Jerry Reed's Banjo Roll Techniques

[@toneranger]

Buster was such a wonderful understated player with killer licks and a great way of teaching. Glad we have these videos long after he left us. RIP

[@-RandomBiz-]

I met him in 1999 when he did a tour for Godin and I was the manager of a music store in Illinois. They didn't promote the appearance so unfortunately no one showed up but he was so nice to me. He gave me a mini lesson on banjo rolls and I think I still have the paper he wrote out for me somewhere. I bought two of his CD's and when I hear these rolls I hear the same personality that came through his fingers on those albums. You may be gone but your music lives on. Thank you for everything. RIP Buster

[@yammmit]

This video is the definition of “making it look easy.”

[@-RandomBiz-]

I was pleasantly surprised to find that when I came here it's Buster Jones!!! I met him in 1999 when he did a tour for Godin and I was the manager of a music store in Illinois. They didn't promote the appearance so unfortunately no one showed up but he was so nice to me. He gave me a mini lesson on banjo rolls and I think I still have the paper he wrote out for me somewhere. I bought two of his CD's and when I hear these rolls I hear the same personality that came through his fingers on those albums. You may be gone but your music lives on. Thank you for everything. RIP Buster

[@stevepethel6843]

Buster teaches great lesson even though his body is gone his giving lives on. God bless Busters friends and family...

[@johnpace2285]

Unfortunate, Buster died Feb 2, 2009 of liver failure. What a great player he was.

[@Glazkor]

What a fucking Legend

[@elonmust7470]

I wonder if he had alcohol problems?

[@markopolo2224]

rip

[@suryavgaur]

F

[@travis8947]

Dude used to play with Jimmy Martin.

[@Death.ByShred]

Buster is the dude. Perfect player, exceptional teacher

[@martinsmall3284]

Buster, you were an awesome player and a great mentor. You are greatly missed. I love that I can go to KZbin and still watch you play.

[@alexacosta2140]

The roll at 0:42 sounds like heaven. It plays rent free in my head

[@bob5951]

it's funny - I bought a banjo thinking it would enhance my guitar finger picking - now I'm learning Banjo Rolls for guitar that will help my banjo playing.

[@viewoftheaskew]

"Life it seems, is not without a sense of irony." ~ Morpheus

[@Cuchi69]

Lmao

[@Uber_Versace]

Imagine playing this on a banjitar *visible confusion*

[@sunrockgames-a-lot228]

I'm thinking of doing it! It would help if you tell me how the training is going.

[@benjaminnelson7540]

Always nice to have crossover knowledge on instruments

[@jackwheeler9304]

He does make it look easy, love having my mind blown at least once a day! He plays stuff more out of this world now. RIP Buster.

[@jacktoddy9783]

How wonderful KZbin is at giving access to such great videos as this which raise one's aspirations towards improving as a musician.

[@plasticrap4577]

Buster, if you’re out there, know that I love you! Great lesson! Danny Gatton and Jerry Reed would be very proud!❤

[@shanestritch7578]

Buster B Jones beyond words. Way passed legend . I really miss you Buster B. Beautiful brother.

[@kevdean9967]

He seemed like a cool guy!!!

[@hillwellford9637]

One of the best things about learning music, and even a particular instrument, is being better able to appreciate the skill and articulation of something like this, rather than just hearing a pleasing miasma. Somebody once described it to me as being able to taste the ingredients, not just the stew. So for those who wrote something about this being discouraging given their own level of skill on guitar, no! What you are feeling is just a connoisseur's ability to appreciate it. Good on you!

[@rev.jimjonesandthekool-aid4488]

It is like magic. An out of tune guitar can lay lifeless in the corner for years. Silent. One day a friend sees it and picks it up, tunes it. And suddenly the instrument comes alive. I always loved that about musicians.

[@daveb9370]

Hill Wellford Interesting point of view. I agree, being a guitar player who wrote original music and recorded and mixed my band. You tend to miss alot of subtlety of instruments in a mix. When soloed, you hear all the nuances and little differences, but bring up the entire mix and they fade into a bigger soundscape. I always like picking one instrument and focusing on it while listening to the song, because even that sharpens your listening skills, but you still don’t pick up alot of the little ambient subtleties within a complete mix, but you get close. Sometimes you don’t realize the space a player is presenting, like with 2 guitars, piano or keys, and vocals in a mix until you can isolate tracks. Pretty cool though, how separate, sparse parts blend together to sound huge and full in a mix. But on the flip side, listen to parts and the tone of a single instrument, like guitar or bass, soloed, and it sounds smaller and thinner than in the mix. But bring it all up and the mix sounds full and satisfying to the ears. Mixing well is a very cool skill that is very stimulating to our ears and our brain. Have a great day!

