The Golden Rule of Clawhammer Banjo | Banjo Quest 44 by Tom Collins

Here's my take on a two part rule of basic clawhammer banjo mechanics. If you can keep this golden rule in mind as you explore the instrument, you can avoid the many pitfalls I've observed throughout the years from players both new and experienced.
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[@deltafour1212]

What a godsend! "I think of the banjo more as a drum than I do as a stringed instrument" That was my AHA! moment. All the planets and stars aligned for me. I finally understood and got the technique, down. That alone gets a Like/Subscribe/Bell THANK YOU!

[@kc8tby]

What a great video Tom! I am a 69 year old guy who has (finally!) decided to learn clawhammer banjo, something I wanted to do for years! I so enjoy your teaching method! Thanks!

[@douglasbaker9589]

I started 10 yrs ago, got distracted (work, building a house etc) and finally re-started, same teacher. I find learning is harder 10 yrs on (I'm 70 now). But the brain exercise, at our age, is worth it.

[@harvdog5669]

Howdy ,, So how are the banjo lessons coming along after 2 yrs.. just wondering, I am 61 and just starting..

[@seancoxe3577]

This is easily the best and most helpful video for clawhammer I've ever encountered on YT. I've been playing over 20 years, Tom, but these tips improved my timing, speed, and intonation almost immediately. Thanks so much.

[@FretlessFury]

Sean, thank you so very much for this wonderful comment!! Players like you are the reason I do this. Cheers!

[@jstanthrbrkinthwall7561]

Thank you for this. I have just started this clawhammer journey and I think now I had already developed some lazy habits. This has made me aware of those habits and given me a lot to work on mechanically. Much appreciated!

[@darylcrisp1863]

Tom, thank you so much for this, cleared up some things I've definitely been wasting motion on. You make things easy to understand, and be able to employ and work on.

[@FretlessFury]

Glad it helped, Daryl! Best of luck on the banjo.

[@folkmusicofwhiskeycreek3307]

Many folks start with frailing books (brushing all bottom strings every brush stroke)this makes it harder to change to clawhammer. This video should really help many pickers thanks for all your hard work!

[@rogerbeaird5742]

Great tips and lesson it truly makes A different just doing it without over thinking it

[@StevePlaysBanjo]

Elegant explanation. Your approach treats the brush stroke as a secondary technique. Whereas other teachers emphasize the strum. I like how your approach pivots how I think about right hand technique. Something for me to me ponder. Thanks for sharing!

[@FretlessFury]

Thank you, Steve!

[@banjodon9851]

Thanks Tom, I have been working on clawhammer style for a while and having trouble getting the right attack on the 5th string; this video helped a lot!! Keep up the good work!

[@FretlessFury]

So glad it helped, banjodon. Keep at it!

[@loriherrmann3181]

I’m just beginning and this cleared up a lot! Thank you!

[@jean-charlesmeunier6529]

Wonderful! Another step forward ❤️

[@futuredirected]

I’ve been playing clawhammer banjo for nearly fifty years. When I’m playing my best, it doesn’t look like I’m doing anything. The movements are very subtle. Exaggerating the movements, as You do, to demonstrate and learn the technique is very useful. Good work! With a lot of practice, the subtle flow of Banjo Dao can be achieved.

[@FretlessFury]

Hey Samantha, thanks for the comment!

[@futuredirected]

Tom Collins My pleasure, Tom!

[@josephmahon5032]

I totally agree with this presentation. The right hand motion should always put your hand in position to play the next note. I also like that Tom puts the banjo between his legs, and not on his knee. And, what a gorgeous instrument!

[@FretlessFury]

Thanks, Joseph!

[@Oaklahomerun]

patiently and precisely !

[@chrisforbes]

I Just got my first banjo 3 days ago, after 34 years of playing guitar. This is a huge help, because the right hand feels very counterintuitive to me!

