atracksler - Posted - 11/11/2009:  11:44:29

Do you have any opinions on this? is it good? bad? ugly?

Thanks, ad

P.S. Have a Nice Day!
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http://www.mandojam.com -- free practice tracks from me to you!
http://www.studio467.com

timifill - Posted - 11/11/2009:  11:53:28

I like it. I was at the point in my playing where I could play breaks that I learned from tabs fairly competently, but had a really hard time creating solos that a listener could pick out the melody. I kind of felt like my playing had kind of plateaued as a result. Since watching it I've been able to come up with some pretty serviceable (though probably not spectacular) melody-based solos on my own. I definitely recommend it - it gave me some good tools to get up to the next level.

Edited by - timifill on 11/11/2009 11:54:09

mjherrod - Posted - 11/11/2009:  18:47:52

Hey there,

I liked it too. It gives a good overview of how to approach soloing at a jam. First you can just roll over the chords. Then you use "filler" licks for the appropriate chords and make a more interesting solo. Finally, you can start incorporating actual melody and alter the rolls to make the solo sound like a particular song. The last part, of course, is pretty challenging. However, you can learn a lot by watching Pete Wernick work out the solos in front of your eyes. And he shows how there are an infinite number of ways you can interpret a melody as a banjo break. I think the DVD works well in tandem with Janet Davis' "Splitting the Licks". She teaches how to work out solos with tab, gradually making them more complicated. In Pete Wernick's video he makes his solos more on the fly, working them out in his head. Both are good in getting you to start working out breaks on your own, and start playing more without tab.

-Mike