3 MISTAKES Clawhammer Banjo Players Make With The Thumb Pluck
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- čas přidán 3. 06. 2024
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:14 Mistake #1
03:10 Mistake #2
04:17 Mistake #3
New to clawhammer banjo? Watch out for these common thumb pluck mistakes that could hinder your progress! In this video, I dive into the pitfalls many beginners (myself included) face when learning the thumb pluck technique, crucial for mastering the clawhammer style.
But don't worry, I've got you covered with practical tips and close-up demonstrations to get your technique right and keep your rhythm tight.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and drop your requests in the comments for more banjo videos. Let's banish those bad habits and boost your banjo skills together!
Grab my totally free 90-minute beginner banjo course at banjoskills.com/quickstart-guide
Floating thumb vs planted thumb is a personal choice, lots of people float it and it doesn't affect their rhythm at all. I plant myself but it's not required.
Yup, I remember seeing a video from Mike Iverson where he talks about how he mostly uses a floating thumb. I personally lean towards sinking it in on every beat, and I think for beginners it builds a great rhythmic foundation.
Totally subjective, of course, but I think planted vs floating 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.
@@mikeelmo8532 Great point! I tend to think of the 5th string as a percussive element, but I hadn't really considered what makes it that way. Great post and thank you!
Respect the claw!!! Thanks for these tips! I've been playing for about a year, and I think I've already fallen pray to a few of these (probably all). I promise from now on to respect the integrity of the claw.😆🤣😆 Subscribing!
You're welcome! We all fall into bad habits sometimes, but even just being aware of what to watch out for makes them way easier to correct. Best of luck and respect the claw! 🤣
Really valuable information well presented. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
This is the video that I’ve been waiting for since I started 3 months ago. Thank you so much for concentrating on this one subject which seems to be under emphasised elsewhere.
I'm so glad it was helpful!
Brilliant, had to sub , cheers from New Zealand
Thanks so much and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
this is legit a great vid for clawhammer. i wasn't digging in on the fifth string i just learned and thats why the volume wasnt there. thanks for this.
Glad it helped!
Is there a wrong way to play a folk instrument with many variants?
Thank you for these tips. I have just found your channel and subscribed.
I would love to learn "I am the man Thomas". 😊
Thanks so much! I’m always happy to do a Ralph Stanley tune 😁
Thanks. Really useful. Have always struggled to get clawhammer even half right until I saw your vid.
Best Wishes,
Black Jake of Norwich, England.
Hey I'm so glad it helped!
Thank you! I was making all three mistakes, especially the last one. I’m slowly breaking them now…
I’m glad it was helpful! I’ve found just regularly spending a few minutes really helps long term.
Great tips. I hope I’ve caught myself early enough.
Hey I'm glad it was helpful! If you notice these habits in your playing, drilling with a metronome for a few minutes at the top of you practice session will help a ton. And it will make you more aware of those things as you play.
Thank you man ! Great lesson !!
Dude be so awesome if you could do a rocky island cover from Ralph Stanley ! There’s not a good one out there ! Been wanting to learn that for a while
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Rocky Island is a great idea! Really great song. I'll see what I can do
Man I think it all sounds good no matter how you pick it with a thumb or without the thumb when you strap on a banjo it just sounds good 👍
Absolutely! These things are the nit-picky things and you can still sound great without it. These are just some things that I feel like have helped my rhythm and tone.
The problem with digging in is if or when you play nylon strings you will push the above string into the below string and mute the latter. You have to develop both ways. Also ones playing will sound the same without different attack skills. The only thing I caution against is flicking on any string. Also if you roll your thumb out as you end the ditty it sounds the string automatically.
Yeah, eventually you will want to learn to back off, that's a great point. I do think it's easier to learn to back off later than it is to try to establish a more aggressive thumb pluck later.
Its funny you say play the 5th string loud. I can't tell you how many times Ive heard fiddle players complain about too much 5th string. Well, one in particular, but shes a fiddle instructor in Mountain View AR, so many of the fiddle players in the pickin park are or were her students, so I guess thry in turn end up with her sentiment about the 5th string.
This woman is the mother of a fairly accomplished banjo player who works for the GO Opry along with many other things, so I kinda took her yapping to heart.
Interesting! To be fair, I'm thinking more of a non-jam situation I think really sounds good with the loud 5th string. It's good to be able to back off a bit when necessary. But I think it's way easier to learn to play it loud and back off than it is to try to put on the volume later.
@BanjoSkills I agree with you. I'm just stating what this woman had to say and all her minions...lol. I never cared for her much and think it may be a reason for her to yap at people. The family does have credentials like I stated, but it is what it is.