[@zizouel6366]

this is the best way to start learning jerry s breakdown very nice I swear .

[@screamengine]

Heck of a guy with heck of a lesson! Best delivery I've heard. The calm of a 80's PBS Saturday show! Hope he does many more.

[@dugger0]

Sorry to inform you. Buster passed away in 2009

[@FrettieFingers]

Buster was so Great. One of best thumbpickin' teachers/performers out there. RIP Buster.

[@jasoncarman9656]

To one of the best Fingerpickers, & teachers ever!, Also, for all your lessons showing the styles of Reed, Atkins, & Travis... Thank you and Rest in Power Buster B. Jones “Le Machine Gun”!!

[@roman-co1hg]

Has anybody seen movie Tropic Thunder? Remember Les Grossman?

[@stevenhaskell9025]

Comment of a god. "FUCK YOUR OWN FACE"

[@ChristopherSmith-bh4sz]

Was just going to say that, was Tom Cruise!

[@gehnzou1]

DIET COKE!!!!!!!

[@UniversalSouls]

Fantastic

[@sionyevans]

Haa no way I didn't see your comment...funny as...Les Grossman

[@jamespearson352]

4 minutes in, this video change my guitar playing forever.

[@dmitry.skripnikov]

Recently I was trying to pick out what Jerry is doing on chorus and bridge of I’ll Say She Does, after two days I gave up: quality of the record and the volume of Jerry’s part were not helping. But at least I could pick out the chords he plays. Now with this video I realized that Jerry is doing these banjo rolls and I can try to apply this pattern and see what comes out!

[@funnyperson4027]

0:43 wow that is beautiful

[@Brickcellent]

The skill level jump from 3:42 to 3:53 is enormous.

[@ckmoore101]

Yeah, that was like over a year of practice. Hard practice

[@klangfarben6]

"Now with a little more speed..."

[@neilmocann7729]

It's amazing how he makes it sound , great play ,

[@overstuffedteddybear1274]

0:41 was wonderful

[@dennisjohndreher7258]

Miss Buster, great talent, great person. RIP

[@RichardFreeberg]

Wow. Great stuff! Presented clearly and patiently. He left this world but he gave us all a gift that lives on. I never could master that role that he did so effortlessly ...

[@krishantha1984]

what a gem of a lesson..and cool guy

[@jonsiewert6893]

This guy is genuinely awesome.

[@mshuptar]

Great lesson! Thank you for illustrating a technique that can be applied to multiple songs (as opposed to just doing the cover).

[@t4texastomjohnnycat978]

What incredible playing.🎸

[@Miguel...160]

Awesome RIP man .

[@jamesfarrington9030]

Nice ovation.

[@andrewreynolds2647]

Superb lesson by a fantastic player, this guy really knew his way around a guitar. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful video, so sad to hear of busters passing. r.i.p.

[@gabegmusic8156]

I love this so much. Geez. The Guitar is a pandoras box that can be opened multiple times as we move along with our guitar playing.

[@wolfie316781]

This guys was an absolute beast of a guitar player

[@jimg5413]

Great lesson thank you! Well taught

[@nezbit8989]

Solid gold lesson🤩

[@danielsmith4090]

That was absolutely beautiful

[@eddyhailwood6151]

My music shop fret music in southampton had the pleasure of hosting Buster for a Godin day. What a lovely guy he was. What a player. Wonderful. RiP

[@mariomansuelli8967]

Great! Thank you! It's also very nice to hear someone who plays country music on a classical guitar.

[@zu0832]

It's a nylon string Ovation. Not really a classical guitar

[@dinodasbunce6224]

I have the same guitar and it has over the years become my main guitar. I bought it new in 1987. It is one of three Ovations that I own.

[@vikingjosh2003]

Do you know what model it is?

[@j.mshrader4104]

That’s a 1624-4 country artist buster is playing. 1 3/4” nut width.

[@guyguerra]

Thank you so much, what a great explanation and for giving us something worth putting in our “tool bags”.

[@PhrygianScale]

Thank you! Well done sir. Flashy without being "flashy." Mad respect from KCMO.

[@therealgabrielcash]

We cant stop here, this is bat country.

[@yammmit]

can’t

[@goobienoob3589]

Was trying to narrow down just who the hell he looks like, you absolutely nailed it.

[@jasonslayton2970]

He was brilliant. Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@swolegringo5003]

I love how he says his 'i saw the light rendition' was simple...

[@krikeyitstimeforcricket967]

Fantastic lesson! Thank you sir!

[@Danlow23]

I hit the like button before I even started watching this video. Thankyou for sharing these!

[@ModernGolfer]

Excellent tip and instruction! Thanks! 👍

[@TheSuperintendant]

yeah brilliant video man

[@NPRMc]

He plays so free and easy, what a talent

[@ricktheexplorer]

They were so amazing. Thanks for this lesson. I am filing my nails as I write this, getting ready for recording a finger picking song all next week.

