Starting Clawhammer Banjo? | Here’s Where To Begin

Learning banjo is awesome! Miles better than guitar—just thought I’d throw that out there! Here are a few words to help anyone interested in starting their banjo journey.

Explore the Three Main Styles of Banjo Playing

First things first: get familiar with the three primary styles of banjo playing:

1. Three-finger Scruggs style – The driving bluegrass sound popularized by Earl Scruggs.

2. Clawhammer style – Also known as overhand, frailing, old-time, or traditional banjo. (It goes by many funky names!)

3. Two-finger thumb-lead style – A beautiful, melodic style, often heard in old-time music.

I’m biased towards clawhammer—mainly because I failed miserably at Scruggs style! But here’s my key piece of advice: try all three before committing to one style. You don’t want to hit your 999th hour of practice and realize clawhammer isn’t for you. (Trust me, that would sting!)

How Long Does It Take to Learn Banjo?

Learning banjo takes time—a lot of time! My YouTube teacher, Patrick Costello, said it takes 500 to 1,000 hours to become a half-decent banjo player. How you spend those hours is up to you. The key is to enjoy the journey and find a style that truly resonates with your goals.

Choosing Your First Banjo: Don’t Overthink It!

The banjo world can feel overwhelming, but here’s my simple advice:

• Five-string banjo: This is the standard for clawhammer and Scruggs styles.

• Open-back vs. Resonator: Open-back is traditional for clawhammer, while resonators are common for Scruggs. But don’t stress—I learned clawhammer on a resonator banjo for years before buying an open-back!

• Budget-friendly: Don’t spend a fortune on your first banjo.

Remember: Banjos were once made from gourds, hubcaps, and biscuit tins. You can learn clawhammer on any 5-string banjo-shaped object—so grab what you can and just get going!

Find a good banjo Teacher That Works for You

When I started, I sat through many hours of YouTube videos. Here’s what I learned:

• I absorbed more from raw, unpolished, one-take videos than from high-production tutorials.

• Fancy “banjo experts” frustrated me—watching them glide through tunes with effortless finesse made me want to throw my banjo out the window.

• I preferred down-to-earth teachers, webcam recordings, and honest mistakes—because they felt real.

Find a teacher whose style matches your learning vibe. It’s not about production value—it’s about connection.

Master the Basic Frailing Strum—It’s Non-Negotiable

If anyone tells you otherwise, ignore them. The basic frailing strum is everything in clawhammer banjo. It’s your groove, your engine, your heartbeat. There are a few variations, but two main patterns are:

• “Bump-Ditty” Pattern: My personal favorite—simple, rhythmic, and rock-solid.

• “Pete Seeger” Pattern: A slight variation with a unique swing.

The frailing strum combines three core elements:

• Melody note: The lead note you strike.

• Rhythmic strum: A downstroke brushing across the strings.

• Thumb drone: A pop on the fifth string, giving the banjo its signature drive.

Become a Banjo Robot: Repetition is Everything

The only way to master the basic frailing strum is through repetition. Then more repetition. And then some more.

Your goal is to train your strumming hand until it becomes automatic. You want to be able to:

• Maintain a steady rhythm without thinking.

• Strike the correct string cleanly every time.

• Power through mistakes with unstoppable momentum.

Think of yourself as a machine—programming your “banjo robot” hand with endless repetition. At first, it’ll feel clunky. Your brain will protest. But one day, your strumming hand will develop a mind of its own. You’ll be playing on autopilot, and that’s when the magic happens.

The Day It Clicks—And It Will Click

I know this struggle well. It took me nearly nine months before I felt competent with my frailing strum. I wanted to quit many times. But I kept going—and you should too.

When it finally clicked, my hand felt alive—like it was playing without me. That’s the moment you’ll realize: You’re not learning banjo anymore. You’re playing it.

Final Words: Keep on Frailing!

So, to anyone starting clawhammer banjo, here’s my advice:

• Explore the styles—but choose what feels right to you.

• Don’t overthink your first banjo—just start playing.

• Find a teacher that fits your learning style.

• Obsess over the basic frailing strum until it becomes second nature.

• Trust the process.

When you think you’re not improving—keep going. When you hit a wall—keep going. Your breakthrough is coming. And when it does, you’ll never look back.

Happy learning, keep on frailing—and see you on the journey!

What’s Next?

If you’re ready to start your clawhammer journey, check out my free beginner resources on Banjo Adventures!