www.rhythmstrummer.com How to play CLAWHAMMER Guitar. It's new! It's hot! It's easy! Here's Steve Baughman with the world's first Internet Clawhammer Guitar Lesson EVER! A great technique for blues, folk, country, funk. Get on board with this cool guitar technique. And come on down to our brand new site for more music, fun, and education.We teach it, and then we'll practice it WITH you. 
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picture yourself with a ho, lol
wanking claw
hahah man i love this guy wicked lesson. i like toards the end when he says it will change you life and make the world a better place.
Steve’s awesome, got a couple of his books
That seemed like a pretty cool overall unique approach to playing. This is the elegance of doing this. You said it all when you said, “It comes from banjo technique”. The bum-ditty is Pete Seeger all over town. Guitar clawhammer is a little different. You demonstrate something kind of unique. Using the nail down on the string. That’s just great because nobody else does this, accept if they are playing a banjo.
The video the way I did it is reasonably clear. The vagueries creep in because I did not make a distinct example. There should be a total of three plucks with the first hitting two strings, (the hammer) and then the other two strings sequentially and that’s it. That would be the basic execution. Everything after that would be added fluff confusing the situation as to Travis picking. That’s my fault and I will post another video. The way I just described it would be hammer-claw. Still not right.
Yes, you’re right that the NAIL DOWN is very unique on the guitar. It is totally an old time banjo technique, and not more than a handful of people are doing it on guitar, though that’s changing. It works nicely on guitar.
Thanks for your comments.
steve baughman
I’m working on this Banjo Method the way you teach it and it’s like you say, it takes a while to make it habit. I was imagining Pete Seger trying to teach me this technique and on the third lesson him saying, “Look, sometimes these things take a little time. Be patient.” On the tenth lesson, “Look, your either a liar or your an idiot.” On the fifteenth lesson, “I’ve got an ax that I’m going to chop off your right arm with if you don’t do this right and a 45 I can blow your brains out with!
Steve, your an inspiration!
any tips on how to get more definition on the downbeat strikes? my thumb seems an awful lot more powerful!
Hi, good question. Two things. First, I find it really helps to keep my four fingers relatively tightly together on the downstroke, as you can see from this video. That gives support to the finger that is playing the DOWN strokes. Second, spend lots of time just internalizing the BUM DITTY and you’ll probably develop the ability to control where you want to put the emphasis.
I hope this helps.
steve baughman
This is turning out to be an exploration in a unique new set of dynamics. Nowhere do we have this striking technique in guitar as I know it. You said something about this taking a couple of months. Right now my hand is like a Manatee flipper smacking the guitar. It’s really quite noisy and hideous but this will change. Very cool Steveo. This will be something as distinctively unique as Etta Baker stuff. Her stuff looks simple. It ain’t simple.
The way you explain things I’m getting that Dewey Finn – Jack Black /School of Rock ringing in my head. Spiffernoodle!!!!!!
VERY GLAD I COULD HELP. YOU’RE RIGHT, THIS IS SOOOOO UNIQUE AS A GUITAR TECHNIQUE, AND SOOOO COOL. I HOPE YOU CAN SOME DAY POST WHAT YOU DO WITH CLAWHAMMER GUITAR. I’D LOVE TO HEAR IT.
Steve Baughman
Dear Steve,
This is one of the best short guitar lessons I’ve ever seen. I think the Clawhammer is what I’ve been searching for becuase it seems to answer lots of questions I’ve had about fingerstyle. Do you think that Leo Kottke utilizes this technique to achieve his ridiculous speed?
Thanks, D.H.
Hi D.H. Thanks for your kind words.
No, Kottke does not use clawhammer. He uses a lot of alternating thumb on the downbeat stuff, which is also cool, though much more common. Claw is thumb on the off beat, which makes it very unusual as a guitar technique.
All the best,
steve baughman
Damn, the question you asked was dead in sights in my mind. Leo is doing something related to this. Somehow he incorporates it into the rest of his machine hands technique. I am learning the technique Steve is teaching here. Yes it is a labor of love. I feel certain that once learned it will never be out of the repertoire. Love to see how this thumb upstroke thing would work out. It makes me feel like a retard trying to get it down quick. But it’s coming. Leo,… man he’s something.
OK, I’m a little less like a flopping manatee. It’s getting better. This is gonna be exciting. It’s been like plowing a rocky field. You would not think this should be that difficult and it makes me wonder how much is in my head and what is it that really a totally new concept. The wisdom of the McStevo. I’m also doing alternating bass notes to take the boredom out of it. So that’s an added thing that is a good adaption and habit. Thanks Tony
@RhythmStrummerDotCom
Hello Steve,
Thanks for clearing up the “clawhammer” definition. Here is one Englishman who now knows the correct terms ! During your introduction I think both your thumb and fingers are moving.Thumb both knuckles fingers from 2nd knuckle. It may be the vid of course. Clawhammer feels more natural if I move my fingers rater than work from the elbow.Oh well. I have watched some of your other vids now and you are a fine guitarist.
All the best
Paul
Well, Paul, you are very observant. The hand should, as you notice, not be rigid, frozen, but I do believe a gentle but firmly held claw is the best technique. I am not sure how much power and tone one gets with moving fingers much.
But hey, if it sounds good, do it! And, of course, the really important thing is the groove.
Thanks for your comments. I am glad you’re trying this out.
steve baughman
Thank u man for this video!!!I’ve just spent the last 3 hours playing (ops…tryin’ to play!!!) the “bum-ditty bum-ditty”…I’m from Italy and I’d really like to learn the clawhammer style…thanks again!aloha
ok first of all i’ll get the jokes out of the way… no steve i dont need to spend hours with a hoe for my hand to be like that… and 4:37-4:45 LMAO “you got that hoe hand, right”… HAHAHA…ok now that im done acting my shoe size… great… fucking great… i’ve been thrying to learn alot of blues and old time-y techniques (slide, dadgad, ect) but its hard to find stuff thats not just someone showing off and calling it a lesson… but … NOW i have the clawhammer!!!!
thanks alot steve
Hi Joe. Thank you!
Yeah, I know, my sense of humor sucks. But I’m glad you are enjoying the clawhammer stuff. I think it’s great fun, and yes, for BLUES also!
All the best to you.
steve baughman
Dear Steve, Your doing a great job here. Your passion is valuable. Now, got it down, not like you do but it is gonna be a while. This will be great grist for a new song. That will take a while. You may think this is odd but I seem to be able to get a very, “Dr. Schivago” type of renaissanse sound. This would not be possible with the standard strumming. It’s gonna be interesting to see where this goes. If you want a song with travis style, got it. Happy to post if you request.
COOL! I’M EAGER TO HEAR WHATEVER YOU COME UP WITH. VERY GLAD YOU’RE LIKING CLAW. YES, IT IS GRIST FOR MANY NEW SONGS.
Steve Baughman