Banjo Clawhammer Technique

The clawhammer method of banjo playing is all about the direction of the strum. In clawhammer, you always down-pick, hitting the strings with the back of your fingernails. The position you adopt to do this curls your fingers into a claw, hence, part of the explanation for the name. In the following example of basic clawhammer technique, i indicates the use of your index finger, t indicates your thumb, and b indicates that you brush the strings:

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