I am attempting to learn "Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms" for the second time, and I am having trouble with it. I am having the same problem I did the first time I worked on this song. For some reason, I can not get the sequence of notes & licks in my head! I can play each lick or passage, but I cannot put them together into the song in the correct sequence! I have not had this problem with other songs (even other ones in the intermediate learning track), but this one is kicking my butt. I don't want to skip it . . . .any advice from others? Is this song particularly troublesome for anyone else, or is it just me?
6 Comments |
 | Peanutscreams says:
5/19/2014 6:57:25 PM
Your not alone Mary. This song is played over and over at the jams I have been attending lately, so like you, I just recently started trying to learn this one again after my previous attempts had failed. Thinking for certain I should be able to pick it up easily after hearing it played so many times, and I have the song in my head so well, but as you explained so clearly, it just is not working at all for me. The notes and licks to be played are so simple, and I can play them with Murphy, but it just does not sound anything like the song. Only thing I can say is do what I do and just vamp to it, I have no problem doing that, and maybe one of these days something will kick. Hopefully someone can help us both here. Good post, and good luck.
Butch B.
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 | five-string fever says:
5/19/2014 9:07:06 PM
It was harder for me than most other songs especially singing songs. I had to repeat it more to memorize it than most of her other songs. What helps me is I kind of sing it/hum it in my head. Once I got it down I repeated it slowly while playing with her and then a metronome. Having said all that it is less "Syllabic" than the arrangement for Mountain Dew and John Hardy IMHO. I kicked off the song at a few picks with this break and some good playing folks had a hard time hearing the chord changes and jumping in. I still use it for a break but worked out a different kickoff with more of a Foggy Mountain Breakdown start, hammering on the D note on the second string and playing melody notes on the first string with a lot of Cripple Creek licks for filler.
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 | caseyhenry says:
5/20/2014 5:25:01 AM
Don't try and tackle the whole RIMSBA lick at once. Take just the first two pieces (up through the 3-1-4-1) and play those until they are engrained in your brain and fingers. That may take a couple days. It may take a week. Then add on the third piece (the 5-2-1-5-3 with the slide) and play that until it is engrained, etc, etc. The whole thing too big a chunk to try and digest at one time.
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| Peanutscreams says:
5/20/2014 6:02:24 AM
Will do that starting right now! Thank you so much Casey.
Butch B.
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 | Delaware says:
5/21/2014 10:05:34 AM
Thanks for the responses. I approached things differently last night based on Casey's input. I spent time working on the first part of the first lick. Then, I tried something I have never done before - - - I took video of myself playing the lick so I can review it throughout the day. I'm hoping this will prevent "brain fog" when i sit down to practice it again. It was an uncomfortable experience (pointing a video camera at myself), but I managed to get through it!
Butch, I look forward to hearing about the day you master this one -- I'm betting it will be long before I do!
Thanks Everyone
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| Delaware says:
5/23/2014 9:20:38 AM
Woo Hooo! I had o post my breakthrough. I have been working on RIMSBA in small chunks, as recommended by Casey. It has worked out much better! Last night, I got to the point where I could play the song all the way through from memory. It is still slow, but showing definite progress.
Casey - Thanks for helping me over yet another banjo hurdle!
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