Category:Clawhammer

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Clawhammer describes a class of fingerpicking techniques used by banjo and, rarely, guitar players.

Clawhammer is a highly rhythmic and common component of American old-time music. The principal difference between clawhammer style and other finger picking styles is the picking direction. Traditional picking styles, including those for folk, bluegrass, and classical guitar, consist of an up-picking motion by the fingers and a down-picking motion by the thumb; this is also the technique used in the Scruggs style for the banjo. Clawhammer picking, by contrast, is primarily a down-picking style. The hand assumes a claw-like shape and the strumming finger is kept fairly stiff, striking the strings by the motion of the hand at the wrist and/or elbow, rather than a flicking motion by the finger. In its most common form on the banjo, only the thumb and middle or index finger are used and the finger always downpicks, hitting the string with the back of the fingernail or a pick.


Request a music show of Clawhammer music


# Song Artist Image Album Length Played count Last Played Overall You Tags Single Request
1 Give My Love A Message Mudlark Nest Mudlark Nest 4:07 1 May 31st, 2008
4 votes
You have to login to give your opinion about songs. Clawhammer / Banjo
2 Chickadee Mudlark Nest Mudlark Nest 3:44 1 May 31st, 2008
4 votes
You have to login to give your opinion about songs. Banjo / Clawhammer
3 Bear Creek Reeltime Travelers Living' Reeltime, Thinkin' Old-Time 2:46 22 May 13th, 2008
11 votes
You have to login to give your opinion about songs. Bluegrass / Newgrass / Banjo / Clawhammer
        Total Time 10:37          

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