At last, here it is.
The winner of the first annual Clawhammer Tune of the Week. The clawhammer banjo tune to end all clawhammer banjo tunes.
(RELATED: If you’ve enjoyed this “Top 10” series, remember that there are many, many more tabs and video demonstrations inside of the Breakthrough Banjo course, as part of The Vault. Click here to see a current list of tunes and songs inside The Vault.)
Without a doubt, “Snowdrop” has become the great ambassador of clawhammer banjo.
No tune will more reliably perk up the ears of the casual listener.
No tune will prompt more people to exclaim “I didn’t know a banjo can sound like that.”
And I’d venture that, in the past decade, more people have been compelled to take up clawhammer banjo by this tune than any other (ironic given that it was first recorded fingerstyle by the inimitable Kirk McGee).
So if there were ever an essential tune to include in your repertoire, this would be it.
As we did with Colored Aristocracy, we’re once again venturing into gCGCE (“open C”) tuning.
And as is almost always the case with “alternate” tunings, this tuning both makes the tune easier to play (in fact, you may be surprised at just how easy), AND makes it sound better.
Snowdrop, Brainjo level 2
gCGCE tuning
Snowdrop, Brainjo level 3
gCGCE tuning
Thanks for taking part in the Top 10 Series!
For more on how to read the tabs, check out this complete guide to reading banjo tabs.
To learn more about the Breakthrough Banjo course, where you’ll find hundreds more tabs and videos like the ones above, with arrangements tailored to all levels (click here for a current list of tunes and songs inside the Breakthrough Banjo course), then click below:
Prior “Clawhammer Top 10” Videos:
- Episode 1: “Soldier’s Joy“
- Episode 2: “Shady Grove“
- Episode 3: “Arkansas Traveler“
- Episode 4: “Cripple Creek“
- Episode 5: “Cumberland Gap“
- Episode 6: “Cold Frosty Morn“
- Episode 7: “Waterbound“
- Episode 8: “Colored Aristocracy“
- Episode 9: “Wandering Boy“
