Left handed or right handed?
My son wants to learn CH banjo. Trouble is, he's left-handed. I gave him a right-handed banjo to practice with, and advised him that he'd be best off to learn to play right-handed. Now I'm wondering....
View ArticleLooking for Instructor
We live in Irvington, Westchester County, NY. Would like to find beginning instructor for clawhammer/frailing in Westchester or Putnam Counties, New York or nearby Fairfield County, CT.
View ArticleTune Morph
I'm finally branching out from standard G tuning and trying to learn some tunes in Double C. I've been learning Soldier's Joy and Arkansas. Traveler from several different tab sources, which I...
View ArticleRight hand thumb- straight or cocked?
I'm returning to learning clawhammer after a few years of inactivity. I'm using Bob Carlin's dvd and I have a question on right hand thumb position. On the dvd, he has his thumb in a cocked or bent...
View ArticleWhat is the sweet spot? Playing over the neck?
I read on another post about a sweet spot in reference to a scoop. I assume it's a spot to frail? I've always just frailed over the head-seems most natural to me, but I see reference to playing over...
View ArticleNew LN
hi. Im new to the Banjo world, I just purchased a Vega LN. And LOVE the sound. Several friends have played it and now want LN too. My question is about tuning I sing in G , A, B , C, and D Im...
View ArticleDrop Thumb Frustration, and a Couple Questions
I love clawhammer banjo and I know the regular bum ditty stroke and double thumbing pretty well. I know how to drop thumb too, but my speed is not nearly as good and my stroke is not nearly as fluid...
View ArticleHead size pros and cons
Can any of you kind hammerers provide me with a short list of pros and cons of an 11" versus a 12" skin head on an 18-bracket rim other than the 12" producing a deeper, fuller sound?
View ArticleMounted hide head supplier?
Hey all,I bought a Lady Stewart that needs a new head. I tried a couple of heads I had on hand but when doubled over they were too thick to get the tension band on. So, ... rather than further abuse my...
View ArticleBrandywine Old TIme Festival Video
Summertime is a great time to experience one of the many old time festivals available. Of course, many are on the east coast, and last weekend, I was fortunate enough to attend the Second Annual...
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A new technique?
I'm looking at a new ( for me ) way to add interest to my playing. I have to admit I "invented" this little thing after listening to some of Clifton Hicks' recordings.Sometimes, usually toward the end...
View ArticleNoel Booth Sympathetic String Banjo
It's definitely a fringe kind of instrument, but for various reasons, this is wildly fascinating to me. As a long time fan of Indian music, and all things droning and/or sympathetic, this just makes...
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"Doctor Doctor" - Clawhammer Tunetorial for 6/28/15
Key of D – aDADEIn this, tunetorial number 49, Dan "Clawdan" Levenson teaches Doctor Doctor.Once a common jam session tune, this one isn’t played as often as it was. BUT it is a very cool and simple...
View ArticleThis week's TOTW...
...will be posted later this evening or sometime this weekend. Today's volunteer is at a festival - no doubt happily jamming away - and so might be a bit late posting the tune.Just didn't want anyone...
View ArticleEpiphany!
After reading posts about playing over the fret board (as opposed to over the head as I have till now), I gave it a go.I finally figure out why clawhammer players usually play with higher action. it's...
View ArticleTOTW 06/26/2015 Buck Mountain
This weeks tune is Buck Mountain, generally a D tune.If I were a more accomplished TOTW'er, I would have continued the theme of the last two. But I had already planned for this tune; including a hope...
View ArticleS.O.S
Status & Volunteer Days, Wed. – Sunday, June 24th through June 28thHello Friends and Supporters of Sweden Creek Farmhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Old-78s/164933616899093
View ArticleTrick to play over frailing scoop??
Hi friends... I've been playing for under a year and doing pretty well. However, the rhythm my thumb makes on the head when I'm playing can be distracting to the tune. So, i'm trying to figure out how...
View ArticleIt's harder than it looks
I've been playing guitar, fingerstyle and with a pick, for nearly fifty years. I've always had the notion in the back of my mind that I'd like to take up the banjo some day. Then one day about two...
View Articlebum-a-ditty -- how does one get that sound?
Is the "a" in the bum-a-ditty done with pulloffs? I can't see any other way to do it, and I'd appreciate any suggestions from those who do know. Apologies to Woodchuck, but I can't find the thing in...
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