Gibson Gangsta - Posted - 07/08/2007:  16:07:08

I mean....I don't think I've even heard any clawgrass.....is it just mark johnson's thing (i think this is his name...he plays a real nice deering banjo but if this isn't his name I apologize)....whats the techinque??? picks ? no picks? 1 pick? I'm confused....HELP BHO!!!

pickin' aint easy.......

tonehead - Posted - 07/08/2007:  16:21:52

http://www.clawgrass.com/

I don't think it can be explained any better than to say look and listen here.


Play it like you mean it.

Wander - Posted - 07/08/2007:  17:21:41

When you play your banjo in the clawhammer style, but the musical context is more in the direction of Bluegrass (rather then Oldtime), you call it Clawgrass. Neat word.

Ottawa - Posted - 07/08/2007:  17:52:11

I am really uneducated on this subject too, but in listening to some samples, I'm just wondering how this is different than melodic clawhammer? Just curious and I will leave it to others to explain. Thanks a bunch...

OK...in actually listening to more...I'll remove my foot...I can see how it is kinda melodic clawhammer, but to more bluegrassy sounding music...nice banjos there as well!

Steven

Edited by - Ottawa on 07/08/2007 17:54:19

Gibson Gangsta - Posted - 07/08/2007:  22:23:52

so its a "frailing" style of playing?

pickin' aint easy.......

tonehead - Posted - 07/09/2007:  11:46:32

Yes it is.


Play it like you mean it.

frailin - Posted - 07/09/2007:  12:57:24

GG

This should end up being a really interesting discussion!

There are many threads on the differences/similarities between CH and frailing. CLAWGRASS, on the other hand, is more a style of music!

Keep in mind, all this is MHO.

Mark Johnson coined this term. My take on it is, although the style works very well with traditional CH/F tunes, it's more the selection of BLUEGRASS songs and tunes, played melodically (with the clawhammer rhythm base). It's "notier" and capable of being featured as a lead instrument (taking breaks) versus the traditional role of fiddle back up.

I DEFINITELY play clawgrass, although my mentor Dwight Diller might take offense at that admission (love ya' Dwight, but gotta do what's in my soul!).

Craig (frailin)

"Gospel. The most powerful music in this world... and the next."


www.banjohangout.org/my/frailin
www.frailin.com
www.myspace.com/frailin
www.myspace.com/eelpouts
www.myspace.com/singletonstreet

Edited by - frailin on 07/09/2007 12:58:03

tonehead - Posted - 07/09/2007:  16:06:45

Perzactly!


Play it like you mean it.

Gibson Gangsta - Posted - 07/09/2007:  16:28:19

ok so "clawgrass" would kinda be like what I sometimes do and sit down and try and play my bluegrass repitour clawhammer style? like me taking bluegrass version "worried man blues" and break it down to drive/melody notes and then try and double thumb the crap outta it? is that "clawgrass"?

pickin' aint easy.......

frailin - Posted - 07/09/2007:  17:02:28

Kindasortamaybe.

Post something. Let's talk about it.


"Gospel. The most powerful music in this world... and the next."


www.banjohangout.org/my/frailin
www.frailin.com
www.myspace.com/frailin
www.myspace.com/eelpouts
www.myspace.com/singletonstreet

rtyrie - Posted - 07/09/2007:  17:08:00

GG and all,

There are two music files posted with songs played in his clawgrass style on Mark's BHO member page. Also, on Terry Baucom's member page, there is a song posted that has Mark and Terry playing together with the styles intertwining. Music speaks louder than words.

Please be sure to rate the songs and leave comments.

Ron

"Starr the party hound"

Gibson Gangsta - Posted - 07/09/2007:  18:19:56

yeah! that'd be great frailin! but I dont' have any recording equipment cept my ol' cassette players I use practice....you should see me try and play guitar in one....then sync up another one with me playin banjo on then playing them together and taping them off tapings.....boy what great quality! its a surprise all studio's don't switch to this!

pickin' aint easy.......

MarkJohnson - Posted - 07/09/2007:  19:42:49

Hey,

A good friend just posted me and said there was a thread about what is "Clawgrass"?

Well..In a nutshell..."Clawgrass" is the name of a CD project that I recorded in 1992 with Tony Rice and his Brothers and it was released in 1994.

It cornered a great amount of attention in the Bluegrass world and it let to a showcase performance at the 1995 Owensboro, Ky IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) annual get together. (Blue Highway showcased right after me)

That led to many cover stories and articles about my banjo playing and the buzz continues to increase over the years and to this day with recording contracts,national touring appearences, radio shows etc.etc.

I never really understood what it was that I was doing "so different" but the media and the reviewers thought different and took the word "Clawgrass" and used it to describe and define my style of playing banjo. Go figure.

For years this attention made me somewhat nervous as I was playing what I thought was "authentic old time banjo". Tony Rice,David Holt, Bill Emerson and Emory Lester convinced me that I was wrong about that.

I was raise musically by Tony and Larry Rice and without knowing it, my style began to mimic Tony Rices approach to playing guitar and to music in general.

I am a dyed in the wool Scruggs Banjo player who aslo learned clawhammer banjo at the same time (1971 c-hammer banjo lessons from Jay Unger and John Cohen) and I think like a bluegrass or jazz musician when it comes to making my music.

"Clawgrass" for me, is more of an approach to playing my music and I choose clawhammer banjo as the vehicle to do it.with.

I approach the melody of a tune/song in a Liner fashion much like a strong Bluegrass Guitar player, Mandolin player or Dobro Player would.

