Clawhammer Song of the Week: “Let It Snow”

As 2020 mercifully draws to a close, the airwaves fill with songs of the holiday season.

And as I’ve mentioned before, this collection of music makes for ideal learning material. Not to mention a way to add some crowd-pleasing numbers to your repertoire (regardless of whether that crowd is a paid audience, friends and family, a nosy neighbor, or your pet parakeet).

I’m currently working on the second installment of the “12 Days of Banjo” for the Breakthrough Banjo course (if you’re a course member, you’ll soon find the book in the “Bonus Stuff” section), so I’m knee-deep in holiday tunes!

The reason these songs make great learning material is that they are so familiar.

Since you’ve heard them a thousand times, there’s little chance you’ll be trying to learn them without a clear idea of how they’re supposed to sound.

The first “12 Days of Banjo” book focused on the centuries-old classics. Those songs tend to have a simpler harmonic structure and are great for burning in those I, IV, and V chord positions.

This second book is composed of more of the “contemporary hits” (as in less than a century old). Here, the harmonies and chord progressions are more adventurous.

As such, they’re a great way to branch out into less familiar territory on the fretboard.

One of those songs is today’s holiday hit, “Let It Snow” – one that uses every chord in the key of G except for the vii (and even one chord that isn’t in the key – can you spot it??).