Chris Coole – Elements of Clawhammer Banjo: A Lesson with Chris Coole

On this latest release from Woodhall Music, banjoist Chris Coole, presents an in-depth exploration of his own trademark style of clawhammer banjo-playing.

Through a series of exercises and well-chosen traditional tunes, Chris takes an approach which allows the student, through the building of a musical vocabulary, to learn to speak “the language of music”. To this end, Chris demonstrates the three main right-hand techniques that define the style, ensuring that the student develops the all-important skills of tone, speed and timing. Right-hand techniques demonstrated include: the Basic Strum, Double-thumbing and Drop-thumbing as well as the Roll. This is indispensable information for true beginners, as well as more advanced players looking to hone their technique.

Chris demonstrates the above techniques with the following classic tunes:

Black-Eyed Susie (G Tuning), The Barlow Knife (G Tuning), Shady Grove (G Modal Tuning), Salt River (G Modal Tuning), Old Molly Hare Double (C Tuning)

Some of these tunes are taught more than once in order to show how multiple right -hand techniques can be incorporated into your playing on any tune.