Clawhammer Banjo

Rating:
Summary: [Clawhammer Banjo Review]
Review: ....

Be that as it may, this is a wonderful book to develope a basic repertoire of Appalachian mountain tunes on the banjo. If you're a beginner, get this, but don't use it until you've worked from some of the simpler books such as Muller's "Frailing the 5-String Banjo."

The clawhammer style of playing a banjo is essentially single string frailing. It's origins lie in the old fiddle tunes from the Appalachians. The primary focus of Krassen's book is the clawhammer style centered around Galax, Virginia/Mt. Airy, north Carolina/Bluefield, West Virginia.

Once you've learned a little about the basic banjo strum and other essentials, Krassen's book is the place to go to get a feel for some basic arrangements of old-time standards. What I particularly like about Krassen's arrangements is that each tune is set out in a very simple to read tablature; each tab in turn lays out a basic bare-bones structure for each tune. These arrangements in turn are perfect for allowing the banjoist to incorporate sundry other techniques to flesh out a tune when accompanying a fiddle player.

Krassen emphasizes two important themes regarding clawhammer banjo playing: (1) the primary rhythmic aspect of the banjo, rather than melodic and (2) the importance of using the banjo to highlight only essential notes of the melody and letting the fiddle do the talking.

You won't find very much in terms of instruction here. That's done much better in other books. But if you've developed some competence in the basics of playing...it's a resourceful place to go next in your development.

Rating:
Summary: [Clawhammer Banjo Review]
Review: ....

Be that as it may, this is a wonderful book to develope a basic repertoire of Appalachian mountain tunes on the banjo. If you're a beginner, get this, but don't use it until you've worked from some of the simpler books such as Muller's "Frailing the 5-String Banjo."

The clawhammer style of playing a banjo is essentially single string frailing. It's origins lie in the old fiddle tunes from the Appalachians. The primary focus of Krassen's book is the clawhammer style centered around Galax, Virginia/Mt. Airy, north Carolina/Bluefield, West Virginia.

Once you've learned a little about the basic banjo strum and other essentials, Krassen's book is the place to go to get a feel for some basic arrangements of old-time standards. What I particularly like about Krassen's arrangements is that each tune is set out in a very simple to read tablature; each tab in turn lays out a basic bare-bones structure for each tune. These arrangements in turn are perfect for allowing the banjoist to incorporate sundry other techniques to flesh out a tune when accompanying a fiddle player.

Krassen emphasizes two important themes regarding clawhammer banjo playing: (1) the primary rhythmic aspect of the banjo, rather than melodic and (2) the importance of using the banjo to highlight only essential notes of the melody and letting the fiddle do the talking.

You won't find very much in terms of instruction here. That's done much better in other books. But if you've developed some competence in the basics of playing...it's a resourceful place to go next in your development.

Rating:
Summary: A very good book...
Review: I agree with the other feedback on this book: great book, not for beginners. I liked the first 2 songs so much it took me a while to proceed further into the book. Some new right hand techniques that I hadn't encountered before which was both interesting and challenging. Good pictures and history of songs. I hesitate to critique because it is one of my favorite books...but...the CD doesn't contain all the songs...and the tracks are unlisted so you have to figure out what songs they are. Also, some of the tunings for the songs weren't clear to me...but is easily figured out and you can just pencil that in later. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A very good book...
Review: I agree with the other feedback on this book: great book, not for beginners. I liked the first 2 songs so much it took me a while to proceed further into the book. Some new right hand techniques that I hadn't encountered before which was both interesting and challenging. Good pictures and history of songs. I hesitate to critique because it is one of my favorite books...but...the CD doesn't contain all the songs...and the tracks are unlisted so you have to figure out what songs they are. Also, some of the tunings for the songs weren't clear to me...but is easily figured out and you can just pencil that in later. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Not a good beginning clawhammer book.
Review: If you are an intermediate player trying to pick up some really great (and challenging) arrangements of simple tunes then this book is for you. It has lots of great favorites like Soldier's Joy, Shady Grove, Shortnin' Bread, etc, and lots of obscure songs like Lonesome John and Old Jawbone. This new take on the classic melodies can be refreshing for the intermediate player looking for new ways to approach those melodies they've played so many times before. For a beginner, however, it can be frustrating to try to learn these common tunes from this book. There is a lot of drop thumbing involved and other little things (ie- the Galax lick) that can easily throw the beginner off from the melodies.

This is the book I bought when I wanted to learn clawhammer banjo. I found it hard to work with from the get-go. I used it occassionally with little progress. I chugged away and learned basic melodies and rhythms from other sources. I then re-visited the book and found that it gave me many new takes on songs I'd learned elsewhere. I picked up little flares and tricks to enhance melodies from this book. I would recommend it as a supplemental resource, not a primary one for learning.

Krassen's arrangements are based on the playing of many great old-time musicians like Kyle Creed, Wade Ward, Fred Cockerham, Glen Smith, and Frank George. These guys were all excellent banjo players and these arrangements reflect their playing. They are complex and frustrating, but once you bury yourself in them they can be wonderful and refreshing.

This book includes a recording of a few tunes from the book, although you'll have to figure out for yourself their titles since there is no track listing. Also included is lots of good historical information on Appalachian dance music, recordings, tune histories, and banjos in general. The beginning explanation of clawhammer technique is not very good. I would recommend learning the basics from someone who plays rather than trying to pick it up from this book because it is quick and confusing.

Rating:
Summary: Not a good beginning clawhammer book.
Review: If you are an intermediate player trying to pick up some really great (and challenging) arrangements of simple tunes then this book is for you. It has lots of great favorites like Soldier's Joy, Shady Grove, Shortnin' Bread, etc, and lots of obscure songs like Lonesome John and Old Jawbone. This new take on the classic melodies can be refreshing for the intermediate player looking for new ways to approach those melodies they've played so many times before. For a beginner, however, it can be frustrating to try to learn these common tunes from this book. There is a lot of drop thumbing involved and other little things (ie- the Galax lick) that can easily throw the beginner off from the melodies.

This is the book I bought when I wanted to learn clawhammer banjo. I found it hard to work with from the get-go. I used it occassionally with little progress. I chugged away and learned basic melodies and rhythms from other sources. I then re-visited the book and found that it gave me many new takes on songs I'd learned elsewhere. I picked up little flares and tricks to enhance melodies from this book. I would recommend it as a supplemental resource, not a primary one for learning.

Krassen's arrangements are based on the playing of many great old-time musicians like Kyle Creed, Wade Ward, Fred Cockerham, Glen Smith, and Frank George. These guys were all excellent banjo players and these arrangements reflect their playing. They are complex and frustrating, but once you bury yourself in them they can be wonderful and refreshing.

This book includes a recording of a few tunes from the book, although you'll have to figure out for yourself their titles since there is no track listing. Also included is lots of good historical information on Appalachian dance music, recordings, tune histories, and banjos in general. The beginning explanation of clawhammer technique is not very good. I would recommend learning the basics from someone who plays rather than trying to pick it up from this book because it is quick and confusing.

Rating:
Summary: recommended
Review: Ok, so the best way to learn banjo is by ear, but I learned alot from this book. It was the first clawhammer book I ever picked up and I had no previous banjo experience. I think that this book along with listening to alot of recordings took me along way towards learning to play. I would certainly recommend it. My only criticism is that I wish that there were more tab variations offered for more tunes, but still, it is a great collection.