Frailing
 
Often new banjo players ask the difference between 'frailing' and 'clawhammer', 'drop-thumb' and 'double thumb' techniques. These questions are diffucult to answer because so many musicians interpret the terms differently.
 
The basic frailing technique
 
Unlike fingerpicking a guitar, where you pull up on the strings, bringing your fingertips inward towards the palm of your hand, frailing requires that you 'hammer' down on the string(s) with your fingernail. Frailiers use their middle finger, index finger, and even their ring finger to strike down on the string.
 

Thank-you Donald Zepp for the videos on this page.
 
The thumb rests on the fifth string (the shortest one, closest to your chin), at the same time as each 'hammer' with your chosen finger, until the thumb is required to sound a string. When the thumb is used, it actually 'catches' the string when the hand is rebounding from the hammer strike. In other words, for each hammer, the thumb rests on the fifth string on the down strike of any other string, then it leaves the fifth string when the hand moves away from your body in preparation for the next 'hammer'. When the thumb needs to sound a string, it 'catches' the string as the hand moves away from your body. Some musicians turn their wrists slightly (so the knobby bone reaches for the sky) to catch the string more solidly.
 
The basic frailing rhythm
 

In 2/4 time, count out the eighth notes like this: 1 + 2 +. Say outloud 'one and two and'.

(1) On the 1 (one) count, hammer (strike down on) any string but the fifth.
(2) Do nothing on the first + (and) count.
(3) On the 2 (two) count, hammer any two or more strings but not the fifth. This is called a 'brush' stroke.
(4) On the second + (and), catch the fifth string with your thumb on the hands return from the previous hammer.

This series of right-hand movements is often referred to as the bum-ditty strum. Bum being the 1st count, dit being the 2nd count and ty being the 2nd + (second and) count.

Therefore, the hammer occurs on the first beat (quarter note), the brush occurs on the second beat (eighth note) then the thumb sounds on the off beat (last eighth note).
 
 
The basic clawhammer rhythm

Clawhammer rhythm is basically the same as the frailing rhythm except that the thumb is used on the first + (and) beat, usually on any string but the fifth, as well as on the second + (and).

(1) On the 1 (one) count, hammer any string but the fifth.
(2) On the first + (and) count, catch any string but the fifth with your thumb.
(3) On the 2 (two) count, hammer or brush any string(s) except the fifth.
(4) On the second + (and), catch the fifth string with your thumb on the hands return from the previous hammer.

This series of right-hand movements is often referred to as the bump a ditty strum, or drop-thumbing. Bump is the 1st count, 'a' is the second count [1st + (first and)] , dit is the 3rd count and ty is the 4th count [2nd + (second and)].

Therefore, the hammer occurs on the first eighth note, the thumb catches any string but the fifth on the second eighth note, the brush or hammer occurs on the third eighth note then the thumb sounds on the last eighth note.

Please note that some musicians call the clawhammer rhythm/technique described here as 'drop-thumb frailing'. This is why the terms clawhammer and frailing are often used interchangeably.

 
Drop-thumb technique
 
Drop-thumb simply means that the thumb drops from the fifth string to play any one of the other strings, usually on the off-beat. To accomplish this, just follow the 4 steps listed under the 'basic clawhammer rhythm' heading.
 
chart
 
Double-thumb technique
 

Some musicians use the term 'double-thumb' to include another technique called 'double-thumbing'. Double-thumbing replicates the drop-thumb technique, but it restricts the thumb to the fifth string only.

(1) On the 1 (one) count, hammer any string but the fifth.
(2) On the first + (and) count, catch the fifth string with your thumb.
(3) On the 2 (two) count, hammer or brush any string(s) except the fifth.
(4) On the second + (and), catch the fifth string with your thumb on the hands return from the previous hammer.
 
 
Thumb Uses
 
Here's a video that incorporates some of the techniques we've discussed so far. Zepp also describes several ways to use your thumb, listed below..
 
1. Arpeggios
2. Syncopation
3. Melody
4. Rhtymic effects
 
 
Summary
 
So there you have it. Clear as mud? Some people think there is no difference between clawhammer and frailing. Others believe that clawhammer is more melodic and uses drop-thumb, and frailing is more rhythmic and uses more brushes. For further discussion whether it is frailing or clawhammer, click here.

 
Thanks
 
Thank you Donald Zepp of Zepp Country Music Inc. for making the videos contained on this web page, and granting me the privilege to use them on my website. You will notice that Zepp painted his middle fingernail white and installed a clear head on his banjo so we can easily view his right-hand technique.
Be sure to check out Zepp's sound files. You will be awestruck.