[@FretlessFury]

You're not alone in clawhammer feeling counterintuitive, Chris! Think of it as knocking on a door and you'll have a good mechanical model to visualize. Best, Tom

[@nicpennsylvania]

I was just speaking with a new student about this last night, so this is especially timely. I've heard the cocked thumb as being akin to the resting fingers used in up-picking styles - giving the player a point of reference.

[@FretlessFury]

Thanks for the comment, Nic!

[@Saintlawrence100]

Most informative c hammer vid on KZbin…thanks for this 💯👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@FretlessFury]

Thanks for saying so, Gregory! Sweet bike in your avatar. Ride on! Tom

[@Cooliofamily]

Again, I cant Express how indispensable these videos are. This channel is a case of Tom saying "I'm going to create content that I would have liked to learn from" and it shows. So well put together and easy to follow. Thanks so much.

[@budahbaba7856]

I've been waiting thirty years for some one to explain this! Anytime i ever asked some one to show me how to do that, all i got was "Show? What's there to show? Either you pick up the damn banjo and do it or your never going to know how to play!" :)

[@FretlessFury]

Hahah! Thanks for the comment! Yes, I had the same problem for years until I figured this out. Could have saved me a lot of time! Cheers! Tom

[@Outland9000]

Thats a gorgeous banjo!

[@dannydavenport1767]

Unbelievable banjo too.

[@zaccrogers]

Very clear and to the point great video.

[@FretlessFury]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@joshwilkesbooth]

This is super helpful.

[@MsDicav]

Great video, Thank you

[@neilxify]

That clarified things for me. I was trying to leave my thumb on the fifth when a note wasn’t sounding. I’ll try it with the golden rule.

[@FretlessFury]

Let me know how it goes, Neil!

[@mikeclarke9281]

Great lesson Tom, thanks

[@FretlessFury]

My pleasure!

[@writerrad]

Wow wow wow wow wow going to lead . The power of clawhammer comes from connecting the thumb and thus making the whole thing a Stroke. I amgoing to watch this and practice with this every morning until I can recite this in french english and german!

[@FretlessFury]

Ha! Mr. Tony Thomas, thank you so much for your comment!

[@banakula]

Thanks Tom!

[@PLINKER]

Thank you!

[@guloguloguy]

THANK YOU!!!! FOR THIS AWESOME LESSON!!

[@FretlessFury]

You're very welcome!

[@Popcorn_Kernel]

i knew this rule when i was learning the clawhammer form of banjo it only took a day to learn

[@stewartlwhincup7080]

Great lesson thanks .

[@FretlessFury]

You're welcome!

[@tyronewilson364]

thank you for such good advice ty

[@FretlessFury]

You're welcome, Ty! Thanks for watching.

[@mikeelmo8532]

Totally subjective, of course, but I think planted thumb affects tone in a major way. When you plant, it deadens the string and stops the sustained ringing. To me that's a big part of the rhythmic contribution of thumbing the 5th string. Creates a bit of a percussive element that gives the drone string a bit more depth, especially at speed, in terms of what in contributes to the OT banjo sound. I think Allison DeGroot is a great example of this. When you listen to her play, it sounds like there's a percussion accompaniment playing along. Whether or not you want that is definitely a personal choice, but I think it's an important aspect of the planted technique that I never see discussed.

[@FretlessFury]

I love this comment, Mike, and I think you're right on target! I loft my thumb all the time to get 5th string sustain. What I've noticed over decades of teaching is that lofting the thumb is very easy to learn after good thumb habits have been formed. Then the player can turn off and turn on that thumb/5th string connection at will. On the other hand, if a player has not learned how to connect to the 5th string with every downstroke, they have a very, very hard time not lofting. This is why I think of the thumb/5th connection as vital in the beginning, and as the player becomes more fluent they can begin to detach the thumb as needed. I see this golden rule as a ladder to great foundational technique....a ladder that can eventually be kicked away. Thanks for the great insight! Tom

[@danmoth5126]

I originally taught myself to play clawhammer without a teacher. It was very soon into this process I realised these 2 truths. It's the natural way for clawhammer to work.

