Clawhammer is a common technique for playing old-time banjo, but few guitarists have adapted the style. Peghead Nation instructor Steve Baughman is among a handful of players (the short list of which also includes Molly Tuttle, Jody Stecher, and Alec Stone Sweet) who frequently use clawhammer to create rhythmically driving guitar arrangements. You can hear more of the technique on several of Steve’s albums (check out celticguitar.com for more info) and learn to play it in Steve’s Peghead Nation Clawhammer Guitar course.

Steve recently stopped by the Peghead Nation video studio to play a medley of the traditional fiddle tunes “Cumberland Gap” and “Cripple Creek,” which he arranged in open-D tuning (DADF#AD). He teaches a slightly different version of “Cripple Creek” in his course. Steve uses his Circa Guitars signature model guitar in this video. 

To learn to play Clawhammer Guitar with Steve Baughman, enroll in his Peghead Nation course today!

Steve Baughman: “Autumn in Azure” Peghead Nation clawhammer guitar instructor plays a brand-new original tune. Read More

Twanguero, “Blue Smoke” | Collings Guitars Diego Garcia plays a great version of the Merle Travis classic on a Collings OM. Read More

Doug Young: Paddy Fahy’s Jig #1/Paddy Fahy’s Reel #3 Peghead Nation instructor plays a fingerstyle guitar arrangement of two popular Irish tunes. Read More

Doug Young: “Sunbreak” A beautiful original fingerstyle piece by Peghead Nation’s newest guitar instructor. Read More

Trifolium: “Sanctuary” | Muleskinner Instruments Froggy Bottom luthier and Muleskinner Instruments founder Andy Mueller plays a Muleskinner octave mandolin with his trio. Read More

Froggy Bottom Guitars | 5A Koa Model M Scott Ainslie plays "Coleman's March" in Open C tuning on a beautiful Froggy Bottom. Read More

Benjamin Scheuer | “Weather the Storm” | Froggy Bottom Guitars Songwriter Benjamin Scheuer plays an original song from his award-winning one-man, six-guitar show, THE LION. Read More

Ryosuke Yufu: “D N A” | The Izu Sessions 2 | Taylor Guitars Japan Guitar virtuoso Ryosuke Yufu plays an original tune on his Taylor 514ce at Kitty Izu Studio in Japan. Read More

Froggy Bottom Guitars | “Avalon Blues” | Limited Grade H-12 Scott Ainslie plays a Mississippi John Hurt classic on a beautiful 12-fret built with Koa back and sides and a Sitka spruce top. Read More

Froggy Bottom Limited Grade Model C Scott Ainslie plays a beautiful version of “You Don't Know What Love Is” on a custom parlor guitar from Froggy Bottom Guitars. Read More