Drop-Thumb Exercises, Clawhammer Banjo

[@MeSRussell]

As a self-taught beginner-ish banjo player, I've been strumming away with my basic frailing and wishing I could make the beautiful sound I hear other clawhammer players making by mixing in drop-thumb. This is so helpful! It's such a beautiful instrument and playing style and I'm so excited to be progressing on it with the help of people like you who so generously make these free tutorials.

[@dariolombardo5235]

Steve, you are the BEST Clawhammer Banjo teacher ever, period. Awesome.

[@AikiSys]

Greeting from Dublin Ireland Steve - great lesson. Thanks for sharing. Really useful and brilliantly explained. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🙏🏿

[@helenkinsey2868]

That lesson has solved all my problems about how you get the banjo sound I like! No one else I have found has been so simply clear! Thank you so much. You have made my day!

[@hammockhobie8958]

It's been a few years now that I keep coming back to you, thanks.

[@danielwinter3638]

Thank u for your videos Steve...you hav helped me immensely with my clawhammer playing...ive watched many tutorials...but your style of teaching seems to really to make sense...thank u...from South Australia

[@davidappleton4628]

You are a natural teacher Steve, especially with your relaxed style. Thanks.

[@renenelson1059]

You Opened My Eyes To Clawhammer - Steve I’ve taken a few clawhammer lessons in my younger years and learned the basic rhythm. Then I switched to guitar and formed a band and sang lead vocal. Our band was together for 12 years. It was 43 years before I went back to the banjo. It took me 2 years to get my clawhammer rhythm back up to speed. Then I found your videos on drop thumb. It was just what I needed. Your effort on that video has given me a whole new musical life. I’ve always loved the banjo....now it is a wide open road for me thanks to you and your videos.

[@donaldgoeltz4062]

I finally got the basic rhythm down by listening and then making my banjo sound like that. AHA! Now I am working on the drop thumb and the mix - listen to the music. Thank you - it may take all summer, but you made my summer.

[@adamahs4008]

Hey buddy! Im a upright bassplayer who decided half a year ago that i should try the banjo. Fell in love instantly with the clawhammer style of it. Your chanel has helped so much you wouldnt belive. Keep it going

[@CormacDG]

10:22 you are playing a song called blackberry blossom ❤Irish fiddle tune originally but often covered by bluegrass artists, famously Tony Rice & Norman Blake

[@slowbox]

You are fantastic at breaking this down... this is exactly what I've been needing to see demonstrated and explained. Thanks!

[@timbeaty854]

Thank you! Best drop thumb tutorial I've BEEN ABLE TO USE. Nicely done and methodical. Takes time and I have what it takes to practice from this lesson.

[@norlybone]

I find your instruction very helpful. I've been playing banjo for 59 years ( Dixie band accompaniment) , but I am just getting back to basics. Initially I was taught in the "classic style" plucking individual strings but now approaching "clawhammer" my fingers have their own memory which is slowing me down ( a lot ) I hope to persevere !!!

[@michaellorah9051]

Alan Birkinhead I'm having the same problem but for a different reason. I'm going from N. Mississippi Hill Country rhythm blues to Clawhammer banjo. It's like trying to go from slide whistle to trombone, both my instruments have strings, but are played in two vastly different ways.

[@michaelwoolums-music6650]

Thanks Steve. This a really good video. I play and sing a lot of standard clawhammer, but never got into drop thumb. You break this stuff down to make it most simplistic. I feel like I’m learning banjo for the first time all over again with practicing drop thumb. 😂👍

[@BobGemmell]

Wow - thank you for this! It’s exactly what I needed.

[@vanniegrace]

You are the BEST Teacher !!! Please keep at it. Thank You !

[@davidmuir6849]

Hi Steve Great instruction on all aspects of playing the banjo . I recently acquired the 5 string banjo that Billy Connolly played and I am learning from all your videos Many thanks Dave from st Andrews in Scotland

[@rpeek]

I'm lovin' that drop thumb..

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Aw man, you made my day with that comment. 😊

[@rpeek]

@@StevePlaysBanjo It's a huge deal when someone gets their head wrapped around the drop thumb. Changes everything. You did a good job 'splain'n it.. Good..

[@markykid8760]

You should link your previous video in the description 🙂

[@markykid8760]

Must be this m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqWqpZ6Dd6t-j5Y

[@Yrksman]

Really good tutorial Steve, makes learning very enjoyable and rewarding. Thank you.

[@timmillikan1155]

Really helpful tips, thank you. 🙏🏻

[@SirJasper99]

Nice one Steve, it really does help.

[@brandyrobertson43]

YOU ROCK DUDE been trying to comprehend drop thumb and you showed me the best way to learn. Appreciate this video so much!

[@goliath257]

Some great tips there dude really appreciate it

[@spiritwoodlive5597]

This is such sweet sounds!!! Excellent instruction!!! I know what I am doing for the next several months!!

[@jilthorp1249]

You are an amazing teacher.

[@davepope3533]

Brilliant lesson. Thanks

[@moodby]

Awesome breakdown, you're an excellent teacher. Thanks!

[@JDanielGraham]

Fantastic video. Very helpful! I’m just learning drop thumb and your breakdown makes total sense. Thanks

[@Neilgal12]

Very useful insights and nicely encouraging at the same time. Thanks!

