Ken Donaldson

Clawhammer

Ken Donaldson

When I took up the guitar in the 1960s I was in awe of the finger-pickers of folk/blues like Bert Jansch, of ragtime like Stefan Grossman and of jazz like Martin Taylor. They play not with a pick but with the thumb and a Read more

When I took up the guitar in the 1960s I was in awe of the finger-pickers of folk/blues like Bert Jansch, of ragtime like Stefan Grossman and of jazz like Martin Taylor. They play not with a pick but with the thumb and a few fingers of their right hand. Done well this produces a unique harmonic beauty and complexity not really achieved with a pick. Over the years I have played a small selection of tunes this way, colloquially known a clawhammer style, and so here they are- they are mostly done in a single take, no overdubs just one track, warts and all.

0:00/???
  1. 1
    0:00/1:58
  2. 2
    0:00/0:56
  3. 3
    0:00/1:02
  4. 4
    0:00/0:52
  5. 5
    0:00/1:02
  6. 6
    0:00/0:54
  7. 7
    0:00/1:21
  8. 8
    0:00/0:59
  9. 9
    0:00/1:36
  10. 10
    0:00/3:06
  11. 11
    0:00/2:19

Lighthouse Road

Will o' the wisp project studio

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  1. 1
    0:00/7:34
  2. 2
    0:00/5:51
  3. 3
    0:00/2:47
  4. 4
    0:00/5:13
  5. 5
    0:00/4:00
  6. 6
    0:00/3:43
  7. 7
    0:00/3:54
  8. 8
    0:00/5:05
  9. 9
    0:00/5:29
  10. 10
    0:00/3:13
  11. 11
    0:00/2:34
  12. 12
    0:00/2:41
  13. 13
    0:00/2:19