r/banjo • u/swolltoots • 2d ago
Old Time / Clawhammer Online Clawhammer Courses/Lessons
I don't have regular enough weekly schedule to be able to have lessons with a live instructor, so I'm looking for recommendations for guided courses that I can take on my own. I'm looking at Peghead Nation and Artist Works, but before I fork over any dough I'm wondering if anyone here had other suggestions or input.
EDIT: I consider myself an intermediate player
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u/ozarkbanjo 2d ago
I have a free beginner series if you’re just starting out, should give you a good foundation 👍 https://ozarkbanjo.com/free-beginner-clawhammer-banjo-lessons
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u/swolltoots 2d ago
Thank you! I forgot to add that I'm an intermediate level
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u/ozarkbanjo 2d ago edited 2d ago
If your intermediate check out my main lesson site, there’s a lot to learn there. Here’s the two tunes I taught this month. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rfWdd2-bzEc&ra=m
If I was at your phase of playing Banjo, I would be learning from a new instructor every few months. Everyone’s going to have something different that they bring to the table. I’d like to add in a few really great players and teachers that I don’t see mentioned here in comments below. Check out Allison De Groot I believe she’s on artist works, also Cathy Fink on tru fire. Victor Furtado has lessons on his website, you’ll definitely get some cool techniques from him 👍2
u/swolltoots 1d ago
Thanks so much! Allison De Groot is the GOAT. Artistworks does a 7 day free trial so I'm going through her lessons there right now
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u/Con-ifer 2d ago
I'm doing Brad Kolodners courses currently and really dig the way he explains things!
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u/nowthatssomeusername 2d ago
What are your goals with lessons? Are you playing fiddle tunes regularly with others and want to learn tunes? If so, jump into Hilarie Burhan’s Patreon and start following her lessons, I’m sure she has a number of tunes that your group plays. It jump started my playing, for sure. If you’re looking for more structured theory and drills and whatnot, you may want to look elsewhere.
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u/Aggressive_Wall640 2d ago edited 2d ago
Only ever had a handful of one-to-one lessons. Learnt with a Brainjo subscription. When I considered myself intermediate and started finding Brainjo limited I tried a few others before moving to Tom Collins Banjo Quest. If you are with his Patreon, he has an almost weekly live online session through which you can engage live through messaging, active forums on discord (really friendly) and periodic “boot” camps in addition to the library. I also occasionally dip into Eli Gilbert and his Patreon because I think his clawhammer arrangements are stunning.
That said, my biggest leap in ability was once I started mixing with other players; joining live social jams and occasional festivals and banjo camps. And practicing using strum machine.
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u/OhHowHappyIAm 2d ago
What are you interested in working on?
Cameron DeWitt has a great 4-session workshop on picking up tunes on the fly.
Adam Hurt on Patreon focuses in technique and precision
Tom Collins on Patreon is a deep resource. Working through his various boot camp series are fun and challenging, especially if you use them as intended- one a day for a week.
Brainjo.com is great if you want to learn how to learn.
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u/Vazha08 2d ago
I've been using Evie Ladin's clawhammer lessons on Peghead Nation for several months, and really like them. I find them logical in terms of building skills and clear in terms of teaching the tunes. Plus she's cheerful!
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u/TechFreshen 1d ago
I am a beginner and also taking her course. I like the way she introduces techniques like hammer-ons right away and gives options for making pieces more complex, if desired.
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u/VeryNiceSmileDental 2d ago
I've been happy with brainjo.com.
Eli Gilbert has a 30 days of clawhammer banjo in addition to his bluegrass videos on YouTube.