Getting Started with Clawhammer Banjo

Tuning, Reading Tab, Holding your Banjo, and the Claw

These online beginner Clawhammer lessons will help you get started with the basics. You'll learn about tuning your banjo, the correct way to hold it, fret hand position, basic strumming, timing and more. You'll follow a step-by-step process to get a grasp of the basic clawhammer techniques in the form of mini-lessons. Each mini-lesson includes a video and some tab for you to practice with. Go ahead, dive in and have fun!

1

FreeHow to Tune Your Banjo

Learn how to tune your banjo using an electronic tuner

First, let's go over the tuning of the banjo. Clawhammer banjo players use many different tunings, but "open G" tuning is the most common when getting started. This tuning is gDGBd. The small “g” r...
2

FreeHow to Read Banjo Tablature

Lines, Numbers, and Letters

Tablature, or “tab” for short, is one of the most popular learning tools available. Tunefox features tabs for all of its Clawhammer songs, licks, and lessons. To prepare you for the rest of the sit...
3

FreeHow to Hold the Banjo

Proper Posture and Positioning for Playing Your Banjo

The most common position to hold your banjo when sitting is between your legs. An armless chair is best for practice because it allows for unrestricted arm mobility. When holding the banjo, positio...
4

FreeFretting Hand Position

Proper Arm Position for Fretting Notes and Chords on the Banjo

Even when we aren’t fretting a note, we should keep our fretting hand in position and ready to play. Finger preparedness is what will help you play cleanly and quickly. You’ll constantly be getting...
5

FreeStrumming Arm Position for the Banjo

Proper Position for Your Strumming Arm

The weight of your forearm should fall on the arm rest, or upper quadrant near the tailpiece, of the banjo body. Don’t pin the weight into your side. Set your forearm on top of the banjo. Let the w...
6

FreeStrumming Hand Position

How to Make the Claw Shape and Use It to Strum the Banjo

The Claw shape we make with our striking hand is the most important part of clawhammer banjo. Make a letter C with your strumming hand and extend your thumb. Keep your index, middle and ring finger...
7

FreeStrumming in Time and Counting

Putting the "Bum" into the Bum-Ditty

Strum the open strings with the claw shape formed. As the Strum is completed, let the outstretched thumb land and come to rest on the 5th string. We'll start out playing a whole note rhythm. Strike...
8

FreeMore Strumming

Half Note Strums - "Bum - Dit"

Now, you'll learn to strum on beats 1 & 3. Since you'll be doing two strums per measure, you'll have to prepare your hand twice. Strum on beat 1, plant the thumb, then lift and prepare on beat 2. N...
9

FreeAdding in the Thumb

Use the Thumb to Really Make this Rhythmic Pattern Pop!

In this next step, we'll add in the thumb to play this rhythmic pattern. To focus on this new movement, we'll only strum on beat one. We'll bring back the beat 3 strum in the next lesson. For now, ...
10

FreeBum-Ditty City!

Putting it All Together

Ok, it's time. Remember to maintain correct posture in your fretting hand and strumming arm, and maintain that C claw shape in your strumming hand. Your bum-ditty instructions are thus: Strum on be...
11

FreeWhere to Next

Next Steps

Now that you have a basic handle on the Bum-Ditty, there's a couple options for your next steps. The lesson for "Your First Banjo Chords", or "Clawhammer 101" are some great options. Learning chord...

FreeHow to Tune Your Banjo

FreeHow to Read Banjo Tablature

FreeHow to Hold the Banjo

FreeFretting Hand Position

FreeStrumming Arm Position for the Banjo

FreeStrumming Hand Position

FreeStrumming in Time and Counting

FreeMore Strumming

FreeAdding in the Thumb

FreeBum-Ditty City!

FreeWhere to Next

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