brado - Posted - 05/18/2026:  09:15:59

Hey all,

I'm a guitar player trying to learn some clawhammer banjo because it's awesome and this tune has been playing at our house constantly with lots of requests from my kids. I've been picking it out by ear but having trouble finding all the notes at the right time.

The song is Scrape Me Off The Ceiling, by The Steel Wheels.

I think it's in double C tuning.

Any help here from someone better than me would be amazing!

Thank you in advance!

-Braden

dbrooks - Posted - 05/18/2026:  18:57:03

I think you're right that he may be playing in double-C. At least I see the guitar player using C chords. 

 

Help me help you. What are you looking for? Banjo opening? Banjo backup to vocals? Both? It sounds you are relatively new to Clawhammer. Should the tab avoid  drop thumb?

The Utimate Guitar web site has the chords to try for backup. You might start there. 

 

Again, let me know how I can help you. 

David

brado - Posted - 05/21/2026:  12:14:59

I'm mostly trying to figure out the intro (also looks like he plays that for all the instrumental sections). The backup section to the vocals sounds to me like just the same chords with a few hammer ons thrown in here and there - I did start out just playing the chords, but standard clawhammer chords is missing quite a bit for this song I think, particularly when there are no vocals. If you have the time and interest to tab that all out it would definitely help me learn it, but I think I can figure it out fairly well on my own.

Drop thumb is fine - it sounds to me like he uses it a lot as well as not hitting with his finger and then hitting the syncopated thumb. I'd rather have something to work toward even if it's a bit harder, and I'm good enough to simplify things if I need for myself.

Thank you so much for your willingness to help with this!

-Braden

dbrooks - Posted - 05/24/2026:  14:05:00

Here is some clawhammer tab in double-C tuning for this tune.  The tab includes the banjo introduction and the chords that are strummed during the bridge.  Let me knows if you have any questions or issues.  The tab is based on this video:   The Steel Wheels - Scrape Me Off the Ceiling (Official Video) - YouTube

Scrape Me Off the Ceiling - The Steel Wheels Tab - Details and Ratings - Banjo Hangout

David