[@jamesrusso2523]

Stringbean and grandpa Jones pull their hand out like you said.I never heard of this ,Interesting .

[@nancydevlin65]

I did it! Yay! Thanks so much, Tom! I'm actually learning the guitar at the moment, but my man just got a banjo, true blue beginners on that one so, and I just managed to grasp the mechanics of this..... now to build up muscle memory, and then speed.....

[@FretlessFury]

Nice, Nancy! Put down that dang guitar, and join us in the banjo world! We need you!!

[@nancydevlin65]

hehehe, no, the banjo is Paul's dream, although I do like it, and I'll probably do a bit on it, but I'm a guitar girl. we'll combine the two..

[@jeverhart99]

that is a beautiful banjo

[@FretlessFury]

Why thank you, Jeannine!

[@lastnickeldrifter]

Its incredibly loud! 🎅

[@DavidLeeKing]

Thanks for the video! That clawhammer thing is really difficult. I play guitar (and drums), and clawhammer is pretty foreign to me. Watching this explanation certainly helps!

[@FretlessFury]

Great, David! Slow things down, and get them right. You can totally do this if you work at it!

[@celticbassman6890]

Briiiant advice. What make and Model is that banjo?

[@markjeffords4041]

When striking all strings with my middle finger on my right hand, is it also a straight down movement for strings 2,3,4 ? Just now learning to play in Colorado.

[@charliefox6456]

Hi Tom, I’m just beginning to learn clawhammer. I’m glad I found your videos. It will take me longer to learn your way but I know I’ll be better in the long run. I notice most people don’t progress past the bum ditty using the brush stoke every time.

[@hawhee]

I like how your gold wedding ring accents the gold hardware on your beautiful banjo, all while you are expertly explaining the golden rule of clawhammer playing. Does your Patreon page have a lesson structure that guides the student in a logical fashion through some sort of curriculum? I’m shopping around for an online banjo learning system.

[@FretlessFury]

Hey Ethan! Thanks so much for your kind comments. Banjo Quest works in cycles: I teach a tune phrase by phrase form a historic recording, I then teach variations and how to begin to make the tune your own by offering alternative arrangements. In between these cycles, I work on fundamentals. We're just about to start a new tune, so now is a good time to jump in! Aside from that, we'll be doing banjo Boot Camp 2 in the spring, and I'm also going to be doing Banjo Blitz Season 2 later this year. This will be for patrons only (unlike the first Banjo Blitz series). Plus, you can pull from the BQ Patreon community, which is vibrant, responsive and very smart! I hope you join us!

[@timothylocklear9885]

As far as the right hand goes, it’s a very natural movement. that’s the way I taught myself

[@eldermikat]

I like your videos. Clear and fun lessons. Plus, you just seem like a totally nice guy. 😇 Not trying to be weird or anything. Just sayin.

[@FretlessFury]

Hahahaha! Thanks for the nice words, Ian!

[@Winston_Smith_84]

If everyone knew how to play banjo the world would be a better place. ✌️✌️✌️

[@FretlessFury]

I agree!

[@bomacbaseball7666]

My kids are taking mountain music classes now. Somebody has to keep it going! :)

[@rogerbeaird5742]

Biden can't play I'm Shure ..smiles😂😭🤣😭😭😂😭😭😭🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@douglasbaker9589]

@@rogerbeaird5742 Maybe, but he'd at least listen. Can't say that for his predecessor.

[@maxwellfan55]

I see a lot of clawhammer players on Y/Tube NOT connecting the thumb and string on the first stroke, but only on the second just before plucking the 5th string, thus making it difficult to know what to believe. Why is it considered necessary to connect thumb and string on both downstrokes?

