Hi all,
I am an intermediate banjo player, looking to improve my roll patterns. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for songs based around a specific roll pattern?
For example, when I learned fireball mail, I was able to really work on my forward roll , because that’s basically the backbone of the entire song. I’m open to any and all types of songs for any type of toll.
My goal is to practice the rolls and also learn new songs in the process. I’d be open to suggestions for exercises/drills as well, but being able to add new songs to my repertoire while still improving my proficiency would be the ultimate goal.
Any suggestions are appreciated!
"Talking to Myself," by Sammie Shellor has the inside roll pattern, (3-2-4-2) and is a good song to learn in any event. Not sure this is the backbone roll pattern but it sure is not going to sound right unless you use it since this roll pattern follows the melody line so closely, which Shellor is noted for.
Bobby
Groundspeed for backward roll. I always thought that the backwards roll was underrated and less used but you can achieve some really cool syncopated effects with it.
A lot of Scruggs arrangements include reverse rolls that work in combination with forward rolls. But in those cases, you're not playing the reverse roll repetitively. As a result, a lot of new players neglect to learn to play reverse rolls repetitively. There are however some classic Scruggs arrangements that do include those repetitive reverse rolls. The ones that come to mind are Ballad of Jed Clampett, Home Sweet Home and Ground Speed. If you can learn to play those three Scruggs arrangements, you'll have a pretty good handle on playing repetitive reverse rolls.
youtu.be/pQi_zbueCZY
Shelton Special by Allen Shelton
Thats how i learned to perfect an inside forward roll.
quote:
Originally posted by Laurence DiehlGroundspeed for backward roll. I always thought that the backwards roll was underrated and less used but you can achieve some really cool syncopated effects with it.
For an even more backward-intensive workout, learn the Scruggs arrangement of "Home Sweet Home". And of course there's "Dooley" for the MIMT ("Dillard" or "Osborne") roll.
I assume you’ve already learned Foggy Mountain Breakdown for the FMB roll.
- Shuckin’ the Corn is good for square, reverse and FMB rolls.
- Pike County Breakdown is good for FMB and an introduction to single-string playing.
- Lonesome Road Blues is good for the forward roll and will introduce you to the key up-the-neck positions for backup playing.
It’s perfectly fine to think in terms of rolls but after a handful of Scruggs tunes most people stop thinking about them and just play. It’s similar to playing the drums and thinking about rudiments. They may be in the back of your mind when you analyze something but other than that the focus is on the music and keeping solid time. Same applies to playing banjo.
Bobby's "Banjolina" is built on the reverse (forward-backward) roll. At the link is Bobby's blistering rendering of this fun, high energy tune with Carl Story. It also has a few photos of a very young Bobby sans fur face, and surprise, surprise he is actually smiling.
These are all great suggestions. I'll offer a different thought (not that you asked).
Don't start with rolls and try to fit songs to the rolls. Start with songs and fit rolls into the melody.
First comes the melody, with the thumb leading the way. Second comes basic rolls to fill in the gaps between the melody, keeping with the rhythm of the melody. Use various rolls to keep your thumb on the melody as much as you can. Third comes slurs, pull off, slides, hammer on, to add variety tie everything together.
quote:
Originally posted by isaacmccarthyHi all,
I am an intermediate banjo player, looking to improve my roll patterns. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for songs based around a specific roll pattern?
For example, when I learned fireball mail, I was able to really work on my forward roll , because that’s basically the backbone of the entire song. I’m open to any and all types of songs for any type of toll.
My goal is to practice the rolls and also learn new songs in the process. I’d be open to suggestions for exercises/drills as well, but being able to add new songs to my repertoire while still improving my proficiency would be the ultimate goal.
Check out Eddie Collins video:
one of my things is trying to rollover the same note sequence but switching the emphasis -to make sure all fingers are up to task--
on a couple of songs I hold 3 notes closed and slide the emphasized one in-it does get kinda musical
I use the alternating roll when playing John Hartford's "Way Down the River Road."
Robert