When I heard you say that, my next thought was her voice yapping at banjo players...lol
I've also heard people say to not play the fifth string too loud so I was surprised to hear that.
That was very helpful.Thank you . Off to unlearn a bunch of stuff.
That's great to hear! Good luck unlearning 😂
Could you do a tutorial for Wildflower Perfume by The Dead Tongues? It's a really nice tune but there isn't any kind of tab or tutorial for it anywhere.
First time I've heard that - looks like a fun song to play! I'm working on a few songs at the moment, but I'll see if I can figure this one out.
What's a good banjo to start off with? I'm wanting to learn this so bad I've played the mandolin for years
I really like the deering goodtime, but lots of folks recommend the entry level GoldTones. Check this video - especially the comments because there's some good discussion on entry level banjos czcams.com/video/s7YHC5W0nK4/video.html just ignore all the people roasting me for forgetting to play the fancy banjo 🤣
Now I never had a proper lesson I just picked it up. Never had I ever had these problems or mistakes.
"Dig-in with the THUMB" !!!!! I HAVE to THANK YOU !!!!
Ive been 'clawhammering' a radically 'different' clawhammer style - note-for-note 'melodic', heavily arpeggioed (triplets, etc.). LOTS of bare-naked open string and alternate string pulloffs), highly 'ornamented' CELTIC music (Cape Breton and "Quebecois/Bretonic" style usually played at 100-115 bpm) for well over 50+years (~20 yrs. prior to that on 3 finger, etc.) .... I avoid 'bumpity strum' at all costs and 'substitute' with heavily accented downbeat strokes .... VERY DIFFERENT from the typical 'clawhammer''.
I have to tell you that after watching your video ... a BELL WENT OFF in my brain ...; and, instantly my music RETURNED to more 'clear' , less 'muddy' and with more consistent volume and without distortion .... all because I somehow over the years somehow lessened the ''*digging-in with my thumb*' (used on all FIVE strings !!!). Because of my developed style, I only use the tip of my thumb, due to the quite HIGH BPM speed I normally play. However, THE RETURN TO 'Diggiing in With The Thumb' has indeed changed my 'style and output sound' back to what I WANT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!!!!! Very best regards. :-))
I’m so glad it was helpful for you! Thanks for your kind words
Can you claw hammer with the lowest bridge.. say 1/2,inch ? Can you you sufficiently get your thumb under the fifth string?
I would imagine so, but it would make it tougher for sure. I've tried a few over the years, but I always end up with a higher bridge.
it might should all change with every song and style you do. somtimes the 5th should be silent. and the way you were making the ''plucking motion'' with your thumb is perfect for double shuffle and changing angles can be very important.
For sure, great point. I'm not always sounding the 5th string but I'm planting my thumb there every beat. Some folks do it different, but I find this the easiest way to keep time
What if my big fat thumb does not quite fit under or between the strings?
The string doesn’t have to be totally in the middle of your thumb, whatever purchase you can get should work!
taller bridge make it out of a nice hard wood i use spalted pecan.
I noticed you aren't wearing finger picks in this video. Was that just for the sake of demonstration, or do you not use finger picks? I've been trying to get used to them but am still adjusting.
I don't use them. Since I play primarily clawhammer style, picks aren't used too often - although some players use an artificial nail. Picks are more often seen in fingerpicking styles -- especially bluegrass.
@@BanjoSkills I bought a Deering Good Time II a couple years ago but admittedly have not progressed much in terms of banjo playing. I'm still learning some of the styles. Is clawhammer an approach better suited for old time, folk, perhaps Americana, whereas using fingerpicks is typical for bluegrass?
@@joshua_wherley Yup, exactly! I made a video about this a couple of months ago that might help you czcams.com/video/9_BED8Kjb1I/video.html it goes over the major styles and gives some advice on choosing a good style to start with.
@@BanjoSkillsthanks a bunch, I just watched it and found it helpful! I'm still figuring out how I want to approach the banjo. I mostly play guitar and mandolin but figured once I feel good about where I am there, I want to devote more time to the banjo. Old time and bluegrass are the two styles I like best.
Can you whiskey in the jar please
Fantastic idea! I’ll see what I can do
Thank you
I think you needed to spend more time demonstrating what you mean rather than talking about it, yes explaining, but them
demonstrating over and over a few times would be good. Your videos are very good.
Hey Linda thanks so much for the feedback! I tried to keep the video zipping along so didn't do a lot of demoing, but if you would find it useful I go into a lot more detail on this in the free course. If you think it woudl be useful, you can check it out at banjoskills.com/quickstart-guide Thanks!