[@brutallyremastered4255]

This is a brilliant lesson from a master.

[@spinningmywheels8894]

Excellent lesson !!! Another Jerry by the name of Cole - used to fire that into his lines as well in the 60s electrified. The guy who was lead Astronaut and worked in the Wrecking Crew.

[@TreeTop9]

Ha! Well, this is absolutely true and I know a story behind it. Jerry was friends with my grandfather. They met at a studio in Atlanta when they were teenagers. Jerry was playing the banjo. My grandfather played guitar with him. They moved to Nashville. Jerry got his unique sound by incorporating his superior banjo skills into the guitar. It was banjo first then the guitar sound came. True story.

[@doctiberius2717]

Thanks you got me totally Banjoed !

[@barristanselmy2758]

This man is one of those men you'd enjoy sitting down with and having a beer and a good laugh, maybe a pick or 2.

[@IainRobertMacLeod]

Cool trick

[@shreddiestreams]

This is amazing! Well taught as well.

[@houseofshred3725]

Damn, what a hell of a player. Great lesson too. It's a shame he's not around to share any more of this with us.

[@Lovethemusic385]

Wow. Very straightforward and super useful. Fantastic. Thank you!

[@bigtsshackfestival9563]

Ole Buster b Jones Hell of a guy. Even better player.

[@jayfreeman3004]

Thank you for this.i cannot believe that I can actually do this. Very well taught sir

[@robertmichalscheck3072]

Banjo is a great instrument,it’s in so many popular songs,love it.

[@archtopeddy]

I think this is a great lesson -- thanks for posting it. I see some folks are having trouble breaking down what they're seeing and hearing. Let me suggest the following tips to use on KZbin that helps: You can use the letters JKL on your keyboard to back up a few seconds (J); pause (K); and go forward a few seconds (L). To get the letters to work, you have to first put your cursor on the forward/pause button under the video, click it to activate and then your letters will start working. Also, you can set adjust down the speed of the video (down to 50 percent with sound) by clicking on the "gear/sprocket" icon at the bottom of the video and adjusting the setting from there. I hope that helps.

[@jrobinsondrums]

Yes, you can also use the arrow keys to adjust smaller increments. J and L will move forwards/backwards 10 seconds respectively, and left arrow and right arrow forwards/backwards 5 seconds respectively.

[@leemcdaid6537]

@@jrobinsondrums and the up and down arrows adjust the volume!

[@bingbongshamalama]

@@jrobinsondrums also, period and comma keys for frame stepping, the F key for fullscreen, the forward slash for search bar, and M for mute.

[@doitnowvideosyeah5841]

Thank you so much!

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

What a perfect little smart ass you are. Funny as shit that was.

[@nicolas-lh2js]

4:38 -> I love that and I'll ake m guitar to learn this part! Thanks!

[@teraxil]

hunter s thomson

[@peepas2633]

lmao

[@asdu4412]

played by Tom Cruise

[@bokehintheussr5033]

@@asdu4412 genius

[@victoza9232]

...author of "Fear and Loathing of Banjo Rolls."

[@moncorp1]

Bald David Koresh

[@isaacosgood9759]

Finally after an hour I got it thank you

[@tomasrosenberg3430]

I just fell in love with the guitar again.

[@georgedrake1341]

Busters one of the best!

[@AcridDread]

RIP great lesson

[@eholland582]

Neat!! Not sure I’m good enough to do this but ima try it. Thanks for sharing. Awesome.

[@RJVB]

No, the free tab is there, it does require entering an email address but you don't get spam unless you ask for it. The PDF is provided via Stefan Grossman's institution; they have lots of teaching courses available. I do wonder though: is the tab correct in measures 7-9, he really seems to be playing a G(natural) on the high E instead of an F#?!

[@BrandonPetrucci]

Amazing player for sure but I gotta say that this dude is the composite of any guy in the cocaine business in Florida in the early 80s OR a guy with 3 kids and a wife back in Indiana but he's staying in Vegas because it's college basketball season and he's on a hot streak...

[@7550375503]

wheezy laugh

[@daganhaddad]

that's it - you win the internet this week lmao

[@BrandonPetrucci]

@Honey Weeaboo Child Curious where you're getting the child molesting and murdering part of Thompson? cuz if you're pulling that from the Johnny Depp movie, that was fiction you know...there's no child molesting that I know of associated with HST...this is how bs starts and spreads on the internet...

[@BrandonPetrucci]

@Scotty Dude you really should stop and look at the paragraph you just wrote and pretend like you didn't write it and look at it honestly...either you are trolling me or you are not a smart person, 'A lot of people believe this' Just because you heard someone say in a comment section once "he probably was into snuff fims and murdered babies" you're gonna take it as fact? This tendency to say "hey for all we know it could be true" is what stupid and ignorant people do...don't be stupid...

