I've been doing it that way for 35 years, now I find out Pete Seeger did it the same way! Cool!

I started on guitar and find this method much easier than bashing the strings with the back of my nail like most tutorials describe, thanks for the help man!

I’m a beginner. There seems to be so many different ways to play. I think I like this a lot. You explained it well. Thanks.

Pete Seeger is the style I want to play. Thanks.

i hear pete in this. thanks for sharing john!

Thanks! I'm mostly a Scruggs 3-finger picker, took up clawhammer a few years ago but have never felt that comfortable with it. This "basic strum" seems more fluid and sounds great - like Pete!

Thank you for the lesson! I've been practicing the clawhammer style but never realized Seeger plucks like that. Very helpful, great video!

Thank you this video was invaluable in getting me started two years ago!

thanks this helped my style of banjo. I added this to my style. Except I use my index and thumb with up picking. I also learned from pete's book.

Thank you for the instruction sir. Appreciated.

Thanks John, very well explained. Enjoying banjo after many years playing guitar - they go together well! Greetings from Bristol, England.

Awesome. Thank you!!

Thank you so much for this great tutorial

Great tutorial. THANK YOU.

I've learned a lot of different styles over the years. I had Pete's book many moons ago so I picked up the "basic strum". Thanks, --JC

I recently acquired a banjo and was trying to learn to play it through youtube videos. The first I bumped into was teaching an Earl Scruggs bluegrass style and I found that damn near impossible to get through what was being described as the most basic stuff, plus it kind of hurt. Then I learned the difference between bluegrass and clawhammer and said "I think I want to try the clawhammer, but I wonder what Pete Seeger did" because I associate him more than anyone else with this instrument and love his music dearly. That landed me on this video. After using some other instruction videos to help me through the basics, I'm finding that the Seeger style is a lot easier for me than a true clawhammer. Playing that single note coming down is really tough for me. I remain totally baffled by the bluegrass picking style!

Thanks, John.

Thanks for a great banjo tutorial! I've been working on Pete's sbanjo style for some time. It seems to come more naturally for me than "standard" clawhammer.

Glad I could help. --JC

Very good exercices ! Merci beaucoup monsieur 👍👋

Thanks, I'm gonna use this to practice and hope I can use it on a picket line

wow...that sounds fantastic

Glad you liked it, thanks! --JC

That's a very brash banjo! you play in that style? he called it the basic strum and in the beginning of his later books expresses a regret that he hadn't taught everyone fingerstyle first in the book. it really sounds awesome on a plunky banjo ... nice to see another asmirer of PS!

I am too new to banjo to figure this one out myself, can you help? I want to learn "If I Had A Hammer" the way Pete Seeger did it and I notice he is using a capo on fourth fret, I think. I can find many banjo vids and resources about that song, but none of them address that particular tuning (whatever it is) and capo placement.

Thanks!

Great Video! It was hard to find one that did a good job explaining and showing this process. I have one question, and I would very much appreciate if you can give me some more help :-) I have learned to play the banjo with metal finger picks, and I have been finding it very hard to use the picks backwards when I do the Ditty of the bum-ditty part. The thing that is stopping me from using my bare fingers is that I have a cut on one of my fingers, and when I do the strum part (the ditty), my cut starts to bleed. What do you think I should do? I can put a bandaid on, but it just interferes with my playing. Maybe I should try to get better metal picks that fit my finger (I got some with my banjo that are pretty small) better and allow me to strum "Backwards"? Thanks, and any feedback or help is appreciated.

John, I really appreciate your lesson... it is excellent... I do have a question, though... when plucking on the upward stroke, can I use my middle finger instead of index finger? it seems to work easier for me... Jerry

Ya this could work for me I have big hands and no nails but use a propick Normally use the back of my finger but forget to use 5th , This way might help TKS .Subbed

What's that little song you play in the beginning? Can you share tabs for it please?

You still out there, John??? Thanks from "the future" 9 years later. 😁

could u tell what each string is tuned to and is that a long neck banjo

Pete did a lot for folk music but honestly I much prefer the old time two finger banjo style better. Like Frank Proffitt - Lilly May Ledford. Maybe because its a lot more mellow.

I am glad KZfaq has a 0.5 speed button.

O

this guy isn't wearing a Clancy sweater by accidnent lol