Forward-Roll Backup, Part 1

This lesson is part of the course Bluegrass Banjo with Bill Evans.

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Learn to make your banjo drive the band or play sweet melodies, with solos to well-known songs and tunes, backup techniques, and more.

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Blue Ridge Cabin Home

In this lesson, you’ll start adding roll patterns to the melody of “Blue Ridge Cabin Home.” Every melody has a rhythm and when Earl Scruggs was working out his breaks, he tried to keep the melody’s rhythm intact as he added the roll patterns, letting the melody dictate what kind of roll to use. Bill shows you some ideas for choosing rolls. For example, if you have a melody note that’s held out for a long time you can try a forward roll, and when the melody notes are closer together you can try an alternating thumb roll or a forward reverse roll. Bill walks you through an entire solo here, with embellishments and fill-in licks.

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Forward-Roll Backup

Forward-Roll Backup, Part 1

Forward-Roll Backup, Part 2

Forward-Roll Backup, Part 1

You’ve probably heard bluegrass banjo players playing rolls behind the singer in a bluegrass band, or behind another instrument’s solo. You’ll learn how to do that in this lesson, using forward rolls in open position and something new called the “escape roll.” Bill starts by reminding you of the one-measure forward roll patterns on G, C, and D chords, and then he puts those patterns together with a fill-in lick to play the chords to “Blue Ridge Cabin Home.”

Forward-Roll Backup (Available to subscribers)

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← Vamping, Part 2: The D Shape

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Forward-Roll Backup, Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← Vamping, Part 2: The D Shape

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Forward-Roll Backup, Part 2 →

Previous Lesson

← Vamping, Part 2: The D Shape

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