Frailing: Right Hand Technique
The Basic "bum-diddy" Pattern
The basic pattern in clawhammer banjo involves plucking a
melody note with the back of the index or middle fingernail
on the first down beat, then brushing several strings with
the back of the fingernail on the up beat, while the thumb
plays between the up beat and the next down beat. This pattern
produces a rhythm that sounds like "bum-diddy"--thus
the name. Which finger is used on the downbeat is not important,
except that you should pick one and stick with it.
Watch a video demonstration
of the basic "bum-diddy" frailing pattern.
What NOT To Do
It is important in frailing that you not pluck the string
with a motion of your finger, but rather with the motion of
your whole hand. Similarly, you should not really pluck the
fifth string with your thumb as much as sound it on releasing
your hand from the strings between beats. On each beat, when
you sound a melody note or brush with the back of your fingernail,
you should be cocking your thumb underneath the fifth string
at the same time, so that it must of neccessity sound when
you raise your hand in preparation for the next beat. The
importance of this cannot be overemphasized, since it is almost
impossible to achieve an appropriate speed if you are plucking
the strings with your fingers rather than letting the motion
of your whole hand, or even forearm determine the music.
Watch a video demonstration
of what not to do, then compare it with the proper
technique displayed above.
Rhythmic Variations
Try practicing the following rhythmic variations of the standard
"bum-diddy" pattern.
Variation1
Listen to the MIDI
Variation2
Listen to the MIDI
Drop or Double Thumbing
To add variety, many clawhammer songs utilize a technique
called drop thumbing. Drop thumbing involves thumbing on a
string other than the fifth one. Often the thumb will alternate
back and forth between the fifth string and one of the other
strings. While some people use the term double thumbing interchangeably
with drop thumbing, it is probably more accurate to say that
double thumbing refers to the sounding of the fifth string
between every beat rather than every other one as displayed
in the second rhythmic variation above. Drop thumbing is shown
in the tab below.
Watch a video demonstration
of drop thumbing.
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