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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner | Page: 1 2   |
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| Clawhammer has me confused | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Wed Apr 14th, 2004 02:33 am |
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1st Post |
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Charlie Approved 
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 I have been trying to get that ( bump diddy ) sound and I just can'tget it in my head, They say to use the hand as you would rapp on a door but that seems to work the wrong direction, Can some one give me a few pointers. I play the Ukulele and trying to learn the 5 string banjo and learn the clawhammer style. Thanks
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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| Posted: Wed Apr 14th, 2004 09:29 am |
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2nd Post |
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Richard Hefner Administrator 
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Hi FF, The clawhammer motion IS backwards when you compare it to the normal motion people are accustomed to when playing since you're coming down and hitting the string with the back of your fingernail. It seems like an odd way to play, but with a little practice it works great and really a simple technique once you get the hang of it. Here's a link to a tutorial I did way back on clawhammer banjo... http://www.ezfolk.com/banjo/Tutorials/The__Bum_Ditty_/the__bum_ditty_.html Since you play the uke you should also check out my clawhammer ukulele tutorial, which I did more recently and is probably better than the clawhammer banjo tutorial (I really need to update that one). Anyway, here's where you can find the clawhammer uke tutorial... http://www.ezfolk.com/uke/Tutorials/Clawhammer/clawhammer.html The clawhammer technique really works well on the uke. You might also want to consider a video on clawhammer banjo so you can see the technique in action. One of the best is by David Holt, who is one of the world's great clawhammer players. Here's a link to his beginner banjo video that teaches clawhammer... http://www.ezfolk.com/shop/info.php?asin=6304939108 Good luck! Let me know how it goes. 
____________________ Richard Hefner MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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| Posted: Thu Apr 29th, 2004 02:58 am |
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3rd Post |
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Clawhammerinfool Approved
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I have only been playin for about 7 months. I fooled around with finger picks for the first two months when I realized that really wasn't the sound that I was looking for. I didn't know anything about other methods of playing and have never played any kind of instrument in my life. Lucky for me, a friend of mine who used to be a professional guitarist told me what he knew about playing clawhammer style. I started buying all the old time music that I could get my hands on and listen to it whenever possible. I found some instructional books on ebay and bought them. Some of which were not very helpful to me in trying to get to that sound. The best book that I found is a Mel Bay book called "Frailing The 5-String Banjo" Written by Eric Muller & Barbara Koehler. You might also find this book at the library. This book helped me more than any other that I tried and I still use it for tabs. If you keep listening to old timey type music and keep that sound in your head and look at some instructional stuff like Richards tutorial or books, it will come to you...and when it does come, it won't go away. I play every day without fail, sometimes for hours on end. I can't get enough of it. Each day now my skill level rises. As soon as you master that simple bum-ditty stroke, you will be on your way. After a short while, it becomes natural and it will fit right in with your tunes without even thinking about it. Sometimes when I am learning a new tune, I struggle with memorizing the various notes but after I get the general idea of which notes to play, I just start my bum-ditty stroke and start peckin away at the notes and then the tune comes along on it's own. My advice is to listen to the most basic old time music that you can find just to get that sound in your head. I would be happy to make you up a compilation of some good stuff to listen to if you like.
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| Posted: Thu Apr 29th, 2004 12:56 pm |
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4th Post |
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Charlie Approved
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Thanks for the advice and help CHF, I do the same on my ukulele and am working on this clawhammer bum-dity stroke on the banjo also and doing better, I bought a book with CD from Native Ground Music and it sure helps, Try their web site at http://www.nativeground.com I sure like this Forum you have here Richard, You have really done a lot for the Banjo and ukulele folks, Keep up the good work you do and I hope the best for your work. Fumble fingers
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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| Posted: Thu Jun 24th, 2004 06:04 am |
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5th Post |
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klebsack Approved 
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I have got to say that the clawhammer technique has saved my ability to play, a few years ago I broke my right hand and now have an index finger that has a stationary curl to it (I cant move the finger) anyway, I started using this technique with my 12 string guitar and it sounded good, then I actually found a book called Grandpa Jones 5 string banjo, having remembered watching him when I was a kid I picked it up, and my grandfathers old banjo out of the closet, and away I went, it was difficult at first to get the thumb in synch but keep practicing! one day, just like high school algebra, it will just click and you will wonder why you ever had a problem.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27th, 2006 11:49 am |
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6th Post |
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matchcovers Approved
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I have been trying to get that ( bump diddy ) sound and I just can't get it in my head, They say to use the hand as you would rapp on a door but that seems to work the wrong direction, Can some one give me a few pointers. I play the Ukulele and trying to learn the 5 string banjo and learn the [highlight= #ffff88]clawhammer style. Thanks ********************************* In the beginning, try holding a credit card in your right hand. Some say that's the ideal "position" for clawhammer. Opinions?
