Thrasher - Posted - 02/24/2023:  17:21:21

Hello, all. I’m a brand new member making my first post. I’m 69 years old and trying to learn clawhammer banjo. I’ve played acoustic guitar and bass for 50 years. Learning banjo is a slow go for me. It seems that I’m leaning more toward the two-finger style. Frailing is elusive.
Got a great banjo: a Pisgah “builder’s choice” with a 12” walnut pot, curly maple neck, and persimmon fretboard. 25.5 scale with a tubaphone tone ring.
I’ve been lurking here since starting the banjo and decided to join. All the positive reviews of Pisgah banjos helped me decide on my purchase. It’s a much better instrument than my skill deserves, but I hope I’ll get there.

thisoldman - Posted - 02/24/2023:  17:52:29

Welcome to the HO. I tried some different stringed instruments (including guitar and bass) after I retired, and then discovered the banjo. Knowing the guitar and bass will give you a "leg up' when learning the banjo, as you probably have some backgound in theory, you know how to fret strings, etc. The frailing stroke is different from what you have been doing on the guitar or bass, but hang in there...you will get there. Give it a few months. I started with clawhammer, but transitioned to 2 finger thumb lead after short while. The most important things are playing the music you want to play, and having fun doing it.

Thrasher - Posted - 02/24/2023:  18:23:58

Thanks, thisoldman.
You’re right. My left hand knows how to fret and slide. The thumb is being stubborn in learning its role.
I play bass in a trio of bass, guitar, and banjo/dobro. The banjo player plays an open back. He said something very wise to me: “The banjo is the consummate folk instrument, so play it like you want to.”

A Drum On A Stick - Posted - 02/24/2023:  19:39:03

Welcome! Excellent instrument you've got.

Definitely play it how you like. Hell, grab a flat pick if it makes you happy.

I also recently transitioned from a couple decades of (poorly played) guitar to banjo.

For me clawhammer was extremely complicated-feeling for about a week, and then it 'clicked'. Once it clicked it became automatic, and I was able to re-use everything I knew about my left hand and I was away to the races.

Obviously two finger is the same deal, I just wanted to offer a pro-frailing perspective :)

In the end I think most of us learn a couple different styles for variety, so what you learn first isn't important at all as long as you're enjoying it.

banjoy - Posted - 02/25/2023:  09:40:09

Nice instrument and welcome! I'm not a clawhammer player but wanted to comment since you're an experienced guitar picker, maybe a trick to help get up and running...

In clawhammer style you'll find lots of different tunings for banjo ... but when the banjo is in open G tuning, the bottom 4 strings (D-G-B-D) are almost identical to the bottom 4 strings of a guitar (D-G-B-E) the only difference being the first bottom string is D on banjo instead of E. With that in mind, you can make simple adjustments to the chord shapes you already know on guitar, and bingo, you have banjo chords. This may give you a small jumpstart when you're in open G tuning, to start making sounds that work.

I hope this makes sense. Have fun with the banjo, it won't let you down!

Thrasher - Posted - 02/25/2023:  14:32:29

Yes, thanks. For the beginning, I’m sticking to G tuning for that very reason: familiar strings.