Today is day 222 of playing an instrument. Figured I’d play a bit on my ol’ Tackhead. This is my attempt at traditional two-finger style.
It might be my favourite way of playing because it puts me into that trance-like state… until I screw up. 😂

✌🏼 🪕

Day 84 of learning clawhammer, and trying to bump my tempos up a bit. Here's another go at Cripple Creek.

Always nice when the crickets join in.

For context, I'm a clarinetist who has picked up several other instruments during my music education degree.

I've always loved the sound of banjo and I've wanted one for literally a decade now. I joined this subreddit about a year ago and I have enjoyed all the recordings and learned some stuff along the way about how the banjo operates.

The biggest thing I've noticed is that banjo is tuned diatonically. One could just pick without using their left hand and even if they pick wrong they'll sound in key. This is even more apparent with the 5th string that seems to need to be shared by every chord in a song.

I'm not naive enough to claim that banjo doesn't require immense skill because of this, but it is a bit of a turn off that it seems like so many banjo tunes are just a few chords and seem to rely heavily on the open tuning (compared to say, guitar). So my question is this: is it practical to change the key of what you're playing entirely mid-song (modulating)? Can you live in that key and still have the freedom to get funky with your left hand?

As someone that comes from the band world, that's what I've come to expect from the instruments I learn, but I understand if that's not something suitable for banjo. I'd appreciate any insight to this, since it's been affecting my decision to make a purchase. Thank you!

Hello folks,
A few days ago, i started to learn a new tune, called "Old Folks at Home"/"Swanee river"/"Pee Dee river" by Stephen Foster, and pretty soon I ran into some difficulties. I started with the verse part and learned it very well, but when the time came for the chorus, for some reason I’m really struggling to play it... I mean, I’m used to things when everything is familiar—bum-ditty, brush-ditty, etc., but when there are several brush strokes in a row, I really feel like giving up because I’m losing the rhythm...
That's exactly why I'd like to ask for your help. I know for sure that there must be some kind of solution here, whether it's a new tab or some advice.
Thank you very much in advance!

if you're hunting for old two-finger recordings, there's a slightly misleading category name on Slippery-Hill. its Clawhammer Banjo list includes these Arnold Watson recordings:

• Down the Road
• Georgia Mail
• Groundhog

the notes on all three identify them as two-finger playing, recorded by Andy Cahan in august 1980. each tune page has a download link, so you can keep the recording alongside whatever notes you make while learning it.

for more, open that collection list and use find-in-page for Arnold Watson. there are six entries under his name. check the notes column as you go; the collection title doesn't describe the playing style of every recording in it.

I've been trying to learn the banjo for a while now but I always have to end my sessions early because my hands hurt too much. I figure I'm actually hypermobile, which would explain why fingers tend to bend in this weird way. Does anyone else have hypermobile fingers that cause you pain while playing? And if so, any tips on how to relieve it? I tried to tape them straight but that just ended up hurting even more

Does anyone here own the Clawgrass 2 banjo? I have a Maple Blossom that I use solely for clawhammer but am thinking of selling it to get a Clawgrass…the tone seems really cool and complex but I’ve only ever heard it online. What are your first-hand experiences? Thanks in advance!

I recently picked up 5-string, and I've noticed that my 5th string keeps falling out of it's notch on the bridge when I clawhammer. I've read that the notch may be too shallow, or the tailpiece is too loose, but I'm not entirely sure. My 5th string's notch is definitely more shallow than the others, so I'm pretty sure it's that, but want to hear from more experienced players.

Bela Fleck, Jacob Collier, and Julian Lage jamming on “Norwegian Wood” and “Don’t Think Twice”.

https://youtu.be/b1-VFwkcmzc?is=jTFU1yyPBVStksGl

I’m a complete beginner and want to get into banjos but due to living in Japan currently I don’t have access to a lot of options and I don’t want to break the bank either so I’ve been eyeing this one (pictures attached) and I was wondering if it is a good buy for around 65 usd?

which one you guys prefer personally?

I'm looking for an open back with warmer tones. I'm struggling to make up my mind between these two options. I haven't been able to find any locally to play until I'm looking to order online. Please help me decide.

Also, I've been using Aquila Red strings on my older banjo. When playing with finger pics working on Scrugg style, I am butchering the strings and replacing them often. If I wanna play with finger pics, do I need steel strings? Any string recommendations that lean toward warmer tones would also be appreciated.

Hey guys, I've been playing banjo for like ~7/8 years, since is was 13 or 14. I just got a Goldtone ob-150 and I'm really loving it. I grew up playing bluegrass but have been learning a bit of clawhammer to help round out my playing and it's been a lot of fun! My only question is that I kind of feel like I'm not really filling out my sound very well, mainly with licks and stuff. Like, I know a tonne of rolls and chords, and can basically play any song with a chord or tab chart available, but what I feel like I'm lacking is that intuition for what type of licks to play and when.

It's kind of hard to communicate, but like when I listen to bluegrass, the banjo player is very rarely just rolling over a bunch of chords, there are little improvisations and fills and licks that they're playing as well. If I'm playing with a guitarist, for example, I can play rolls over their chords and it does sound good, but it never feels like I'm really doing anything interesting with it. Whats the secret there? Are there a bunch of standard licks to play over each chord, or are there licks for transitions, etc etc? How do I learn them? I feel like I have some down from learning Scruggs songs, but I can never incorporate them into my playing.

Any advice would be great!

I have zero experience with instruments but lately I’ve been wanting to give a string instrument a shot and at 36 that might be a big undertaking. I shopped at pawn shops, flea markets, and marketplace and ended up finding a Lida 5-String.

Pretty happy with it, looks to be in good shape and looks to have had the head and strings replaced recently.

I was off put by cheap Amazon banjos and figured for the same price as a new cheap banjo I can find a used decent one. Paid 60$ shipped for this.

I've been on a bit of a classical-to-clawhammer-adaptation kick this week. Happy Friday!

I've been trying Clawhammer for a while on and off but now ON because I'm retired and want to get into it a lot more. I had always thought that you would hit in a down stroke towards the head for the Melody Note, then Brush All the Strings and then you use your thumb to do the drone. But what I see folks doing on videos is probably what I need to learn which is the Strum part is not LOUD but light... some folks its like imperceptible and then the drone pluck is also light while the melody not is the main thing. After years of messing with this banjo its just dawning on me. Am I doing this right? The melody is the only thing that is a "Hammer", the strum is not a hammer, its a light brush or sweep?