like doing it will cause the damn apocalypse😱😄) but it makes your music sound Awsome. What is the whole taboo over upward stuff vs Only going down for every note?

[@josh1000f]

Great lesson, but what's with the frets on that thing!?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

I think this banjo was made 1875-1880 when ideas were still pretty fluid around the concept of the banjo fingerboard. As far as I can tell, the staggered frets are a visual aid as well as decoration.

[@guylacroix1745]

Are you using nylong strings?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Yes. I suggest La Bella No. 17 Nylon or Aqula NEW Nylgut.

[@Tjaineez2]

Hey there! Kevin here from Amsterdam. Trying to teach myself clawhammer and love your videos! You mention you turn your Gmodal one down, so FCFAC. I love that sound, but how do you tune it to the Mountain tuning? Is the A tuned to a B? Sounds off like that. Hope you can help, I have no musical theory knowledge. Thanks up front!

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

Kevin, I don't know what you mean by "the mountain tuning."

[@Tjaineez2]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo Thanks for your quick reply. I mean GDGCD

[@colindablankenship5729]

Kevin, I think you mean mountain minor? (Modal) In that case he would be tuning the A to A#. That would be the same as gDGCD just down tuned.

[@Tjaineez2]

Sorry, You actually explain it in this video, you tune it down to FCFCA#C. My bad, all very new and complicated..

[@mondocain]

What a beautiful banjo. Could you tell me a little more about it? The frets are staggered. What would be the advantage of that? The ability to get a fretless sound?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

The frets are wood veneer laid flush in the fingerboard. I think the staggering is a visual aid to show different positions like our modern domino dot fingerboards, just different.

[@jasonokay]

What gauge strings are on that?

[@kennyecheverry5684]

where u get that banjo?>>

[@clawhammer704]

When a hen lays out she turns into fried chicken.

[@zachohearn2555]

Where can I find The close ups?

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

I now edit the close-ups into the lesson videos. Here's the Cluck Old Hen close-up: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZaZeauke9OfhJY

[@JohnnyCornbread]

Howdy there Clifton, do you happen ta have the tab's for this Version yer playin here???

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

I never did tab this one! It's on my short list, though. Whenever I add a tab to an old lesson, an email alert goes out to all the Patreon subscribers: patreon.com/cliftonhicks

[@JohnnyCornbread]

@@CliftonHicksbanjo Thank's Clifton, it's me Johnny here. i got the first half no problem it's the gettin to fretting the 3rd string i fumble some i think i have wateched this video 100 times if not more i find if i have tabs infront of me i learn a bit quicker fer some reason. Thank's so much for all yer lessons you have been a BIG help to me and so many others.