As for playing in 6/8 time I prefer to use two finger thumb lead. That is much easier and natural for me to get the jig feel which, dotted or undotted, comes from emphasis on beats one and four.

Awesome stuff here Noah! You are playing really clean and nicely! When I first figured out how to play in 6/8 I taught myself and found another way, using upstrokes. it has its pros and cons, I just made a video on it actually! what do y'all think? give my way a go and see how it feels

Hey Victor that sounds great - and it's the style of jig playing I worked out years ago (no internet or YouTube then haha). I've caught glimpses of it around so I suspect we're not the first.

I have a couple videos in this thread - check them out I'd like to know what you think.

To me this style feels more natural and easier to pick up jigs on the fly (I use it playing jigs for contra dances) but tbh I never learned the other style so can't really compare.

Really I don't know why more people don't play this way. Maybe because that up pick feels foreign?

Thanks @Victorfurtado. I have always struggled with using hammer-ons and pull-offs for melody notes. It just does not feel right to me, or give clear.
I recently started incorporating up-strokes to resolve issues playing other genres (rags), and thought, "hey, this would solve issues associated with jigs!".
And then I found your post.
I am yet to test it, but the method looks great. Thanks for sharing.

I've really enjoyed this one from Allison de Groot:

youtube.com/watch?v=E-uuczw46HQ

Hadn't watched Furtado's video...didn't realize it was the same tune as the Degroot video...

Thanks for the video. Im just starting out so this helpful.

Love your explanation of the two different methods... you broke it down so even a raw beginner like me could follow.
 

quote:

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Originally posted by jenorma1

Hey Noah - great jig playing! I tried to dissect jig playing in two posts on my blog a while back:

https://www.jeffnormanbanjo.com/weekly-banjo-blog/playing-jigs-on-clawhammer-banjo

https://www.jeffnormanbanjo.com/weekly-banjo-blog/another-way-to-play-jigs

In the second post I reference the jig technique of BHO member "slc" who uses up-picking in his clawhammer to get some really smooth jig rhythm. Just wanted to share this video of him playing Coleraine's jig - totally fascinated by his approach:

https://youtu.be/vY4yxCrludA

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I have added two entries about clawhammer techniques for playing jigs to the Tab Archive.  There is a 15-page PDF with tips, an exercise and tabs for 10 often-played jigs.  I have created two entries because the Hangout appears to allow only 10 attachments to an entry and I have 11 MP3 files for the tabs.  

Part 1 contains the full PDF and MP3 files for: Jig Exercises, Cliffs of Moher, Connaughtman's Ramble, Kesh Jig, Morrison's Jig and Out on the Ocean.
Clawhammer Tips and Tabs for 10 Jigs - Pt 1 Tab - Details and Ratings - Banjo Hangout

Part 2 contains the full PDF and MP3 files for: Road to Lisdoonvarna ,Saddle the Pony, Star Above the Garter, Swallowtail Jig and Tobin's Jig.
Clawhammer Tips and Tabs for 10 Jigs - Pt 2 Tab - Details and Ratings - Banjo Hangout

David

That DeGroot video is nice. A piece I clawhammered in 6/8...all down strokes. https://vimeo.com/931564017 I play a few more pices in 6/8, but not  a lot.