Intermediate Clawhammer Banjo

• Acoustic
• Americana
• Folk
• Instrumental
• Old Time
• Roots
• School of Music class

This class will take you beyond the basics of bum-ditty to focus on the skills necessary for playing driving, tasteful, and articulate clawhammer banjo in a jam, band, or solo context. Topics covered will include: the “Galax lick” and its variants, slides, articulate drop thumb, “the cluck,” alternate string pull-offs for vamping and melody, locking in with the phrasing of the fiddle, the basics of tone, the essence of “Round Peak” and other popular styles, and how to develop your own style. We will also explore matters of taste and authenticity.   Please bring your banjo and a recording device. 

This is class meets from 8:00-9:15pm on Wednesdays Oct. 31, 7, 14, 28, Dec. 5, 12.

Please note: The Passim School of Music is located at 26 Church St. Cambridge, MA. Classrooms are located on the third floor and, unfortunately, we do not have an elevator.