In other words, those who play both bluegrass and clawhammer banjo at a high level. I can think of a few:
Russell Carson
Jens Kruger
Jim Pankey
Mike Snider
i know there must be others, but their names escape me. Maybe members can fill in some more. I know that some players simply haven’t recorded or posted their alternate playing styles.
[Special cases: Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle. Both are primarily guitarists, but play both bluegrass and clawhammer banjo styles, though probably not at the level of the four above.]
Ralph Stanley, though passed obviously.
Edited by - Bawheid on 02/15/2026 04:37:39
Frank Lee of the Freight Hoppers
Of course Steve Martin
To name a couple
Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose! (duet of both styles below!)
Edited by - jenorma1 on 02/15/2026 05:20:39
Don Stover
Josiah Tyree & Steve Sparkman
Danny Barnes
Glad to see Frank Lee mentioned. I’d add Tim Bing, of “The Bing Bros. with Jake Krack.”
The late Mike Seeger -- played both styles and then some.
While out cycling today I was listening to Russ Carson playing both styles on the tune Cindy off the Jesse Smathers album.
Jim Smoak
Frank Evans really lays it down both ways. He's really active on the scene in Nashville, right now. Check out his podcast with Keith on Picky Fingers
quote:
Originally posted by gcpickenWhile out cycling today I was listening to Russ Carson playing both styles on the tune Cindy off the Jesse Smathers album.
This is Mike Seeger's take on "Cindy" from 1956, with Bob Baker and the Pike County Boys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGV8fz3sdFE&list=RDBGV8fz3sdFE&start_radio=1
quote:
Originally posted by Bill Rogersquote:
Originally posted by gcpickenWhile out cycling today I was listening to Russ Carson playing both styles on the tune Cindy off the Jesse Smathers album.
This is Mike Seeger's take on "Cindy" from 1956, with Bob Baker and the Pike County Boys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGV8fz3sdFE&list=RDBGV8fz3sdFE&start_radio=1
Thanks, Bill, I loved that! I did the math and thought "Wow, 70 years ago - dinosaurs roamed the earth!" And then reality kicked in - I was already 6 years old!
It’s clear that early in his career, Mike could, and did, play driving, hard-core bluegrass banjo.
Tony Trischka plays some credible clawhammer, even though he might not claim to be an expert.
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