[@BrandonPetrucci]

@Scotty No, listen you really need to re-evaluate yourself! you're not one of the smart people Scotty...I'm sorry to have to tell you this but....you're a dummy, you make things up and your weak mind will make you susceptible to all sorts of peril throughout your life...I'm not even sure that you can improve your situation at this point, I mean MAYBE if you somehow make someone feel sorry enough for you but it's unlikely. But don't fret, you'll still be able to have happiness so don't give up!

[@SlowerFuse]

This is gold. Thanks

[@richw.6296]

Man, I learned to roll by learning some Spanish licks, and I realized that I can get those Jerry Reed licks down. Thanks for the heads up on how!

[@rickroche8860]

Excellent lesson - RIP Buster. Would have loved meeting you.

[@andrewpattenden8446]

Pure gold by Buster many thanks

[@mickthemerciless9694]

Great lesson, thanks.

[@GetOutsideYourself]

Great tutorial!

[@Crabfather]

Brilliant.. Thank you! I've always wondered how it was done, now i have something new to practice. Nice playing!

[@stephaneelie6511]

Amazing Guy ! Thx a lot, very nice teach

[@cominroitover80]

he looks like the target audience for Mac 10 shoulder holsters.

[@RadioactiveHax]

Bruh 💀

[@zhdrums3872]

This man Invented the Mac Holster!

[@bleakcandour]

Buster was the man. Wonderful player and a great lad

[@stevenburton7922]

Wow...fantastic.....thank you for posting!

[@donnailich9138]

That is frikkin magical . Lovin it. Whew!!!! im so inspired. Thank you. Im ready woooooo hoooooo weee. Big smiles from Bridgetown Australia.

[@alexandreanonimous7056]

It's something to use on practicing first and then carry on with it... I like it

[@yateswebb]

great lesson

[@viewoftheaskew]

That was awesome, thank you! Made my day.

[@davidlawson3]

This was helpful! Thanks!

[@michaelward2295]

What a great video.Thank you so much.

[@ianjohnson4987]

Brilliant lesson - thanks - I learned a lot in a short time.

[@imannonymous7707]

Pretty cool cascading type effect...nice

[@yahuchanonyakov]

I notice Jerry Reed and Chet Atkins found much ease of playability in using nylon string guitars(like this guy is using here) in place of jazz hollow-body electrics. I am in agreement with them on that one... I also use nylon to play in the styles of Tommy Emmanuel, Merle Travis, Jerry Reed, and Chet Atkins...

[@demej00]

I use a Tagima Modena (probably manufactured for Brazil) nylon string electric solidbody. Love it.

[@jimmccarley9609]

Yes, I do it too. Playability. Some models now have a 1 7/8"nut, which helps me, and thin body, helps with shoulder pain, and the cutaway for the higher sounds. The nylon is just easier on the fingers for hours of practice.

[@selfactualizer2099]

haha cool, I've been doing the same thing, I've been a bassist for a long time but recently my picking style changed when I learned banjo, really it's just fingerstyle bass, but with more rolls, but It works very well on bass, rolls really carry that bass rhythm

[@PrivateSi]

I need a set of finger picks and nice slide. Sweet little lesson.

[@jacoblyman5359]

Me too. I tried growing my nails out but it was horrible they would get dirty at work and everything..

[@archtopeddy]

I thought I'd consolidate all the KZbin tips in the below thread to make them easier to use... (First put cursor on the forward/pause button under the video, click it to activate following functions:) J key = BACKWARD 10 seconds L key = FORWARD 10 seconds K key = PAUSE M key = MUTE F key = FULLSCREEN Left arrow = BACKWARD 5 seconds Right arrow = FORWARD 5 seconds Up and down arrows = adjust VOLUME After pausing with K key, use period and comma keys for FRAME STEPPING Press ‘shift’ and < together to REDUCE SPEED Press ‘shift’ and > together to INCREASE SPEED Forward slash = SEARCH BAR

[@BarryFence]

I never knew these tips. Thanks!

[@archtopeddy]

@@BarryFence Yer welcome Barry!

[@marcellot3421]

im not quite sure if this motivates me or if i should burn my guitar

[@BKInbound]

did you learn it?

[@yeezet4592]

Banjo rolls are hard at the start, but get easier.

[@MRGF78]

You can do it!!!

[@notsogreatsword1607]

Practice exercises with your pickin' hand and you will see great dividends paid in a short period of time.

[@karl1914]

It''s a great lesson, even if you can't get the role you get to learn how to move up a scale

[@djstrings19]

Wow! Great lesson, Really nice player, cheers and thanks for the help, love fingerpicking lessons like this:)