Stephen Kahn

Pawhammer Banjo

This book opens an entire new world for the clawhammer banjo player. In Mel Bay’s Pawhammer Banjo, the banjoist will discover new realms in clawhammer play with the use of a technical extension called “pawhammer” developed by Steve Kahn. With this extension in hand, a banjo player will be able to play notes on higher strings after playing the middle- or index-fingernail stroke. This removes a longtime drawback in clawhammer play and allows the playing of not only many new bluegrass and traditional tunes, but the entire field of ragtime. Through meticulous technical descriptions, photos, and arrangements of fourteen tunes from both the bluegrass/traditional and ragtime fields—with seven favorites from Scott Joplin, including “Maple Leaf Rag” and “The Entertainer,”—author Steve Kahn carefully teaches the new skills involved in “pawhammer” banjo technique.