Clawhammer (also called traditional or folk)-style banjo playing is much more mellow than bluegrass. Players pick with only two fingers, usually the thumb and index finger. It is most often played on an open-back banjo. Some of the sound is absorbed by clothing, giving it a softer sound (compared to a bluegrass banjo with a resonator). Notable clawhammer players include David Holt, Mark Johnson, Dan Levenson, Pete Seeger and the late Grandpa Jones, of Grand Ole Opry fame.
