Mastering The Forward Roll | Beginner Bluegrass Banjo Lesson With Tab

[@shadowshadow2485]

Hey , really really helpful tutorial , explanation clear & slow , 71 years old thanks , moe

[@petermorgan2967]

This is very encouraging. Changing the note at the end of the bar is quite a challenge but thanks for the heads up!

[@adkBanjo]

You are a good man to share this folks. Back to basics is a critical exercise always....

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Thanks for the kind words! - Mike

[@Northyorkspaul]

Just got first banjo...hard to know where to start!...and so used to guitar going to be difficult to adjust..great videos thanks.

[@Anti_everything_and_everyone]

How are you getting on?

[@Northyorkspaul]

Hi not had too much practice yet ..But slow slow, quick quick slow!... Thanks...

[@nellafeht2381]

Thanks again Mike.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

You're welcome! - Mike

[@audrybella6405]

Mike, is there significance to starting the roll with the thumb versus the index finger on the third string?

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

In Scruggs style there is a general rule that you should use your thumb when you're able to. But there's definitely instances where you could start a roll with your index finger and also make it work. - Mike

[@olivialouise8038]

Thanks again Mike. Do I really need to use picks? I comfortable w/o them.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

I highly recommend picks if you want to play bluegrass style. It's going to be hard to play fast and with enough volume without picks. They feel weird for everyone at first so that's very normal. It usually takes a little bit of time and then it will feel weird to play without picks. - Mike

[@BrentS100]

Nice! Can you please move your right hand camera to see your right hand anchor to the head? Thank you, Mike. Love your videos!!!

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Sure. Sorry about that. You should be able to see my planted finger in most of my two camera videos though. Otherwise I did a whole lesson on my right hand placement here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXWkd6Knmb6Il68 - Mike

[@hailstew6679]

@@MikeHeddingMusic hi Mike! Do you NEED to plant a finger or do you think I can get away with playing classical guitar style

[@higheststandards3344]

How do these banjo rolls line up mathematically to a 4/4 measure?? Like to a metronome? It’s hard to do these rolls with out the metronome, I literally don’t know where to put the notes and where the beat should be!!!

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

It would depend on the particular roll you're talking about. Most of the rolls are 8th notes so 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +. If you put a click on each quarter note then every other note you play is on a click. Some of the rolls have a quarter note at the beginning or the end which would be 1 2 + 3 + 4 + or 1 + 2 + 3 + 4. I'd recommend trying to count out it out before playing the roll. You'll see the rhythm in the tab.

[@higheststandards3344]

@@MikeHeddingMusic thank you so much… a lot of players say they are 16th notes… it boggles my mind of how confusing and the hidden ways of doing things without explaining why or how. People just gloss over the freedom and specifications of the licks and rolls… best way to describe it is it’s complexity is covered by its simplistic book cover…

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

If the tab/music is written is 2/4 then it will be 16th notes. 2 quarter notes per measure. 8 16th notes per measure. When it’s 4/4 the tab is expressed in 8th notes like I described above.

[@higheststandards3344]

@@MikeHeddingMusic awesome thank you still learning!

[@clawhammer704]

A lot of beginners get into a rolling lop that messes up the time. I think what occurs is they start over at each cord change.

[@bluewaterpig]

What’s the point of starting the roll with your thumb on the third string? Why not use your index finger so that you can keep each finger on its assigned string?

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Because each finger is going to have to play on multiple different strings. It's going to depend on the roll or musical phrase you need to play. There isn't an assigned finger to each string on the banjo. If for example your index finger just played on the second string, you might need to use your thumb on the 3rd string. - Mike

[@bangaranrufio]

good vibes

[@erstwhilerambler]

Well, I’m at 2:39 and saying to myself, “Alright, that’s harder than it looks!”

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

Keep practicing and you'll get it. If I can do it, you can too. - Mike

[@dropdog395]

I'm a complete newb so some things aren't very obvious to me. Why start this roll with the thumb and finish with the index finger? I can do it blindfolded with half my brain tied behind my back if I only use my thumb for the 5th string. If I alternate thumb and index on the melody note it all falls apart.

[@MikeHeddingMusic]

It's not bad to practice it with just your index find on the third string but you'll definitely want to practice the way I have it written as well. Your index finger isn't always going to be free to play on that string (you may have just used it in the previous measure in more advanced songs) which means your thumb would need to be able to come down there and play the note. Also, it's a good general rule to use your thumb if you can as its generally more powerful and accurate than your other fingers. That's basically the whole point of this exercise is practicing changing the melody at weird times without your right hand getting thrown off. Keep practicing and I'm sure you'll get it. Good luck. - Mike

[@dropdog395]

Thanks for the really fast reply. I hadn't thought about what the index finger might have been up to in the previous measure. I'll keep practicing.