Hello Clawhammer folks!
I've been playing bluegrass banjo for about 1.5 years. I imagine I'm no more than an average beginner; I know perhaps 10-12 songs and can play them ok, if not blazingly fast or completely mistake free. I've got fairly decent timing and tone, I suppose. I've got the glimmerings of understanding basic music theory and for the last couple of months have been focusing mainly on my left hand stuff, trying to change smoothly between a variety of chord shapes (and I'm amazed and humbled by how difficult this is!).
So that's where I am. I think where I want to be, though, is playing clawhammer. I'm finding I like a mellower banjo sound, I'm not at all compelled by speed, BG is a little ... relentless? ... and I always always am playing alone and have little opportunity (or desire) to play with a band/group/anyone else. Plus I just like the sound of it more!
So, how do I make the switch, practically? I have a book and DVD from Ken Perelman, plus I've got the videos and PDFs from Banjoholic (thanks, man!) so I feel as though I have the raw materials to begin. Yet. I'm very intimidated by the whole right hand, and the timing etc for the bum ditty thing seems beyond me. I suppose the solution is practice practice practice, but, any hints? And, do I just abandon all my hard BG work, throw away the picks and never look back, or do I practice both at the same time?
I guess I'll find out just by taking the leap and start to play, but I was wondering if y'all have any advice or insight into the process of switching from BG to CH ...?