Bluegrass Clawhammer banjo Learning Paths & Lessons

Learning Path

Getting Started with Clawhammer Banjo

These online beginner Clawhammer lessons will help you get started with the basics. You'll learn about tuning your banjo, the correc...

Learning Path

Your First Banjo Chords

Learn to play the G, C, and D7 chords on banjo and switch between each of them. You'll also learn to apply these chord changes and t...

Learning Path

Clawhammer 101

This lesson series will guide you through many things. We'll review the Bum-Ditty rhythm pattern, and learn to play one string at a ...

Song

Bum-Ditty Practice

Easy Clawhammer Practice is a perfect resource for beginners looking to get started with Clawhammer banjo. It covers the essential b...

Song

I'll Fly Away

"I'll Fly Away" is a beloved country hymn that is commonly performed on the clawhammer banjo. This song is an easy way for beginners...

Arrangement

Boil them Cabbage Down
Clawhammer

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  G
• Tuning
  GDGBD

A nice arrangement based on this classic melody. There's a lot of great licks available, make sure to check those out.

Arrangement

Yankee Doodle
Clawhammer

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  G
• Tuning
  GDGBD

This simple version of Yankee Doodle is great for beginners. Using the Tunefox slider it will strip down to the core melody. There a...

Arrangement

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Clawhammer

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  G
• Tuning
  GDGBD

Nursery rhymes are a great place to start when first learning an instrument. Most of us have had the tunes floating in our heads sin...

Song

Frère Jacques

This traditional French nursery rhyme is easy to learn and fun to play. It is cheerful and upbeat with simple chords and can be play...

Song

Mary Had a Little Lamb

This classic children's nursery rhyme, arranged as a clawhammer banjo song, is perfect for beginners to hone their picking skills! F...

Song

Shortnin' Bread

Clawhammer banjo song Shortnin' Bread is a traditional, fun tune perfect for beginning players. It's in Double C tuning and can be p...

Song

Oh, Susanna

"Oh, Susanna" is a traditional American folk song from the early 19th century. This song is often performed on the clawhammer banjo ...

Arrangement

Old Joe Clark
Beginner

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  G
• Tuning
  GDGBD

A lot of melody, and a little bit of bum-ditty make Old Joe Clark sound so dang pretty! Have fun with this classic tune :)

Song

Golden Slippers

A clawhammer banjo version of the popular folk song "Golden Slippers" is a great beginner tune for those just starting out learning ...

Song

Old MacDonald

This classic children's song will teach beginners the essential skills needed to become proficient on the five-string banjo. With ba...

Song

Yankee Doodle

This traditional song offers two simple yet lively Clawhammer banjo arrangements for novice players.

Song

Cripple Creek

Cripple Creek is a fun and catchy bluegrass song, great for intermediate banjo players. Played in clawhammer banjo style, the song g...

Song

Crawdad Song

The Crawdad Song for Clawhammer banjo is an upbeat classic folk tune that is perfect for intermediate players looking to challenge t...

Song

Soldier's Joy

Soldier's Joy is an American traditional folk tune dating back to the 19th century. Its simple structure and catchy melody combine t...

Song

Shady Grove

Shady Grove is a traditional American banjo song with a long history. This version of Shady Grove is perfect for banjo beginners, as...

Arrangement

Say Darlin' Say
Clawhammer

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  C
• Tuning
  gCGCD

This one can be confusing because of where the chords switch. Listening to the tab repeatedly and learning to sing the lyrics will h...

Song

Clawhammer 102

Clawhammer banjo exercises are perfect for beginner to intermediate level players. With exercises designed to strengthen both the ba...

Song

Little Liza Jane

Little Liza Jane is a classic frailing banjo tune great for intermediate players. This traditional American folk tune is easy to lea...

Arrangement

Boil them Cabbage Down
Up the Neck

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  G
• Tuning
  GDGBD

Up the neck! The arrangement stays on the first string. Nice and easy! Check out those licks, too.

