Clawhammer Frailing Banjo Instruction Questions

Subject: Banjo Technique
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2004 20:47:27 -0500

Greetings,

Too many years ago (when I was a bunch younger) I remember seeing folks playing the banjo on TV without any form of finger pick. In fact, they did not seem to have any kind of pick at all, but rather seemed to use mostly their index finger and thumb to kinda "pick & strum" as a background accompany for the singers. These banjo players would never take a "bluegrass break" such as found in most bluegrass music today.
It seemed to be almost similar to the "Pick one note, . . then strum" style of guitar accompanyment most gospel singers employ. I don't know what it is called, nor how to play it, . . . but I was hoping you have an expert who can point me to at least what it is called.

This is called frailing or clawhammer...and is a long tradition that stems from traditional Appalachian Folk Music...this style was quite popular in the Appalachians...it's a great approach to the 5-string if you're looking to play solo banjo or are using the banjo solely to back-up your singing (or others), you will find that frailing is the answer...

I would like to learn how to play this style, but don't know where to look for lessons. Any help or advice you can float my way would be greatly appreciated.

My suggestion would be to look into an introductory video lesson...it's quite a bit easier to visualize this approach than to learn it from a book...upon learning the correct positioning and technique involved, you can then graduate to books as a reference...

Thank you for a great website, and for your dedication to folk music.

Thanks Dwight...we appreciate your kind words...Mickey

May God bless,
Dwight Cimino

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Date: Thu, 31 Oct 2002 22:18:04 -0500

can you teach me how to read tabs for clawhammer banjo... if not can you refer me to a site that would teach how tos for clawhammer banjo playing? thanks
shelly slocum

Greetings Shelly,

Glad to assist if I can:

Clawhammer banjo has the same tablature system as does 5-string banjo...only the medium changes...for instance, instead of using a thumbpick and two metal fingerpicks, you will be using the back if your fingernails and the flesh of the thumb...

Clawhammer does have some strumming techniques, which on tab is illustrated with 3 or 4 numbers on one vertical scale placed above each other...each number will be within a space or on a line representing the strings of the banjo...

Here's an instructional section on how to read tabs:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page132.htm

We're hoping to include more Clawhammer instructional material on our website soon...currently, we carry and represent Mel Bay Publications.

In the meantime, be sure to check out the following sites for further instructional materials...

http://www.melbay.com

http://www.elderly.com

Mickey

Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 12:41:01 -0700
Subject: travel banjos

Mickey,
I pulled up the website for Janet Davis Music Company - Banjo Store, who carries both the Saga and the Gold Tone travel banjos, just to get a look at them. Have you played either or both of them? Which would you recommend or do you like better?
I'm still playing the OME that my dad picked up at the factory in Boulder, CO, back in the late 70s/early 80s. It's taken a few knocks, but I think I'd have a hard time getting used to another action (I played my dad's Gibson Mastertone, and it struck me as having too light an action, much the same way a Gibson Les Paul strikes you when you've been playing a Fender Strat -- may have just been the strings he had it strung with though). In any case, I think my playing will have to improve just a hell of a lot before I'll spring for another high-end banjo, and then I think I'd look at a Stelling or a Deering, maybe a Reiter. I know you like your Gibson RB 800, but if you had to play another banjo, what would you get?
How long did it take you to figure out how to play clawhammer? I've dicked around with it for years -- even had people show me exactly what they were doing, and I still can't seem to sort it out. I talked to Robin Ford, a professional female banjo picker friend of mine in AK who exclusively plays clawhammer on her Vega, and she said that it took her quite some time, but that one day it just clicked. My dad bought his long neck OME specifically to play clawhammer on (and because Pete Seeger plays a long neck, and I think he just thought they were cool), but he never did really figure out how to flail or play clawhammer worth a damn. Thoughts?

Cheers

Dixon

Greetings Dixon,

I've played the Saga and really liked it...the first Gold Tone Travel banjo just came in last week. I'll be photographing it this week. Stay tuned on the website for some video samplers and photos. (Janet Davis has made some major contributions to the banjo world for many years now. We carry all of her books and videos today)

I love Omes...they're becoming rare these days so hold on to yours...the Odes are still being made in CO.

I do have another banjo besides my RB-800: A Deering Maple Blossom...it's a powerhouse. A little too loud...I really like the Deering Calicos too...I also have a Wildwood Heirloom open-back I goof off on...it's great for 3-finger classical and ragtime. The Stellings we get in are all bright and crisp. I'm not sure what tonal color you're looking for...let me know, I think I can help you narrow down the banjo of choice for your specific tastes.

My clawhammer style is most definitely non-traditional. I even use fingerpicks so I can switch from 3-finger playing to the strum style I've come up with...I'd like to delve into the traditional approach but time would be of the essence. Currently, I'm working on a new technique of playing single string style on banjo, mandolin, dobro and guitar utilizing fingerpicks. I've been working on this since the Cattleman days...I believe it's finally coming together for me. Wish you were around so we can experiment with it further. I believe you could make good use of this approach.

We still sell the long neck banjos to this day...so, Seeger's influence carries forward.

Keep on pickin',

Mickey

Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 13:08:33 -0600
To: "Randy Powell"
Subject: Re: Clawhammer Banjo

Mickey,

The name of the clawhammer fellow is David Holt. He has two
videos on Homespun Videos, that I know about, simply
"Clawhammer Banjo Repertoire & Technique", Vols 1 & 2. Randy Powell

Greetings Randy,

Yes, we do carry these videos...not sure if they're in stock. Would you like to come by and pick them up? If so, let us know and we'll order them so that they are here when you arrive. If you'd prefer to mail order them, you may call in your order toll free: 888-209-8434

The complete two tape series: Titled "Clawhammer Banjo Repertoire and Technique"
retails at 49.95 our discount price for both tapes: 39.96

Each tape, Vols 1 & 2, is sold separately for 29.95 each retail...

David Holt used to host a cable TV bluegrass show in the '80s...Mickey