Tabs

Arkansas Traveler

A well-known tune that you don't hear as often as you should. I have tabbed two variations: the first time through is a very simple bum-ditty style with no embellishments. The second time through, I added drop- and double-thumb, hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides to add some variety. A nice simple tune for beginning clawhammer players, with lots of room for more advanced players to work with. Done in the key of G with standard G tuning (gDGBD).

Barlow Knife

A simple tab for a pretty little tune. Use it as a guide, add your own variations. This is one of those tunes I can sit on the patio and play all day. A very basic tab for Clawhammer Banjo in standard G tuning.

Child #2 (no recording)

Child Ballad #2 Popularly known as "Scarborough Fair," and/or "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme." Sometimes called "Impossiblilites" due to the tasks imposed by both sides. A very basic tab for Clawhammer Banjo.

Child #74A

Fair Margaret and Sweet William. This ballad has many similarities to the better-known "Barbara Allen." This is a very simple guitar tab showing the melody line and chords I used. Guitar.

Danville Girl

My version, which you can hear on my music page. Clawhammer Banjo in standard G.

Follow The Drinking Gourd

I learned this song back in the 60's on guitar, then forgot it through the years. Recently it reintroduced itself, so I did it in Am on clawhammer banjo. A very simple backup arrangement. Banjo tuned to G minor (gDGA#D) capoed 2 frets to A minor.

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

I received an email asking if I had my clawhammer version of this Christmas Carol tabbed.  Well, I do now, and here it is.
(This tune is only available for listening during the season. You can check my ezFolk page between Thanksgiving and New Years to hear it.)

Banjo tuned to gDGCD (Mountain Minor/G modal).

Jay Gould's Daughter

My version of an old railroad song. It is sometimes done as "Casey Jones." I derived my version from one done by Pete Seeger.
Clawhammer Banjo in standard G.

Jingle Bells

Tab for my arrangement on Clawhammer Banjo. Standard G tuning
(This tune is only available for listening during the season. You can check my ezFolk page between Thanksgiving and New Years to hear it.)

John Henry (Steel Driving Man)

Here's my version for Clawhammer Banjo in double-C tuning.

Lizard On The Garden Wall

This is a tune I came up with while watching a lizard and a Cardinal battle it out on the wall in my back yard.

Lorena

A Civil War era fiddle tune. I am attempting to learn it on fiddle, but worked out this clawhammer banjo tab to play behind the fiddle. Very basic in standard G tuning.

Pusch Ridge

I wrote this on my patio looking at the ridge from my back yard.

Pretty Polly

A very basic clawhammer version in Mountain Minor tuning (gDGCD).

Rolling Mills
Rolling Mills Are Burning Down

Two different tabs are here. The first is in Double C tuning, the way I first figured it out. The second tab is in the alternate tuning of f#DEAD and was tabbed sort of like I play it on my fretless banjo. The song is, as far as I know, very scarce, and the only source I have is George Landers on the "High Atmosphere" CD.

Skip To My Lou

Good basic Clawhammer banjo stroke practice. This is the tune I used in my "Basic Clawhammer Stroke) videos (below). Standard G tuning.

Sloop John B (John B's Sails)

This is the tune made popular by the Beachboys back in the 60s. I have used an unusual source for my version. Banjo in Standard G tuning.

Soldier's Joy

I learned this is G, but later worked out an arrangement in D that works with my fiddle arrangement of this old tune.

Spotted Pony

A pretty little tune in the key of D (banjo tuned to Double C and capoed 2 frets to D). This is close to how I play the tune, but not an exact transcript of the recording.

The Fox

An old song I learned as a child, it is one of the first songs I figured out on my own on Clawhammer Banjo. Standard G tuning.

This Old Man (Knick Knack Paddy Whack)

The popular children's counting song. Good Double-thumb practice piece. Clawhammer Banjo in standard G.

Walking Boss (no recording)

I have always liked this song ever since I heard my brother sing and play it. Finally got around to figuring out a basic tab version. However, this tab is provided by an on-line acquaintence who has let me post it here. I hope to soon get it recorded.

Worried Man Blues

As heard on my music page. Clawhammer Banjo in standard G.

More Good Stuff  (back to top)

Clearhead Video

Here is a link to a short video from Donald Zepp of Zepp Country Music.This is shot through the clear head of a banjo and shows the clawhammer stroke as done by Zepp from a seldom-seen angle. (Notice he uses his middle finger, and seems to get more finger movement than I do.)

Basic Clawhammer Tutorial

A short explanation of how to perform the basic clawhammer stroke on the 5-string banjo. The tune used for this tutorial is "Skip To My Lou," and the tab is available above in the "Tabs" section.

Download the Tutorial

This is a ZIP file containing both of my tutorial videos, the tutorial .txt file, and both the .pdf and .tef tabs for "Skip To My Lou."

Double Thumb Practice

After you have worked your way through the above lesson and feel comfortable doing the basic clawhammer "Bum Ditty," look at this next tab. This is the old children's counting song "This Old Man," or "Knick Knack Paddy Whack." The style of the song is the "Double Thumb." This lick allows you to cut 1/4 notes in half, and make the song sound faster than it is. To perform this lick, you strike the first fingerstroke as usual, then follow it on the "&" count with a thumb pluck of the 5th string. The fingering for the right hand is shown under the tab.

Videos  (back to top)

Basic Clawhammer Stroke (Head on)
A short video looking at the banjo head on while I play "Skip To My Lou".

Basic Clawhammer Stroke (Side view)
A short video looking at the banjo head from an angle while I play "Skip To My Lou".

Kicking Mule
I provide the musical background for a video about VA Gold prospectors.

Barlow Knife
Here, they used my version of the tun "Barlow Knife" for another video.

Cumberland Gap
Another video by the VA Gold prospectors.

Boneparte's Retreat
I fiddle (slowly) Boneparte's Retreat.

Breaking Up Christmas
15 December 2008

Buffalo Gals
30 July 2009

Mole In The Ground
27 October 2009

Cluck Old Hen
14 July 2011

Old Joe Clark/June Apple
14 July 2011

Spanish Fandango
25 November 2011