Learn Clawhammer Ukulele (2 Ways!) – Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Matt Stead
3 days ago
2 min read

Learn Clawhammer Ukulele (2 Ways!) – Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Clawhammer ukulele is one of those techniques that often looks mysterious, complicated, or even a bit intimidating. The good news? It really doesn’t need to be.

In this live ukulele workshop, I’ll be showing you two clear, approachable ways to play clawhammer ukulele, using the Carter Family’s timeless old-time tune Will The Circle Be Unbroken as our musical guide.

Whether you’ve never tried clawhammer before or you’ve dabbled and felt unsure, this lesson is designed to help the technique finally click.

What Is Clawhammer Ukulele?

Clawhammer is a rhythmic, percussive playing style most commonly associated with banjo and old-time music. On the ukulele, it creates a wonderfully rolling, earthy sound that works beautifully for folk, Americana, gospel, and traditional tunes.

Unlike strumming or fingerpicking, clawhammer uses a relaxed downstroke motion combined with the thumb, creating a groove that feels musical and satisfying right from the start.

And despite how it might look — clawhammer ukulele is far more achievable than many players expect.

Learn Clawhammer Ukulele Two Different Ways

In this live lesson, I’ll walk you through two practical clawhammer approaches, so you can find the one that suits your hands, your brain, and your musical goals.

We’ll look at:

How clawhammer motion actually works (without tension or strain)
A simplified entry-level clawhammer pattern
A slightly fuller variation for players who want more movement
How to keep everything relaxed and musical
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

By learning clawhammer in two different ways, you’ll gain confidence and flexibility — and realise there’s no single “right” way to get started.

Why Will The Circle Be Unbroken?

Will The Circle Be Unbroken is a perfect tune for learning clawhammer ukulele. Popularised by the Carter Family, it sits beautifully on the instrument and allows us to focus on feel, rhythm, and flow rather than tricky chord changes.

Using a well-known old-time song means you can:

Hear the groove clearly
Play something musical straight away
Apply the technique to other folk and traditional songs with ease

Live Ukulele Workshop Details

🪕 Live Ukulele Workshop: Learn Clawhammer Ukulele

🎵 Will The Circle Be Unbroken

📅 Wednesday 21st January 2026

🕒 3:30pm UK time

🎥 Replay available afterward

s📄 Worksheets free for all Learn Ukulele members

This session is suitable for beginners through to more experienced players who want to add a new texture to their playing.

Want to Go Further?

If you enjoy this workshop and would like more structured learning, you can explore 10 fully structured ukulele courses on my website — covering everything from beginner foundations to fingerstyle, theory, and traditional techniques like clawhammer.

👉 Visit my website: https://learnukulele.com

Final Thought

Clawhammer ukulele doesn’t need to be scary, fast, or complicated. With the right approach, it can be relaxed, musical, and incredibly fun — and I’d love to help you discover that for yourself.

If you’ve ever been curious about clawhammer, this is the perfect place to start.