Beacon - Posted - 04/08/2007:  18:48:56

Hello Everyone,

About two months ago I decided to pick up the banjo, and began learning to play Scruggs style banjo. However, after listening to more and more clawhammer style songs, I have become rather interested in learning that style as well. Do you think I should stick with Scruggs for now, and not mess with learning clawhammer at this point? Since I only started a few months ago, I'm not sure if it would be advisable to mess around with two different styles yet. I have learned a few tunes for Scruggs style, including Cripple Creek, Ballad of Jed Clampett, Ground Speed, and Foggy Mountain Breakdown. I can't play these up to speed yet, but I can play at a pretty decent speed. What do you think?

-Patric

Bill Rogers - Posted - 04/08/2007:  19:01:22

That's a tricky one, and hard to answer absent a lot of other information. If you do decide to learn clawhammer I strongly recommend Dan Levenson's book w/cds, Clawhammer from Scratch. It's the most well-thought-out approach I've seen for learning clawhammer. You can branch out later, but working though this book until you've mastered the tunes therein will give yu a solid groundwork in the style.

Bill

piperdoc - Posted - 04/08/2007:  19:09:34

if this is your first string instrument, i would NOT do both at this point. 2 months is embryonic. pick one, give it a year or so, then decide. i just think that both will suffer.
that is assuming you want to develop a traditional style in either category. if you want to do your own thing, you can probably persue both simultaneously.

dbrandon - Posted - 04/08/2007:  19:16:01

Do both. Why not? Are you wanting to become a professional bluegrass banjo player (ASAP)?

This is about having fun. I find that when I hit the inevitable wall in the learning process, it is nice to change things up. There is a whole world of banjo music, explore it.

Yes, exploring other methods will probably temporarily slow you down. However, I would be willing to be the more styles you try the better off you will be in the long run.

Beacon - Posted - 04/08/2007:  19:29:19

Thanks for the replies guys,
piper - I've played cello for about 8 years, so this isn't my first instrument. I see what you mean, though.

I think I might try getting a clawhammer book and try learning it a bit, but mainly still focus on Scruggs. That way I can satisfy my curiosity, but still more strongly focus on one.

-Patric

BANJOJUDY - Posted - 04/08/2007:  20:02:28

I enjoy many things about clawhammer as compared to Scruggs style, but for a beginner, clawhammer makes great sense. You can play in the background - learn to double thumb and play the chords while the fiddle plays the melody.

You can become part of a group without having to play lead - a real advantage.

RCCOOK - Posted - 04/08/2007:  23:09:07

Yep, I agree with Banjojudy. Also, Scruggs is nice but what happens when you don't have accompanyment? Clawhammer is ok alone, Scruggs is kind of empty, Its a matter of preference I guess. I played both and have a yen for clawhammer, its just more rythmic and reminds me of my ancestors...Rod

Even the blind squirrel finds an occasional nut, I found a banjo!!!

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 04/09/2007:  05:01:21

Thank goodness you found us before you went too far down the BG road

Switch to clawhammer immediately and don't look back!!!



R.D. Lunceford- "Missourian in Exile"
*************************
Model 1865 Bowlin Fretless Banjo

Clawdan - Posted - 04/09/2007:  07:37:06

Hi Patric,
I think the best is to play the music that you love the most. If it is both, so be it and go for it. BTW, I'll be back to the homestead by around the 1st of May and students are always welcome. The Hippie-billie Homestead is only a bit south of you near Gallipolis, OH so let me know if you need any help getting started.

Play nice,
Dan "Ain't no bum-diddy" Levenson
Old Time Music and Dance
www.ClawhammerBanjo.us
Author of Clawhammer Banjo From Scratch, A guide for the claw-less - a MelBay Publication
and Old Time Festival Tunes for Clawhammer Banjo (MelBay 20313) - 117 tunes tabbed for clawhammer banjo with standard notation and suggested chords.
Tune list at http://www.folknet.org/dan/FestTunesBJBook.htm

flatfoot - Posted - 04/09/2007:  09:37:25

.

>>>....DAN: The Hippie-billie Homestead is only a bit south of you near Gallipolis, OH so let me know if you need any help getting started...>>>>

An offer like this is not to be missed. If I had a chance to work with Dan I would concentrate on clawhammer just so I could get the most out the learning experience.

.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I'm learning how to tune the thing
I'm learning how to frail.
And how to sound like Earl Scruggs
The bluegrass Holy Grail.

flatfoot - Posted - 04/09/2007:  09:44:55

.

Clawhanmmer is more useful if you want to sing. In my opinion clawhammer is suited to more styles of music than is Scruggs, although I am sure there are some that will argue the point.

In clawhammer I can play white and black folk music, blues, Tin Pan Alley, shapenote, gospel, Celtic, country and bluegrass songs, old-time, Carter family, as well as the standard mountain-music rep. Suits my eclectic singing and musical taste pretty good. Still, there are some styles for which CH will not work: swing, Dixileand and lots of others.

.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I'm learning how to tune the thing
I'm learning how to frail.
And how to sound like Earl Scruggs
The bluegrass Holy Grail.

BANJOJUDY - Posted - 04/09/2007:  09:49:19

When I want to play swing and dixieland, I just play my kazoo. Never need to tune it either - but some folks always leave the room....wonder why.

I am serious, though. I love to use the kazoo as my alternate instrument. That way I stick to clawhammer when strumming and kazoo when humming.

Beacon - Posted - 04/09/2007:  11:44:07

Thank you everyone for your replies!

Clawdan - I might have to take you up on that offer! Right now I am going to school up in Cleveland, but I'll be back around the 10th of May. I'll give ya a holler when it gets closer to that date.

-Patric

Roy Smith - Posted - 04/09/2007:  12:31:49

Back in the dark days of the folk scare, the lines between bluegrass, old-time, and just plain folk music were vaguely drawn or nonexistent. Not knowing any better, a lot of us old guys learned both 3-finger picking and clawhammer at the same time.

In my case, I eventually focused on bluegrass for 15 years or so, went into remission, and then relapsed into clawhammer in my 50s. The fact that I'd played some clawhammer tunes 35 or 40 years before was a huge advantage. I had a lot to re-learn (and just flat out learn), but the basic frailing motion was already hard-wired. As an additional advantge, I also found that a lot of bluegrass licks translate quite well to clawhammer style.

If you're interested in both styles, by all means learn them both.

Roy

Galante_K4 - Posted - 04/09/2007:  19:45:36

Before its too late!!! Don't risk being a social outcast!!! Give up all your fevered dreams of 5 string banjo ...CH or BG and switch to the accordian! But if you are really determined and "Work & Play well with others" then Bluegrass by all means but if you're ornery and a loner than CH. I favor CH. ... But I've failed the Dale Carnegy course several times already :-)

"Admitting to yourself that you have BAS is the first step in recovery."

Edited by - Galante_K4 on 04/09/2007 19:47:27