"Pawhammer" is a new extension of clawhammer that Steve Kahn (yers truly) developed just a few years ago, in 2020. Working the pinky into clawhammer play, I found that this addition allowed not only many new tunes to be played, but also entirely new genres, such as ragtime and jazz. Writing up an instruction book and my arrangements of both bluegrass and ragtime tunes, Mel Bay Publications decided in 2023 to publish it. Just released in August 2024, the book is a guide through how to begin using this exciting new extension in your playing, along with 14 tune arrangements (including 7 Scott Joplin favorites, such as "Maple Leaf Rag"

and "The Entertainer"). 

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Not everything could be included in the book, however, so I will be posting new material here from time to time in the blog, which is "Addenda & Errata" in the menu.

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Got a question not addressed in the blog? Please contact me at

stevekmusicstevekmusic at gmail dot com!