To do this, I have to use every tool I can think of to get the sound I am looking for.

For instanceand to name a few:

Playing lead lines in a melody or song.

Playing back up banjo to support the other instruments taking the lead...this is critical as each instrument demands a specific way of supporting them. It forces me to create rhythms, melody lines, harmony lines, counter melodies, and percussive ornimantations to name a few to help create and contribute to the overall sound of playing in an ensamble.

Learning to listen to the music(you never stop doing this)

Playing my clawhammer banjo in such a way as to let my music "breath". Sometimes this means knowing what notes to leave out of a piece and knowing what notes to leave in.

Understanding how chords can work to maintain a melody but how they can also be substituted to give a much fuller sound to the melody without sacrificing the tune.

Developing new techniques in playing clawhammer banjo to meet the challenges of certain types of music.IE speed or playing in waltz time ...or harder yet playing slow and sad.
Incidently, I play a "three finger style of clawhammer banjo.

Having the bluegrass banjo knowledge of the fretboard and right hand techniques I naturally gravitated toward playing "roll patterns" ie- forward rolls, back ward rolls and playing single string notes while using percussive drop thumb techniques and brush techniques with the middle finger in my right hand clawhammer patterns. These are fun to explore.

As far as the sound I am getting, I play with artificial finger nails. I have them replaced at a local nail salon and have done so for the past 15 years.

I aslo endorse for Deering Banjos and have done so for 13 years. They keep me in exquisite banjos that are designed for doing what I am doing. I love these banjos.

Watching guitar players shape and hone their flatpicks to define the tone they want on their guitars gave me the idea that you could do the same thing with acrylic nails. Once they are on, you can file them to create incrediable tone in your instrument.

Also, once you drive a banjo string through the top of your fingernail and lacerate yourself while playing clawhammer with natural nails, you will come to appriciate a good set of nails on your index and middle fingers.

For me, it is all about the "Sound"...you do what ever it takes to get the best sound possible for performance and studio recording.

Bela Fleck once wrote about the 5 "T's" in an old Frets Magazine.

Taste
Touch
Tone
Timing &
Tuning

They are like lifelong sign posts to follow when it comes to my music.

I am not an "Old Time Banjo player" I leave that up to my expert friends like Carlin, Levenson, Perlman, Martin,Leftwich,fink and about 20 other oldtime players that have my deepest respect.

I was raised by "musical wolves" and I really dig Scruggs, Crowe, Baucom,Kruger,Emerson,Jackson,Pedersen etc.etc ....it all went into figuring out my sound...and for most of my life. I was unaware of howmuch this exposure influenced my style.

To me, American Traditional Music means ALL OF IT.....And I try to learn something from anywhere I can get it.

Clawgrass........It is an album title but I guess it is also my non-traditional approach to playing the banjo...influenced by many, many musicians from all walks of life.

Life is so good when there are few rules to constrict yourself,,,especially when it comes to my music.

If you would like to hear some complete tunes go to:
My MySpace URL: myspace.com/markjohnsonclawgrass
or www.Clawgrass.com

Sincerely,

Mark Johnson

Gibson Gangsta - Posted - 07/09/2007:  19:58:21

well I'll be dammed......thanks mark! from the man himself.........so the next question is when ya wanna book a studio session at my place using my "HI FI" 3 cassette deck set up? did I mention one has an EXTERNAL mike? yeah buddy....its pretty friggin' sweet.....the sound quality is AMAZING! just think mark.....instead of clawgrass it could be.....clawgrass apparently recorded underwater and with a TV going on in the background......that might be long....we'll need an acronym....CRAP for short.....Clawhammer Recording Adaption Protocol......what do ya'll think!?!?

pickin' aint easy.......

frailin - Posted - 07/10/2007:  12:02:25

Wow, Mark. Thanks for weighing in with such a thoughtful response.

Craig


"Gospel. The most powerful music in this world... and the next."


www.banjohangout.org/my/frailin
www.frailin.com
www.myspace.com/frailin
www.myspace.com/eelpouts
www.myspace.com/singletonstreet

flowerofthewest - Posted - 07/10/2007:  14:45:07

After listening to some of the tunes, it reminds me of Tony Ellis' stuff, which I love.

Wonderful playing and beautiful listening, Mark!

Jody

"Wildflowers don't care where they grow..."

www.nowhereradio.com/flowerofthewest

leftcoastbanjer - Posted - 07/10/2007:  15:42:27

Thanks for that Mark! Love your stuff. I heard a clip of Sally Ann that you and Terry played together. I thought it really worked well and enjoyed it very much. Hope to have the chance to sit in with you one day. Keep doin' what you're doin'

-Larry

Chief #141

brokenstrings - Posted - 07/11/2007:  21:44:22

Remember, folks, we have TWO Mark Johnsons here and BOTH of them play clawgrass. The one you just heard from is the originator of clawgrass--someone suggested we might call what the other Mark Johnson does bluehammer.

Listening to a tape of Mark's a while back, I remember thinking that some songs sounded more like CH and some more like BG.Don't think I'd care to analyze why, though. In any case, we've just heard from the master. Thank you, Mark.

Jessy

Frailaway, ladies, frailaway!

MarkJohnson - Posted - 07/11/2007:  21:58:15

Ladies and gentleman,

Thanks for the good words. I really enjoy posting to banjohangout and meeting and hearing everyones thoughts and music.

BTY- A new clawgrass "how too" DVD is in the mix, I'll keep ya' posted.

Mark