Learn old-time clawhammer banjo from the beginning, with basic clawhammer technique exercises and lots of great old-time and traditional songs to play.
Try a Sample Lesson
Shady Grove
There are several versions of the traditional favorite “Shady Grove.” This one is in G modal tuning, the same tuning as “Cluck Old Hen.” Once again, to get into this tuning you simply raise your second string up a half step to C. “Shady Grove” is a one part tune, and you’ll mostly play the melody, not chords, whether you’re playing the melody by itself or singing the song. Evie starts by playing through the whole tune and singing the song, so you can get the melody in your head before you start finding it on the banjo. Then she walks you through the melody, phrase by phrase, showing you how the words of the song match the melody. You’ll also learn some variations to the basic melody, including more hammer-ons and drop thumbing.