____________________ Bill |
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27th, 2006 12:11 pm |
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7th Post |
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Charlie Approved
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Hey Machcover, Try knocking downward instead of into the instrument, I had to struggle with that also. It just seem wrong to knock into the uke or banjo till I got that worked out Pretend you are holding a credit card and then knock downward. Hope that helps Charlie
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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| Posted: Thu Jul 27th, 2006 08:20 pm |
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8th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator 
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Bill- Check out the videos here: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/5/video.php I did them to aid beginners in seeing the basic stroke. There are also some pictures of making the clawhammer around a business card that I made for someone who was having trouble with the position on the uke (they are here: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/5/photos.php - scroll down past the ego shots. Disclaimer: This is how I do the clawhammer stroke, and there are many other variations. I use my middle finger 90+ % of the time because I like the tone it gives me. Other players prefer the index finger. Disclaimer 2: I have started experimenting with adding more wrist motion towards the banjo head in order to get the "cluck" sound you can sometimes hear in clawhammer tunes. Any more questions, don't hesitate to ask. 
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Fri Jul 28th, 2006 12:38 am |
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9th Post |
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matchcovers Approved
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I'm working with Brad Leftwich's book on Roung Peak styles and have a copy of Krassen's Oak Publication Clawhammer Banjo. What else is out there for the serious round peak student?
____________________ Bill |
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| Posted: Fri Jul 28th, 2006 01:57 am |
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10th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Sounds like you have the majors pretty well covered. I'm not really studying Round Peak, so I'm not familiar with whats available. You might check out some of the threads on Banjo Hang Out - there is a lot of discussion about RP there.
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Mon Jul 31st, 2006 07:21 pm |
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11th Post |
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Michael Fox Approved
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Here is my favorite clawhammer instruction book. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/188320643X/103-5327542-8419048?v=glance&n=283155 Hope it helps Michael
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| Posted: Mon Jul 31st, 2006 07:24 pm |
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12th Post |
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Richard Hefner Administrator
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I disagree completely Michael. I think this one is much better... http://www.ezfolk.com/cgi-bin/ae.pl?asinsearch=188320643X 
____________________ Richard Hefner MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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| Posted: Mon Jul 31st, 2006 09:15 pm |
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13th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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Now, boys!! I don't have this one, but I do have his OT Fiddle book, and think it is great! 
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Tue Aug 1st, 2006 12:58 am |
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14th Post |
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matchcovers Approved
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Wayne is a neighbor here in Asheville. You should meet him.
____________________ Bill |
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| Posted: Tue Aug 1st, 2006 01:08 am |
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15th Post |
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Charlie Approved
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Great banjo player, I have 3 of his CD's and do have the book of his on Clawhammer banjo, It helped alot and love to listen to his playing Richard I don't know if I have one like yours or the one Michael is showing, Charlie
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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| Posted: Tue Aug 1st, 2006 01:23 am |
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16th Post |
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Richard Hefner Administrator
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Charlie... it's the same book... I just used the ezFolk link instead of the direct link to Amazon (it helps pay the bills). Back about 30 (or maybe more) years ago Wayne taught clawhammer banjo at our local community college in Hickory NC before he moved to the Asheville area. I'm not positive but I think Michael might have taken his class there. When I took lessons from Michael in the mid '70s we used that book part of the time (I think it was new then). It's still a good 'un. Not overly complicated, just the way I like it.
____________________ Richard Hefner MP3 Page: http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/richardhefner Running Blog: http://old-runner.com |
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| Posted: Tue Aug 1st, 2006 01:53 am |
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17th Post |
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Charlie Approved
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YEAH, I knew that, just adding to the humor Charlie 
____________________ Yesterdays Tomorrow is Today http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/charlesculbertson |
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| Posted: Tue Aug 1st, 2006 12:10 pm |
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18th Post |
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matchcovers Approved
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The story Wayne tells is that he and his publisher had a dissagreement and he went somewhere else to publish this book. By his own admission, his current classes and the book are for the absolute beginner and that's all he now takes in his private classes (beginners). As a student in college, I played 40 years ago and gave it up to raise a family and do other things. When I picked the banjo up again (summer of 06), he wouldn't take me as a student, at first, since I wasn't a rank beginner. I finally convinced him to let me in a class (Nov 06) and it resparked my interest and memories of what I had done in the late 1960s. At any rate, I've been at it for eight months and worked the Brad Book, having listened to his CD the recommended 500 times before opening the book to page one. (LOL) Ask me who gave me my first "lesson" on the banjo?
____________________ Bill |
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| Posted: Tue Aug 1st, 2006 06:23 pm |
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19th Post |
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banjo brad Super Moderator
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I'll bite, who?
____________________ ezFolk Help Brad Prickly Pear Music Banjo Brad's ezFolk page TOTMC |
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| Posted: Wed Aug 2nd, 2006 02:16 pm |
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20th Post |
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matchcovers Approved
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You're a good fellow! Here is a brief: In 1965, I was a student reporter and photo editor for the U/Miami (Fla) magazine and newspaper. I covered the (Red Scare) Pete Seeger concert at the auditorium that year. Limited press covered the event and when the other photographer's camera wouldn't work, Pete invited me into his dressing room for a few photos. I admired his long neck and he immediately put it around my shoulders, told me to press the second fret first string and strum. Was that a lesson? Who can say! But it was an inspiration. I strumed a couple of notes and within a week, I had ordered a Vega-Pete Seeger model long neck through my uncle's music store., where I was teaching guitar (we got $13.00 for four 1/2 hour lessons and had to give half of that to the store). Pete, Yoshi and I went to diner that night (another kinda' wild story) and I got my exclusive for my college magazine. Pete was warned that his life might be in danger if he performed that night, and after the second song, he took off his overshirt, exposing a bright red sweater. The audience went wild. He fought them even with his clothing.
____________________ Bill |
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