Slow way down. As slow as needed to play it clean. Just play that measure. It might be painfully slow, but use a metronome, and start really slow. Then speed it up 5 clicks. Play it there until you can play it clean. Speed the metronome up 5 more clicks. Keep speeding up until it’s impossible to play it clean, then back down. It’ll take a while, days or even weeks, but that lick is important to learn, so it’s worth the time.

Geoff Hohwald taught me this and it’s worked on cleaning licks up on just about anything I’ve ever wanted to learn. Enjoy the process!!

Here’s a video explaining the process.  Just use it on the lick instead of the 7 note roll Geoff is doing.

https://youtu.be/vi1vYCct9nA?si=KakKE1yp3DeM-H0-

John's advice is solid. But let me ask you a question: where is the thumb on your right hand?

This is important, because many developing players hold the neck of the banjo as if they're trying to strangle a chicken. If you try to keep your thumb closer to the back of the neck - admittedly, a bit of a challenge that close to the peghead - you'll almost automatically roll your wrist forward a bit. And that's important, because regardless of this lick or any other, the more closely we can get our fretting fingers to come down perpendicular to the fingerboard, the better.

quote:

---

Originally posted by eagleisland

John's advice is solid. But let me ask you a question: where is the thumb on your right hand?
 

---

Oops - I meant LEFT hand, presuming you pick with your right.

Onto a tangent I suppose, but I still rely on the the position of guitar players' left hands for chord changes. One of the guys positions his hand much as described ^^, but it's painful to watch.  

Edit: Ooops ... looks like I'm slow on the draw.   I was gonna put that his thumb was probably over on the side of his hand like most peoples', but ...........   .

quote:

---

Originally posted by eagleisland

John's advice is solid. But let me ask you a question: where is the thumb on your right hand?

This is important, because many developing players hold the neck of the banjo as if they're trying to strangle a chicken. If you try to keep your thumb closer to the back of the neck - admittedly, a bit of a challenge that close to the peghead - you'll almost automatically roll your wrist forward a bit. And that's important, because regardless of this lick or any other, the more closely we can get our fretting fingers to come down perpendicular to the fingerboard, the better.

---

It is difficult tune. Beginners tend to want to always look for a shortcut. Practice slowly with a metronome and eventually if will get easier to keep in time. 

Not to criticize,, but I will anyway ;-) , I think a novice player trying to play FMB is discouraging and might lead to ingrained mistakes , hand injuries, or quitting the banjo altogether. Why not go for some easier tunes first. Best of luck.

Thanks everyone for the quick replies and suggestions. As eagleisland suggested, I adjusted my thumb position and now I’m getting consistent results. Also mentioned was using a metronome and taking things slow. I will definitely be using that advice. I’m taking on FMB because that’s what my instructor recommends. It’s going to take time but for me that’s the fun part of the journey

I think FMB is a good tune to learn as a novice. It's repetitive, not overly complex, and is composed of fundamental licks/rolls. It's not easy, but bluegrass banjo is hard in general imo.