Learn the Galax Lick in 4 Steps | Blueprints of Clawhammer Banjo

The Galax Lick is a wonderful tool that should be in any player's kit. In this video, I break down the technique into 4 easy steps for any clawhammer banjo player.
If you'd like to have access to all of my material, including tablature, please join me over at: / tomcollins

[@jethrobodine4638]

Tom, is this the lick used by Clarence Ashley on the Cuckoo? i love the sound of that lick he does. is A the only key this can be done in? sorry new to clawhammer and trying to figure it all out.

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

Good ears! It's very close to Ashley's lick. Ashley uses all four strings though, and turns the triplet into a sixteenth note arpeggio. The same basic technique is used. You might look at my "Taxonomy of the Galaxy Lick" video for more detail: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmSso2CXjrCDjK8. I'm planning on teaching the full Clarence Ashley Cuckoo in the next few months for my Patreon campaign if you're interested!

[@sanderhasselberg1781]

Hey Tom! Thanks for a nice video! Was wondering what drumskin you have on your ome? Have the same model and love it, but yours looks better with that drumskin 😊 Greeting from Norway!

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

Hi Sander! That's a Jeff Menzies natural goat skin head supplied and mounted by John Balch. Highly recommended! www.hidebanjoheads.com

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

One word of caution: if you decide to get one of these heads, go very slow and evenly when putting it on your Ome. The Ome tolerances are so tight, there is very little play in between fretboard and head flesh hoop. I ended up slightly chipping my fretboard on my Tupelo when putting the head on. My Omega was fine. Just go very slow, and take care!!

[@sanderhasselberg1781]

Thank you for the information and the tips, much appreciated 😊 gonna be careful, the ome is my third child 😅

[@JoelK]

What's the tasty amp in the background?

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

You got good eyes, Joel!! That's one of my favorite instruments I've ever owned...a Benson Monarch Reverb. I've been playing electric banjo through it, and you'll be seeing (and hearing!) it more and more on the channel soon! Thanks for watching!

[@JoelK]

@@TomCollinsBanjo Thought it might be a Benson. Well picked mate!

[@luc-ytperron5642]

Thanks Tom for this introduction. I still play my banjo and I even travelled to Galax last June. I was there just in time for the last evening of the very last year of the HoustonFest bluegrass music festival. So bad my Galax’s lick was not yet integrated to my skills.

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

So great to hear from you, Luc! It takes a lot of time for that Galax Lick to be integrated. Hopefully seeing it in Ducks on the Millpond on BQ will show you how to fit it in in practice.

[@jackhanley126]

Awesome lesson brother! I have a lot of clawhammer catch up to do. My bluegrass banjo has been getting too much love

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

Keep clawing, my friend. It is the way.

[@pabloortega5149]

Love your videos. In the beginning with the tuning, is that an E or an F#?

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

Thank you, Pablo! The tuning is double D tuning: aDADE. It's double C tuned up a whole step. Best of luck! Tom

[@lecameleo]

Thanks ! Finally got the galax lick in my hand !

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

Awesome, Leo! Now put it everywhere!

[@HannahRenner-nv5of]

Love this! Thx

[@TomCollinsBanjo]

My pleasure, Hannah! Hope it helps.