Ditto on the Dr Arm wooden armrest. I bought one from Banjo Ben a few weeks ago for my original Deering Goodtime banjo because the metal rim was chewing up my right forearm when I played bluegrass—what a huge difference in comfort and fun. The Dr Rm is a snap to mount and is VERY comfortable.
Intro to Clawhammer: Banjo Ben Live Course!
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Dr Arm
Well Dave and Ben - I have uploaded a video of my clawhammer playing n YouTube. Hope the link works and appreciate any feedback. Thanks so much for the online clawhammer course
Donna
Hey @donnamgalik, can you post the link to your video here? We don’t have a way of finding it. Thanks!
Hey Dave,
Thanks for doing the course and giving feedback on the videos.
Issues that I can see:
- Claw hand is more open than closed but I have psoriatic arthritis and it is uncomfortable to close my hand more
- Trying to keep my thumb as part of the hand movement and not wiggling it. However, when I pull my hand up from the strum, my thumb gets hung up on the 5th string and makes a wiggle as it rebounds.
Any comments on these issues or anything else would be appreciated.
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Donna, you’re coming along well. Two main things that I want to to work on:
-
When you plan the short 5th string, you are are getting your thumb behind or on top of the 5th string and “picking it” or “plucking it” with an intentional individual thumb movement. Let’s not do that. Instead, try to let the thumb just land on the 5th string, then as the hand pulls away and back to start position, the thumb should “pop” for “roll” off the 5th string and make the note. Sort of like it got snagged then pulled free. Don’t wiggle you thumb with thumb muscles, - let it follow the hand.
-
With the “Note - Strum - 5” (Bum-Ditty) pattern , the “Note” (Bum) part gets one full beat of time, and the “Strum - 5” (Ditty) parts share one full beat of time. In the video, you are giving each part, “Note,” “Strum,” and “5” each an equal beat of time. Instead, try keeping the “Note” part the same but speed up the “Strum - 5” part so that the “Strum” and “5” come closer together and take up the same amount of time as the “Note” part.
I’ll go over this in the next lesson to make sure everyone understands. Keep practicing, you’ll get it!
Thanks!
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Kevin, You got it! Great job. If your hand is comfortable in that shape, then that’s perfect. Also, when you say the thumb “gets hung up but then wiggles as it rebounds,” that is exactly right. The thumb will look like it wiggles, but not because you wiggle it, - it wiggles as as rebounds and follows the hand back to start position. Perfect!!
Also, very nice looking banjo you have there : )
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@ClawhammerDave Hey Dave I worked hard to get over my hatred of cameras and created a video and a youtube channel. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/1XPcOlg0_Gs . Any help is greatly appreciated. I don’t seem to hear the 5th string very well but I am popping it like a mad man or at least it feels that way. Well as long as I don’t watch my own video I should be fine. Also I used a metronome. Without that or a backing track, I don’t stay in time very well. Good thing I didn’t take up drums or bass.
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Here’s my week’s worth of practicing Boil Them Cabbage Down and another one I found, Cluck Ole Hen. After watching the videos I noticed that I’m not doing much of a brush stroke, just hitting that 1st string over and over. I’ll work on that!
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Andrew, - Wow! You are doing great. Your hand motion looks great. Your thumb action looks great. The 5th string is plenty loud to me, and you are NAILING the 1st and 2nd strings with great clarity. You are going to be a great clawhammer player, no doubt! I have no suggestion other than maybe smile a little bit for the camera if you’d like to : )
Jeremiah, that is looking and sounding great. Have you been playing clawhammer for a while? The reason I ask is that your claw hand looks so very natural. Your hand shape is very relaxed, and you’re doing a great job with your index and middle finger arrangement for striking the strings. Looks like you’ve been playing clawhammer for years! If you just now started, then I’d like to know your secret. You are right about just hitting the 1st string instead of the brush-stroke strum sometimes. That’s an easy fix and I’m sure you’ll get it now that you’ve noticed it. Really enjoyed Cluck Ol’ Hen too. Thanks.
New strings are on! Two videos, one playing along with the track and the other a little faster without. I didn’t realize while practicing that my hand appears to be opening rather than using more from the wrist and forearm for the strum part causing my thumb to move a bit until watching the video of myself. Started practicing in front of the mirror which I think is helping.
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I appreciate the kind words. I started playing banjo 3 days before the first lesson. I have been playing guitar for about 12 years and mandolin for 2. Not sure if that helps with clawhammer style.
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Thank you for your kind words. The smiling for the camera may be harder than the clawhammer.
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Wow you’re doing a great job. Love the Deering goodtime and the dragon mural.
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Here is my 2nd attempt l. I read your critique and rewatched parts of lesson 1. I can see my thumb wiggle in the video but every now and then I get it right
See you tonight for lesson 2
Donna
Ben I have not seen anywhere to assess tonight claw hammer class. Was there supposed to be an email link sent out or how do I log in to the class tonight?
I clicked on my ticket link from the first week and it took me to week 2. Maybe try that?
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Me either