banjered - Posted - 07/03/2025:  10:00:44

Since I've been wailing on the banjer for 2-3 decades now I've noticed that my banjo accompaniment at jams has gravitated to more simple as time has gone by. My feeling is if I can keep the rhythm steady and hit the main melody notes most of the time, that is sufficient and to my ears fits in better in a jam situation. I'm talking about a jam where there may be several fiddles or Claud forbid, more than one banjo player, ditto mandolin and guitar players. While there are times where a slide/pull-off/hammer-on "makes the tune" to my ears I tend to diminish embellishments in favor of simply keeping the cadence flowing. I recognize that other 10 digit owners 3X faster than I can even think may choose to throw in as many notes as possible and that is fine but my ears can't pick out most of those notes in the din. It seems many tab books make the banjo part much more complicated than they need to be for a jam situation. I remember in the beginning how overwhelming complicated the tab books were as compared to what I was hearing. Bad ears – ? This is perhaps a notice to newer banjo players that a tab version is not the only way to play a fiddle tune. I guess this approach is a far cry from the "melodic clawhammer" craze/phase of years ago which can be a marvel in duets/bands/jams of not more than 4-5 players. Anyone else have thoughts along this line? banjered

wrench13 - Posted - 07/03/2025:  11:04:05

I think breaking down fiddle tunes to the important 'bones' is fine. In fact once done, it can help you build it back to however notey you want it to be.

gentrixuk - Posted - 07/03/2025:  12:10:28

I'm finding it good to mix things up as the tune repeats, sometimes keeping it super simple, then throwing in the full melody when it feels right. The banjo's in a great position to add some variation, as its not the main instrument carrying either the tune or the rythm.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 07/03/2025:  13:48:15

Yes, I find myself leaning heavily on simplicity and spice. I was never a fan of notey CH playing, though I like hearing it, usually solo.

With a fiddler, I try to emphasize rhythm and the chord progression while staying away from the strict melody...unless the version I play sounds good as a duet.

Bob Buckingham - Posted - 07/04/2025:  05:26:17

The great thing about playing banjo, especially in the clawhammer style, you can do what ever you want to as long as you keep it in tune and and time. I listen to everyone play and find there are several banjo players i hear regularly that play very little melody but are highly effective with what they do. They fold into each tune, driving it a long very nicely. You can switch up what you are doing. Play the melody or a harmony, just punch out the core of the tune or provide chordal support or a combination of all of these techniques. The main thing is that you revel in the magic that is banjo while you do it. Now off for some tunes!

Tim Jumper - Posted - 07/04/2025:  06:00:42

Listen to how John Herrmann does it, and then try to emulate him.

Lew H - Posted - 07/04/2025:  10:10:34

I like to throw in a harmony line or a compete harmony iteration now and then, sometimes a bit of counter melody. This is as much to sustain my own interest as it is to help the overall sound.

Don Borchelt - Posted - 07/04/2025:  16:37:48

Tom raised a very important question, and he has been rewarded with all excellent and carefully thought out answers. I struggled with the same issue when I first got addicted to fiddle tunes over 50 years ago. It took awhile, but I finally came to realize, before you can play a fiddle tune on the banjo, you have to turn it into a banjo tune.

- Don B

banjered - Posted - 07/04/2025:  19:05:04

" before you can play a fiddle tune on the banjo, you have to turn it into a banjo tune."

Interesting point, Don. What I've been thinking lately or maybe just noticing is that a good fiddle tune doesn't necessarily translate into a good banjo tune. On BHO here Dan Levenson commented about Henry King's Reel that he thought it was a good fiddle tune but didn't sound all that great on the banjo. If the fiddle tune rides a lot on the lower G string while the lowest note on the banjo most likely is a D it can be challenging....or just not worth while, doing things like going up while the fiddle is going down to get the "right" notes. You might get the "right" notes in but the tune doesn't flow very well on the banjo. Once in a while like "Walk Along John to Kansas" you can play the whole A or B part in another octave and sort of get away with it. A banjo tune has to sound OK and flow OK for me or I just don't bother. Somewhat...lazy banjered

banjoak - Posted - 07/05/2025:  10:40:58

By definition, role of accompaniment, is that it's not solo, nor the melody instrument, rather backing it up.

Keeping it simpler, can emphasize core framework/contour, yet leaves space for that melodic instrument/voice, let it stand out, put in melodic detail and nuances. Especially in jam situation, leaving room for a bit of melodic variation/improvisation.

how overwhelming complicated the tab books were as compared to what I was hearing.

Perhaps those arrangements are really meant to be stand alone, as more solo playing?

Paul R - Posted - 07/06/2025:  08:46:44

First times playing banjo with others was at a Bluegrass jam, where I found "notey" playing didn't do much for the tune unless it was solo time, so simplifying was logical and suitable. Playing basics was just good backup, and emphasized the rhythm of the tune, and fit in better.

Dan Gellert - Posted - 07/08/2025:  11:38:58

Generally, I'd say the more musicians you have jamming at once, the less each one ought to be doing.

banjered - Posted - 07/08/2025:  18:28:21

That's an OK rule for the musicians Dan, but what about the banjo players....... banjered

ceemonster - Posted - 07/13/2025:  23:27:37

Part of the haunt factor particular to the banjo is precisely that one doesn't play all the melody notes. If you do there's no room for drones, and whether clawhammer or picking, akonting to flathead resonator, the drones are what gives the 5-string banjo that otherworldly sound that calls to many of us. (Unless what floats your boat is melodic style, of course.)

Edited by - ceemonster on 07/13/2025 23:30:44

Eric A - Posted - 07/14/2025:  04:46:17

That sort of bare bones approach is exactly how I play at home for my own pleasure. And I'm not a clawhammer player. Seeger basic up picking with an occasional two finger index lead tossed in for flavor.



I've never felt limited. I hit the melody notes that need to be hit, no more, no less, and just keep it driving.



And banjo tabs? Yes, most are more involved than they need to be. But think from the writer's perspective. Might as well toss it all in there, otherwise why buy my book? The user can always drop off the frills.

I think it's a mistake to assume that every little note that a fiddler hits is etched in stone tablets melody.  Those guys are noodling around the melody as much as anybody else.  Hone in on what you hear while humming it in the shower, and go.

Edited by - Eric A on 07/14/2025 04:50:02

jojo25 - Posted - 08/13/2025:  09:50:09

lots of fine points here...one thing that drives me in a session is to try to keep my banjo playing so compelling that the fiddler does not want to stop playing the tune...variations help...in both the melody and the timing...playing with the pulse...strong back beat

Tractor1 - Posted - 08/13/2025:  10:58:02

3 finger melodic style has the same problem---the phrasing of right hand can go note for note --and actually sound wonderful on it's own rhythm wise--- but right hand patterns find their strength's in different spots than bowing patterns--it is much smoother to just zero in when possible but to stay with a simple rhythm feel when others are getting notey and vice versa--it can go both ways in grass -but old timey seems to like never ending joint lead which is great also