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Clawhammer Banjo Tune of the Week: “Good King Wenceslas”

Click here to subscribe to the tune of the week (if you’re not already a subscriber) and get a new tune every Friday, plus tabs to all the ones to date.


Okay, so who’s ready for a Feast of Steven?!

You see, before the days of the internet, one could merrily sing songs with odd references such as this, blissfully unaware of what on earth they were referring to. And that was part of the fun. But alas, this is the information age, when the answer to everything is but a google search away.

But I digress. Actually, I’m pretty sure I never even gressed in the first place.

Anyhow, we’re up to day 5 of the 12 Days of Banjo, and for this installment we’ve given our good King Wenceslas a clawhammer makeover. I think it’s a good look for him.

You’ll hear in the video I play both a down and “up the neck” variation of this tune. The up the neck part is a wee bit trickier, depending on the speed you choose to play it at, but a lot of fun once you get the hang of it.

Good King Wenceslas

gDGBD tuning, Brainjo Level 3

Screen Shot 2014-12-12 at 9.32.03 PM

Up the Neck Variation, Brainjo Level 4

Screen Shot 2014-12-12 at 9.49.06 PM

Notes on the Tab

Strums: Any time you see more than one note to be played at the same time, this should be played as a strum. The number of notes indicated is merely a suggestion.

Skip notes: The notes in the shaded box are “skip” notes, meaning they’re not actually sounded by the picking finger. Instead, you continue the clawhammer motion with your picking hand, but “skip” playing the note by not striking it (this is a technique used to add space and syncopation). The fret number you see in the shaded box is the suggested note to play should you elect to strike the string.

About the Author
Josh Turknett is founder and lead brain hacker at Brainjo Productions
 

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