Truefire Brad Kolodner's Next Gen Clawhammer

12 Next Level Clawhammer Banjo Techniques & Concepts
In this Next Gen Clawhammer Masterclass with Brad Kolodner, you'll study 12 essential techniques and concepts designed to take your clawhammer playing to the next level and beyond. Brad breaks down each concept in detail and you'll put it all to work across a series of performances studies with backing tracks for a real world musical context.

Brad represents the next generation of Old-Time musicians pushing the boundaries of the tradition into uncharted territory. Highly acclaimed for his delicate touch, expressive style, and original compositions, Kolodner has rapidly gained national attention for his unique approach to the banjo.

"Banjo player Brad Kolodner takes the clawhammer style to heady heights, soloing with the deftness of a bebop player, despite the physical limitation of doing so on his plunking instrument,” says WMOT Radio.

We're thrilled to welcome Brad to the family with his first TrueFire course, Next Gen Clawhammer!

”I grew up in a musical family where old time music was the soundtrack of my childhood. My father played fiddle and hammered dulcimer but I was drawn to the banjo and while my playing is very much rooted in the traditional clawhammer technique, my creative and technical approaches have evolved over the years -- improvising, playing all over the neck and bringing fresh expressive qualities to old time tunes.”

Brad will guide you through a series of illuminating concept and technique lessons including: Bum-Ditty Review, Demystifying Drop Thumb, Playing with Clarity & Tone, Fingerboard Mapping in Open G, Playing Up the Neck & the Magic X, Variations & Embellishments, The Cluck Technique, Ghost Strum and the Strum Ditty, Fingerboard Mapping in Double C, Playing Up the Neck in Double C, The Galax Lick, Spicing Up Your Playing and Banjo Setup.

"Along with each concept lesson, we'll apply what we learn across 12 Old-time string band playalong jams with fiddle and guitar. We'll play Josie-O, Fire on the Mountain, Roscoe, Roscoe with Variations, Sandy Boys, Grub Springs, Spotted Pony, Sadie at the Backdoor, Sadie at the Backdoor: with Galax Licks, and Roscoe Ending Tags.”

Brad will explain and demonstrate all of the key concepts and approaches along the way. You'll get standard notation and tabs for all of the performance studies. Plus, you'll be able to use TrueFire's learning tools to sync the tab and notation to the video lesson. You can also loop or slow down the videos so that you can work with the lessons at your own pace. All of the backing tracks are included to work with on your own as well.

Grab your banjo and let's dig in with Brad Kolodner!