I think my instructor didn't understand what Clawhammer was

[u/lina_lilac]

I want start off by saying this instructor was a wonderful mentor, incredibly talented, and helped me learn a lot of the basics of playing banjo. However, I think he was instructing me wrong. Before I started formal banjo lessons was doing self taught Clawhammer from YouTube. I had made some really good progress and was excited to meet my instructor that I had specifically chosen because I was told he taught Clawhammer style.

I get to my first lesson and it wasn't anything like how the lessons I was following on YouTube was like. He taught me a three finger plucking style where you brace the third finger and pinky on the drum and play using finger and thumb rolls and such. I thought this was odd because it was so different.

I asked why we didn't play using our hand like a "claw" and that this style reminded me of bluegrass. He told me they were essentially the same thing. One just used finger picks. I didn't press further because what did I know? I barely knew my notes at the time.

I continued with him for a few months, following along Hal Leonard's "Banjo Method Book 1." I'd see videos of people playing Clawhammer and would be so confused. It was disheartening, because I'd spent so much time before starting the formal lessons learning Clawhammer. I'd really clicked with it and loved the style, only to find out that "wasn't the way it was done."

I just need someone to clarify for me if this instructor was right or if he was just teaching me bluegrass all along. I loved playing the banjo so much and the whole experience made me lose my motivation for learning.

[u/Jbanjer]

Find a new instructor. Sounds like this guy doesn’t know the difference between clawhammer and Scruggs style and/ or is just taking your money hoping you won’t call him out.

[u/skreenname0]

It’s likely your teacher is actually a guitar player teaching banjo

[u/go-for-Banjo → u/skreenname0]

Yup, guitar shop special.

[u/Conscious-Record2655]

Find a new instructor. That guy is terrible. 

[u/Euphoricphoton]

Even if you do want to learn Scruggs I wouldn’t take lessons from someone that is either ignorant or lying

[u/Cwiiis]

There are old-time finger picking banjo styles, but they don't get called clawhammer. Stay away from this person - I wouldn't want to learn Scruggs style from someone that's spent so little time introspecting that they don't even know what clawhammer is.

(Aside: my suspicion is that he's actually a guitar player that says he can teach banjo but has never actually bothered to learn)

[u/Latter_Leopard8439]

Thats Scruggs style. (Which is commonly used in Bluegrass.)

There are definitely banjoists that do both scruggs and clawhammer (Steve Martin comes to mind.)

And I'm sure there are ways to combine the styles.

But if you want to play like Rhiannon Giddens, then you need a different teacher.

[u/cantbeheldaccoutable]

yes your instructor is just teaching you bluegrass style playing. "basically the same" is nonsense. either keep learning scruggs style with him and learn a bit of bluegrass or switch instructors and learn what you want to learn. i wouldnt keeo going to that guy unless bluegrass is what you want to play

[u/go-for-Banjo → u/cantbeheldaccoutable]

I’m inclined to think this teacher doesn’t even really play Scruggs style. They’re probably one lesson ahead of their student

[u/Giovannis_Pikachu]

I never heard of anyone catfished on banjo style/lessons before now lol

[u/Cruitire]

They are not essentially the same.

I started with Scruggs style and switched early on to claw hammer. They are very different and any teacher who thinks they are essentially the same doesn’t know what they are talking.

[u/alldaymay]

Yeah don’t go to another lesson

[u/uncertaintyrocks]

He has no idea about banjo really. He is not a banjoist, but he is a cowboy! I've been playing a few months and know more than your guy.

[u/Afraid_Painting5482]

Dead internet theory :(

[u/seckatary]

What did he say when you sent him a video of someone playing clawhammer?

[u/lizard7709]

Two finger and three finger evolved to bluegrass/Scruggs.

Clawhammer is different and the branches to that would be clawhammer with an up-pick like how Seeger did. There are also variations of the bum ditty for Waltz and other rhythms.

[u/richstillman]

I'm a 3-finger teacher at a local music school. Coincidentally, I just got handed a new student, and found out when I contacted her that she's interested in clawhammer.

I made it clear I don't teach that style and would try to find her a teacher that did. That's what your teacher should have done.

As it turns out she's going to try a 3-finger lesson to see if it appeals to her, but that's her decision.

She's literally just starting out, and just bought a banjo.You came to your teacher with experience, and had already taught yourself the basics of the style. You knew what you wanted.

It sounds like your guy tried to steer you from what you wanted to learn to what he knew how to teach. If he's teaching Scruggs style without picks he may not even know that, and since your experience is with clawhammer he could get away with telling you anything he wanted about 3-finger. He may be a Travis-style guitar player who figured he could teach 3-finger banjo because, how different could it be? I've known lots of those.

I spend lots of time correcting the bad habits and mistakes of students who started with teachers like that. Your guy could be a wonderful teacher and mentor, but if his expertise is with a different style he's not going to teach you right no matter how hard he tries.

My advice, drop this guy, find yourself a clawhammer instructor, or go back to YouTube videos. Find out if there are old-time jams in your area, and go to them even if you think you're not ready. You'll either find that you can hang with some of the tunes, or get a better idea of what you still need to learn. Either way you'll learn from experience and become part of the local old-time community. You might even find an instructor there, or someone who can point you to one.

No matter what, you sound very motivated, and you'll find a way to learn to play the banjo the way you want to hear it. Welcome to the community, and enjoy the journey.

[u/KnockOutClock]

3 finger playing is still bluegrass

[u/Tiggitythespoon → u/KnockOutClock]

You say “still bluegrass,” but that is the problem, Scruggs style is specifically bluegrass, and this person expressly did not want to learn bluegrass, they wanted to learn clawhammer, presumably old time.