How-To Clawhammer Banjo, Day Two

[@clintwelborn2389]

From a person who has been a guitar player for 33 years, your teaching technique is the best pathway to learning the clawhammer banjo i’ve come across. Thanks and keep it up.

[@RebeccAcoustic]

Super down to earth, approachable instruction. Thank you!!

[@angeladiffley6876]

Hello there Steve, my husband wanted to say, that your teaching style is great and he has learnt more from you, than others, thank you , Tom from Ireland !!

[@sachawilliams7731]

I got my banjo about a week ago. I had to work quite a bit, so I didn't have much time to play. I've been trying to learn some of my favorite songs, and I was getting really frustrated. This has helped me so much. Thank you sir

[@JohnBearWoodworks]

Man I've been trying to learn for years. Your videos are so simple and straight forward. I wish I would've found you sooner! I'm going to give you a shout out on my next video! Thank you!

[@draketerwilliger770]

I've never thought about picking up an instrument, one day a random thought popped into my head to buy a banjo, so I did and got frustrated but I came across these holy grail of a series and now like I'm looking forward to playing more. Thankyou for existing I hope you're doing good

[@philliphill3390]

I've seen other claw hammer videos. Thank you for your reverse approach to this. It made more sense to me and now will be easier for me to learn.

[@xd451e1edcc8]

Amazing -- after three years off and on attempts to get the frailing technique, in one evening success after watching and playing along with your day 1 and 2 videos. Thank you, thank-you!!

[@EvanaHimself1980]

Super helpful stuff. Your series is the easiest to follow I've come across. Thank you and keep it up.

[@stanbolger9262]

Excellent teacher. Thank u

[@dougwilson1927]

Thanks brother...excellent teaching videos. Wish there were more like you out there.

[@ianpitts9210]

Thanks Steve. Your teaching is clear & relaxed, and very helpful. Really appreciate your generosity.

[@jordanwalker6112]

Keep doing what you are doing I just bought a banjo I’ve tried following along with quite a few teachers now your approach is by far the easiest to understand and you break everything down wonderfully thank you!

[@patogden856]

Completely astonishing and inspiring . Thanks Steve 70yrs just started cheers Pat nz

[@anonymus5966]

these videos are great! I've been thinking of buying a banjo but was afraid that it would be too difficult to learn the basics. You took away that fear, I think I'll get a banjo with my next paycheck. Thanks a bunch!

[@joesr.661]

These videos are good brother. So thankful for your teaching. And you have them all on a how to playlist! Wow wish I could download em into a usb drive some how

[@tastefullyvegan739]

These videos are amazing! I can't tell you how much they have helped me progress. Thank you :)

[@fly1327]

I play mostly baritone uke, but really miss the reentrant string (your 5th string) to drive a song. Really good job explaining this!

[@teevee92]

Growing the one nail out = the day banjo became serious for me :P. Huge help though

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be too long. Just a few days can do it. I keep forgetting to trim it down 😂

[@twistedlimb4053]

If Bob Ross played banjo....

[@drsimmons74]

Wow! Exactly! "Now pluck those happy little strings" lol. His teaching technique is perfect and not overwhelming at all. You nailed the comparison

[@don4279]

Another great one Steve!

[@johnnybx3254]

Wonderful progression! Thanks!

[@robertcamblin3587]

This was awesome, one question I have was if you hit each cord other than the 5th with your middle finger?

[@woodmum]

Thanx Steve...

[@halwalkermusic]

“Just do that a thousand times...”

[@halwalkermusic]

Actually... “10,000 times, they say” :)

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Hah! You beat me to my joke. I didn’t wanna scare folks away by saying “10,000.” They also say you got 10,000 bad songs in you and you gotta play ‘em out! 😉

[@yunus1973]

How do u make the frailing sound like that?? 11:12 ... Is that just a whole lot of practice or do u add something to the basic method? Love ur stuff btw :)

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

At that point, I’ve built up to what I’m calling the basic frailing strum. I’m alternating my strikes on the third and fourth string. What might make it sound different is the intensity of how much I strum or strike the string. And I think it’s true that it’s a matter of practice. My teacher once told me that it would take a month of practice to get a handle on that technique - a little something you can practice daily while watching tv or something. 😊

[@kydragon42]

I started practicing a similar technique by shorting the time between the fifth string thumb strike and the next single string strike. I have found I can continue with that for five to ten minutes un-interrupted.

[@RevJoeyBonzo]

Really great lessons! But damn I'm frustrated. seems like my thumb just doesn't work like that..

[@TomKarches]

I'm stuck in the same spot

[@pekwalker]

For the life of me, I can not get the Bum Ditty Strum. I can do just part of it but not all 3 together. What might I be doing wrong?

[@banjobobby1]

Have a look at Lemonade Banjo Clawhammer Lesson 1. It's very good.

[@coltnoah4779]

Your badass man thanks

[@michaelreali3454]

great video. Now, I have a reason to grow a fingernail. I'm sure there are other reasons, but this one seems best.

[@josiahtimothy3655]

THANK YOU SO MUCH DUDE

[@jamesstewart8498]

Nice job. But while you were playing it looks like someone ransacked your house

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Hah! I just realized that I left all the TV trays left on the couch from vacuuming. Banjo always gettin in the way of finishing my chores. 😄

[@kydragon42]

Lol!

[@gapstables649]

Steve Harrison who cares lol. Why do people have to be like that?

[@kydragon42]

I always enjoy your honest thoughts on playing and the “real life” setting when your playing in! I even noticed the change over the years!

[@ianfraser3787]

Can you use a finger pick on index

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Sure! It would play quite a bit louder than using your nail. Some folks put on those fake nails. If you’re having trouble getting your nail to grow strong, you can try filing it a bit every day so the edges don’t crack.

[@ianfraser3787]

Steve Harrison thanks steve

[@collinsbruer740]

What is the advantage to the type of neck on your banjo?

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Collins Bruer if you mean that scoop down the neck, it’s meant to give you room to strike the strings over the neck to give it a more wooden tone. It’s fun to try on occasion, but I usually play over the head. Oddly enough, the thing I like most about the Pisgah neck is that it’s a tad bit wider. That makes it easier when playing drop thumb.

[@collinsbruer740]

Steve Harrison ok. I just got a Goodtime banjo a couple days ago. Decided to learn the banjo. Having big fun. Your teaching is helping a lot. Working on the 1000's. I am intending to learn both clawhammer and 3 finger style. I will mostly be playing with the church worship groups. I can see advantages to both. Thanks again for the help

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Collins Bruer that’s great! Congrats on the new Banjo. Playing with a group is the best way to get comfortable. 😊

[@bakbolom]

Hey Steve, great series of tutes! I was wondering what kind of Banjo you were using, and this confirms that it's a Pisgah. Which model is it? Rambler Dobson or Special?

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Kevin Groark Rambler Dobson. It’s been good to me.

[@LJPV777]

Hey Steve, just bought a banjo and these lessons are really helping out with the beginning. Silly question maybe, but do you think striking with the index instead of the middle would hurt drop thumb progress because it's a tighter gap?