a1panic - Posted - 11/20/2009:  17:30:38

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I've been practicing the forward roll and playing a couple songs with it. Then the next lesson had a variation of the forward roll so I learned that but now when I go back and practice the first two songs my fingers play the variation forward roll. it messes up my songs. Will this get better as time goes by or do I need to do something different?

Leigh - Posted - 11/20/2009:  17:48:14

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Your brain/fingers will connect, and it will become a revelation. Keep trying to hear smidgeons of the melody in your playing. It'll come around, trust me.

Richard Dress - Posted - 11/20/2009:  17:53:19

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Your couple of beginning practice songs are meant to be used up like a cheap basketball for the beginning dribbler. Try out your rolls, pulloffs, slides, and such. Consider these tunes trashed so be sparing with your practice tunes. Pick tunes that nobody wants like "Bile Them Cabbage Down" or "Red River Valley".

When you try out new things, you will naturally find that some are easier than others.

Jim T - Posted - 11/20/2009:  18:10:10

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quote:

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Originally posted by Richard Dress

Your couple of beginning practice songs are meant to be used up like a cheap basketball for the beginning dribbler. Try out your rolls, pulloffs, slides, and such. Consider these tunes trashed so be sparing with your practice tunes. Pick tunes that nobody wants like "Bile Them Cabbage Down" or "Red River Valley".

When you try out new things, you will naturally find that some are easier than others.

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But, I like those tunes!

Jim

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Edited by - Jim T on 11/20/2009 18:33:36

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 11/20/2009:  20:35:35

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What do you mean by "the forward roll"? IMNSHO, forward roll is best thought of, NOT as a particular eight-note (one-measure) pattern, but as a river without an end. Begin it on any finger, continue it for any length of time.

...TIMTIMTIMTIMTIM....

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Edited by - Ira Gitlin on 11/21/2009 12:52:59

PruchaLegend - Posted - 11/20/2009:  21:19:04

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You don't have to trash the songs. But, what will happen after you have a little more experience, you will learn more advanced breaks on those songs. And, with a little more practice, the rolls will sort themselves out and you'll be playing the variation you want when you want it. Just keep working at it.

The only wrong way to play a banjo is to not play at all! :-)

stanleytone - Posted - 11/21/2009:  04:41:45

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when you start mixing the rolls up one of the first thing you may noptice is that you may be starting the next roll with a finger/thumb that you otherwise may not normally start it with .it all depends on the last note of the previous measure.


boy these posts look somewhat like a ghost town without the signatures!

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Edited by - stanleytone on 11/21/2009 04:43:36

a1panic - Posted - 11/21/2009:  05:11:58

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quote:

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Originally posted by Richard Dress

Your couple of beginning practice songs are meant to be used up like a cheap basketball for the beginning dribbler. Try out your rolls, pulloffs, slides, and such. Consider these tunes trashed so be sparing with your practice tunes. Pick tunes that nobody wants like "Bile Them Cabbage Down" or "Red River Valley".

When you try out new things, you will naturally find that some are easier than others.

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Id b interested in what songs that i should b working towaeds. I dont know bluegrass. Maybe i could listen on utube.

a1panic - Posted - 11/21/2009:  05:13:19

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quote:

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Originally posted by Leigh

Your brain/fingers will connect, and it will become a revelation. Keep trying to hear smidgeons of the melody in your playing. It'll come around, trust me.

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Thanks. I feel u understand what I'm trying to say. My dumb fingers seem to have a mind of their own

Richard Dress - Posted - 11/21/2009:  07:09:11

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"Id b interested in what songs that i should b working towaeds."

You should be working on learning technique at this point, not songs.

Rich Weill - Posted - 11/21/2009:  07:20:14

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quote:

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Originally posted by Richard Dress

"Id b interested in what songs that i should b working towaeds."

You should be working on learning technique at this point, not songs.

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But technique through songs, wouldn't you agree? Other than the reaffirmation of a teacher, playing songs is the best way to tell that your technique is working. They should be simple songs, but songs nonetheless. Songs you know and can recognize. Then, if you can't, you know that something is off.

Also, playing songs turns "practicing" into "playing." Sounds less forbidding, doesn't it?

5stringpicker2 - Posted - 11/21/2009:  10:23:02

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Practice songs that use 1 roll no matter what it be, is used to get your fingers moving and get the feel of that roll. No 1 song is truly played with just 1 roll pattern but a combo of all the rolls and not at all times the complete toll. TIMTMITTIIMMTMITTITMMMIT

(l )===='---<::)

minstrelmike - Posted - 11/21/2009:  11:59:11

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You really want to be able to mix up the rolls eventually. I'd try the new rolls in the old song also to force you to think about what your left hand is doing and try the old rolls in the new song.

MM