[@FretlessFury]

Hey maxwelfann55, I teach people to connect with the thumb on both downstrokes because it creates a beautiful consistency while prepping you for either sounding or not sounding with the thumb on any possible upstroke. If you connect that thumb every time, you're ready for every possible thumb stroke! Hope this helps.

[@PLINKER]

Do you use your first finger or your middle to strike the strings?

[@FretlessFury]

I'm a middle finger player, but you should use whichever feels most natural. There are no inherent advantages either way!

[@finneire2081]

Thank you this was a fantastic lesson Very much appreciated 👍 Greetings from the Emerald isle

[@FretlessFury]

Glad you enjoyed it, Finn! Thanks for the comment. Cheers from New England!

[@dianeoberle1564]

I can't seem to get the claw hammer it's really frustrating

[@FretlessFury]

Hi Diane. You're not alone in that feeling! Many folks struggle to get the basics because it can be counterintuitive. It's totally doable though, so keep trying! If you want help, you might consider joining Banjo Quest: www.patreon.com/tomcollins . Good luck!

[@rongplanet]

I get the message, but visually it’s not 100% clear that the thumb action always matches the instruction. At 8:55, it looks like the the thumb - at least partly - is resting on the side of the neck.when the 5th is not sounded. And at about 9:30, when the thumb is at rest, It looks like the edge of the white neck binding can be seen underneath part of the thumb? Do I need new eyeglasses - or maybe I don’t get the message?

[@FretlessFury]

Hey David....I'm not seeing what you're seeing. Thumb contacts the 5th with every downstroke. Thumb leaves the 5th with every upstroke. A convenient way to summarize the lesson is that "the thumb always goes with the hand". Good luck, and thanks for the comment!

[@Rothman93]

Your banjo is beautiful, where did you get it? Is it a custom? No maker name on the headstock

[@FretlessFury]

Hey, thanks! It's an Ome Omega with Glenn Carson inlays. A real beauty!!

[@steveallerton9124]

I've seen at least one "authority" let their thumb ride on the fifth string during downstrokes. That's been a source of confusion. I'm with you, thanks.

[@FretlessFury]

Yeah Steve, I've seen folks do that too. In my world, that's a big no-no...but everyone is a little different, and that's just fine.

[@hikrose]

What is the banjo?

[@dmc949]

Hi can i ask when you do the brush stroke, do you open and close the fingers or slightly rotate the wrist towards you?. I can do the first beat and the thumb ok with the up down movement but get thrown out with the brush stroke. Thanks in advance. Dave.

[@FretlessFury]

Hi Dave, The brush stroke requires lateral movement across the strings, so I angle the axis of attack more towards the floor so I can "skip" over the strings. You'll want to avoid opening and closing the hand, as this adds extraneous motion to your stroke. I've done other videos on my channel dealing with the brush stroke, so you might want to search for those. Best of luck, and thanks for watching! Tom

[@dmc949]

@@FretlessFury Hi Tom many thanks for your reply. I will take a good luck at your videos. Regards. Dave.

[@FretlessFury]

@@dmc949 Sounds good! Let me know how you fare, Dave!

[@big_dave_7178]

Me trying to separate my thumb from the rest of my hand...🤯

[@11bravo79]

So what about the strum? You have to have lateral movement.

[@FretlessFury]

Great point! I think of the strum as a technique to tackle once the raw fundamentals of clawhammer are in place. It does require lateral movement, and because of this it very different from the basic percussive mechanics of clawhammer. When you add a strum, you add a compound motion which is why I think of it as a separate skillset. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@fionnmcnessa]

Why do most teachers yeah a strike brush thumb I have been doing it that way for a year or more now strike brush thumb

[@asahoura2798]

Every coin has a head and a tail; It takes multiple coins to have heads and tails.

[@FretlessFury]

And every video has at least one pedant in the comment section.

[@fredflintstone5208]

The coin has a third side, the edge...

[@taylorborie]

Dollar store Paul Rudd

[@FretlessFury]

Paul Rudd is the Dollar Store Tom Collins