Clawhammer Banjo

Clawhammer banjo is a traditional American music style notable for its rhythmic down-picking technique. A player strikes the strings with the back of the index or middle fingernail while the thumb plucks the shorter, higher-pitched drone string, creating a distinctive percussive sound. This style is deeply rooted in Appalachian folk music and is often a backbone of old-time string bands. It brings together a resonant and rhythmic quality that seems to encapsulate the spirit of rural dance floors and front porch jams. Artists within the genre blend the timeless feel of this playing style with individual expression, ranging from the classic renditions of tunes handed down through generations to innovative compositions that stretch the boundaries of the traditional sound, often incorporating narrative and heartfelt storytelling within the music.

Latest Clawhammer Banjo Release
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Crowe River
Single - Released October 31, 2024

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Abigail Washburn
Adam Hurt
Bob Carlin
Bobby Langdon
Boiled Buzzards
Brad Leftwich and the Hogwire Stringband
Cathy Fink
Chris Coole
Clarence Ashley
Dan Levenson
Dwight Diller
Fred Cockerham
Gaither Carlton
Jake Blount
John Balch with Jack Pearson
Mary Z. Cox
Richie Stearns
Wade Ward
Walt Koken
Abigail Washburn
Jake Blount
Chris Coole
Mary Z. Cox
Adam Hurt
Wade Ward
Bob Carlin
Cathy Fink
Clarence Ashley
Gaither Carlton
Fred Cockerham
Dan Levenson
John Balch with Jack Pearson
Brad Leftwich and the Hogwire Stringband
Walt Koken
Dwight Diller
Bobby Langdon
Boiled Buzzards
Richie Stearns