[@40freck]

Fantastic it works. Also made my basic stroke better.

[@patg8107]

These techniques seem so much less scary when you explain them

[@AngusLiedtke]

This helped me so much thank you

[@TheBanjaxed1]

Great help Steve been struggling with changing between basic strum and drop thumb. You've made it very clear. Thank you. Dublin Ireland

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Thanks! Making these videos helps me practice too!

[@decorman]

Great lessons Steve, thanks

[@TheRev142]

Great video! Thanks!

[@alancharman1001]

Great lesson Steve really helping me.

[@homopoluza]

Interesting. Drop-Thumb without brush reminds me two-finger technique.

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

dodo dodo I think there’s something to that. The two finger technique is similar to the Carter Strum where you might occasionally brush the strings with the fat of your thumb. But, with Clawhammer you strum with the hardened middle finger nail. Different texture for sure.

[@admiralsnaccbarr5514]

i've been looking a whiiiillle for this exact video! awesome!

[@jaggedoldman]

Finally someone who goes slow so we can learn

[@robwilkinson7813]

Thanks for the lesson really helped me

[@56LordshipRoad]

Steve - that's really excellent instruction. I've been working on drop thumb for a while and you've given me a real incentive to struggle on. Rob London, England

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Robert Coyle glad to hear that! Keep on frailing!

[@Razsteroid]

Everything is upside down coming from the guitar. Thumb on the upbeat and picking with the back of the nail, it's like I'm taking crazy pills. Lots of fun though.

[@CharlotteRyerson]

Great help! Thanks Steve!

[@astarael09]

Dude, thanks for the great video

[@robertshears2345]

This is a great video, but do you have one or can you make one where you go into more detail on the 'fusion' of the drop thumb and standard frailing strum? I'd like an exercise or a slower breakdown of that portion of the progression. Thank you so much!

[@jaredwiebe8403]

Very helpful! Thanks a bunch

[@woodmum]

thanx steve!! very well explained!!

[@johannwieghardt5282]

thanks sooooo much, it is a great help for me an I learn a lot

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

johann Wieghardt glad to hear that! Thanks!

[@alfike]

Greatness!

[@BerserkerSlayer042]

very helpful thanks amigo

[@DolittleMccoy]

My biggest problem is that my thumb plucks the 5th string to hard. Whether I do it fast or slow it's almost as if my thumb is hooking onto the string and plucking it hard. Everyone elses thumb seems to glide off of the 5th string without tension. Mine is more like "Brush - BOING"

[@jasonw4053]

You're probably making a "plucking" motion with your thumb unconsciously. You don't actually pluck the string, but just lift your thumb off the strut as your hand picks up to start the next hit.

[@bendavis9253]

This guy is rad

[@Michael-yt1jp]

Hey Steve, great video. I tend to noticed the fingers in my "claw hand" tend to splay out when attempting speed. I never see any gapes between your frail fingers during your videos. Is there a trick to develop this ?

[@tomnelson3362]

Steve, what type of picks are you using? Good lesson, I've just started the clawhammer style. thank you

[@donulin2410]

He's not using picks at all. Typically clawhammer players just use the nail on one finger. Some people will put on a bluegrass fingerpick backward but I need the direct contact of nail to string.

[@raywilliamson9396]

Steve I am buying a Deering Artisan 5 string special open back with the sound ring. I have a question on your opinion of a scooped neck? First I'm not sure I can get use to the look, but that I am trying to be more interested in the sound. I noticed that the banjo you play is scooped, Why?? I really like and enjoy your teaching style.

[@arctichare8185]

scooped is perfect for clawhammer. OF COURSE!!

[@martin701]

Awesome!

[@dariodiniz621]

Hi Steve! How much tension do you use on your thumb.. I mean... when we hit the fifth strings in frailing is almost automatic, no tension, just the weight of our hands.. its the same for drop thumb? Do you relax the thumb in other strings or do you put tension in your thumb to hit the other strings?

[@jasonw4053]

Don't add any tension, the only thing that changes is your thumbs position.

[@stevenkandel5728]

hey my names steve too! haha! XD

[@raywilliamson9396]

I almost forgot, do you have any way to to improve bad finger nails.

[@waynekeiderling6352]

STEVE , JUST CURIOUS WHAT STATE DO U RESIDE IN?p.s. WE JUST DONATED $500. to local boy scout troop from jam donations.thank you for the great coaching.

[@spiritwoodlive5597]

Thank you!!!!!

[@teevee92]

My man!

[@noamhemsky]

Apparently I have a lot of practicing ahead of me :)

[@Letstidytogether]

What kind of banjo is that?

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Pisgah Rambler Dobson. Love that deep tone!

[@bakbolom]

How do you like the slightly wider nut and string spacing? I'm considering a Rambler shorter scale (25.5) and like the idea of the wider nut...

[@kenr8898]

volume up to 95 percent still cant hear you. please speak up

[@ktimco]

get speakers or hearing aids

[@LuckeGabriel]

WHO ELSE GOT BLISTERS ON THEIR THUMBS NOW?

[@dirkbullet]

Wht idiot whatches somthing like this and then thumbs it down ? If u dont like it stop whatching. Good Video .

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Maybe they’re practicing that drop-thumb! *dad joke* 😂