Arrangement

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Up the Neck

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  G
• Tuning
  gDGBD

Up the neck doesn't have to be scary. In this arrangement, we're playing the melody of a familiar tune on one string. After you get ...

Song

Martha Campbell

This Clawhammer Banjo song, "Martha Campbell", is perfect for intermediate players looking to learn more complex techniques. Through...

Song

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

The American Baseball park anthem.

Arrangement

I'll Fly Away
Melody - Key of C

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  C
• Tuning
  GCGCD

Start with the melody! Think about the syllables of the lyrics when playing along with the arrangement. When you can play the melody...

Arrangement

Bury Me Beneath the Willow
Clawhammer

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  C
• Tuning
  GCGCD

Tune to Double C on your banjo for this tune. If you play it at a jam you are very likely to hear it in the key of D. So after you t...

Arrangement

Yankee Doodle
Clawhammer - Double C Tuning

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  C
• Tuning
  GCGCD

This simple arrangement uses the core melody and a bum-ditty pattern to build that prototypical banjo sound. Use the Tunefox slider ...

Arrangement

Shortnin' Bread
Clawhammer - Double C Tuning

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  C
• Tuning
  GCGCD

Shortnin' Bread is just a little bit sweeter in Double C tuning. First you pick, then you grin. You'll want to play it again, and ag...

Song

Keep on the Sunny Side

The Carter Family's 'Keep on the Sunny Side' is a warm and uplifting song featuring the upbeat rhythms of Clawhammer banjo playing i...

Song

Wayfaring Stranger

Wayfaring Stranger is a classic American folk song often played on a Clawhammer banjo. This version includes four different arrangem...

Song

Tennessee Stud

An incredible story and song that was written by Jimmy Driftwood, but made popular in the bluegrass world by Doc Watson.

Song

Camptown Races

"Camptown Races" by Stephen Foster is a classic favorite for all banjo players, particularly those starting out with a Clawhammer ba...

Arrangement

Crawdad Song
Double C Tuning

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  C
• Tuning
  GCGCD

A classic folk tune in Drop C.

Arrangement

Squirrel Hunters
Clawhammer

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  C
• Tuning
  GCGCD

Double C Tuning. Capo 2. Spike at the 7th fret. This is a classic John Hartford fiddle tune, and sounds absolutely beautiful on Claw...

Song

G Major Workouts - Clawhammer

G Major Workouts for Clawhammer Banjo – perfect for intermediate players who want to improve their banjo technique. Exercise your wa...

Song

G Major Workouts - Melodic Style

G Major workouts in the Melodic style.

Song

C Major Workouts - Clawhammer

C Major Workouts for Clawhammer Banjo is a great set of exercises and drills for intermediate players. It includes helpful scale run...

Song

One Finger Workouts

One finger workouts help you develop rhythm rudiments and technique by focusing on one finger at a time.

Song

C Major Chord Scales - Double C Tuning

Check this out to learn how chord shapes connect to each other in C major with double C tuning.

Song

C Minor Chord Scales - Double C Tuning

Diatonic chord scales in the key of C Minor.

Arrangement

Falls of Richmond
Bob Carlin Style

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  G
• Tuning
  GDGCD

Bob Carlin is a renowned banjo player. Here, we get a glimpse of his style. This arrangement is closely based on his playing of the ...

Arrangement

The Cuckoo
Clarence Ashley Transcription

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  G
• Tuning
  GDGCD

This is a transcription of Clarence Ashley's playing. His version of the tune is one a lot of players study when learning it. This a...

Arrangement

Tennessee Stud
Clawhammer

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  C
• Tuning
  GCGCD

This song was made popular by Doc Watson. It has a signature intro which works great on Clawhammer banjo. This arrangement use...

Arrangement

Soldier's Joy
Up the Neck

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  C
• Tuning
  GCGCD

The advanced version is very reminiscent of the beginner version. The A part varies the thumb on 5th string and lead finger captures...

Arrangement

Over the Waterfall
Old-Time

• Difficulty
  
• Key
  C
• Tuning
  GCGCD

Like a class IV rapid, this tune is not for the faint of heart!