#Using tabledit for clawhammer banjo how to
#Using tabledit for clawhammer banjo series

This amazingly simple method that I use has allowed thousands of frustrated banjo players to easily pick up the banjo and play. After that, the student is introduced to one simple roll: the thumb-pinch. On the other hand, with the melody approach, the first thing that is taught is the basic bare bones melody of a song вЂ“ just the tune itself. It also leaves very little room for improvising. Using this method means that the beginner is faced with the daunting task of memorizing an entire page of notes, with no clear understanding of which of those notes are the melody, and which ones are the roll. For many beginners, this way of learning doesnвЂ™t work very well because the melody is lost in a swarm of other notes. LetвЂ™s call this new way of learning bluegrass banjo вЂњthe melody approach.вЂќ In the many bluegrass banjo instruction books IвЂ™ve looked at over the years, the most common way of teaching banjo might be called вЂњthe roll approach.вЂќ That means that tunes are taught with the melody and the roll already combined.

#Using tabledit for clawhammer banjo how to

IвЂ™ve actually figured out how to make bluegrass banjo even easier than clawhammer style. If you believe what I just said about how easy it is to learn clawhammer banjo, IвЂ™m guessing that youвЂ™re ready to run and get your banjo and start to learn clawhammer style. Once you learn to ride the thing, everything else is easy. ItвЂ™s like the old analogy of riding a bicycle. ThatвЂ™s because once you learn the basic clawhammer stroke, everything else easily falls into place. Traditionally, clawhammer style has been thought to be easier to learn than bluegrass Scruggs style banjo.

I hate to do this to you, but вЂњit depends.вЂќ So now that we know a little about the differences between bluegrass and clawhammer banjo playing, letвЂ™s get down to brass tacks and answer your burning question, вЂњwhich style is easier to learn?вЂќ If youвЂ™re unclear about the differences between these two different but related styles, check out my article, вЂњBluegrass and Old-Time Music, WhatвЂ™s the Difference?вЂќ Sweeney was soon joining other performers on the minstrel stage playing what was then called вЂњstroke style.вЂќ The basic idea behind the modern clawhammer style is that the melody is played by hitting or stroking down on the strings, and quickly following that with a little rhythm that sounds like вЂњclaw вЂ“ ham вЂ“ er.вЂќДЇor the most part, Scruggs style banjo is played in bluegrass music and clawhammer banjo is played in old-time music.

Sweeney started learning the banjo from African-American slaves. In the 1830s white musicians such as Joel W. The thing thatвЂ™s so impressive and thrilling about Scruggs style is the sheer number of notes that come flying out of the banjo! The downside is that the melody often gets lost amidst a swarm of other notes.Д¬lawhammer, or old-time banjo, is an older style that has its roots in West Africa.

#Using tabledit for clawhammer banjo series

The basic idea behind what is often called вЂњScruggs StyleвЂќ is that the melody of a song is played as part of a series of notes called вЂњrolls.вЂќ Most rolls either have four or eight notes. Scruggs used ideas he gathered from these players and created his own smoother and faster style.

EarlвЂ™s way of playing was partly influenced by his brother Junie Scruggs, along with several older banjo players including Snuffy Jenkins, Smith Hammett and Mack Woolright. Which one should you choose? And most important, which style is easier?ДЇirst, let me explain each style and then weвЂ™ll talk about which one is easier to learn.Д«luegrass banjo was more or less вЂњinventedвЂќ by Earl Scruggs who first showcased it on the Grand Ole Opry in December, 1945 when he joined Bill MonroeвЂ™s Bluegrass Boys. Come to find out, there are currently two popular styles of banjo playing: bluegrass or clawhammer banjo. YouвЂ™ve got your heart set on learning to play the banjo.