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'Clawhammer' Clawhammer. Clawhammer is one name for a fingerstyle guitar technique - a way of plucking the strings with the thumb and fingers of the right hand. It differs from classical guitar technique in the angle of the fingers and because frequently only the thumb, index and middle finger of the right hand are used (the action of the two fingers resembling the movement of a clawhammer as it pulls out nails). The pinky or little finger is often pressed against the soundboard of the guitar to support the fingers. Three finger styles are also common. Clawhammer styles were also used by early banjo pickers. Country and folk blues music for guitar often uses clawhammer techniques. One of the leading exponents,who disseminated the style widely through the Sixties blues and folk revival was the Rev Gary Davis. Sam McGhee was an early white country picker. The style was adapted and modernised by the likes of Nashville player and record producer Chet Atkins and is used today by rock star Mark Knopfler. Many leading exponents of 'hot' country guitar have adapted the technique to the electric instrument by using a plectrum between thumb and forefinger and using middle and third (ring) fingers to pluck the strings.Albert Lee is a prime exponent of this approach. Clawhammer variants are common in many world music styles, but it remains in its purest form an acoustic folk or blues technique - James Taylor has adapted the technique to the pop market while it is still a prime rhythm technique of the Nashville studios.
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