5-String Banjo Roll Patterns

Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 15:25:23 -0400
Subject: two banjo questions

Mickey,

Greetings,

Glad to assist:

QUESTION 1: I am currently taking banjo instruction from
two very good banjo players. However both
have different forward and reverse roll patterns.

Is there a standard forward roll and a standard
backward roll? Does a roll have to consist of
eight notes?

There hasn't been a standard set to what would be the official forwar/reverse roll pattern...however, the pattern itself is pretty well set in stone...only the choice of strings used may vary. For instance, a forward roll would have the TIMTIMTI forward pattern...only the choice of strings played may still vary...yet, the pattern still remains intact...so, it would still be considered a forward roll. This principle follows for the forward/reverse and the reverse roll patterns...

Be sure to check out our roll pattern exercises at: http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm

QUESTION 2: What is your best suggestion for a guy who is
trying to learn the banjo by ear rather than TAB?

My suggestion would be to listen, listen and listen more...there are many exercises to develop your ear...and one of the most important endeavors would be ear training if you want to pick up tunes without tab...there are many approaches to ear training...one would be to try to pick out melodies from memory, another would be to guess a notes pitch and then check yourself with an electronic tuner, another would be to learn to hear chordal changes from a recording, and so on...

One of the greatest difficulties I have had is
trying to put the melody with the rolls by ear?

To learn to play melodies within a roll pattern requires a lot of mechanicl foundation:
1. Knowing how to thread the chordal progression with the melody...
2. Having right-hand independence...so that the roll pattern will fit the rhythm and melody placement...
3. Knowing how to apply dynamics...it's not only the ability to play the melody within the chordal progression with the proper roll, but also knowing where and how to place emphasis on the melody notes themselves within the roll being played...

And, these are only a few of the mechanics involved in arranging melodies within a three finger roll...

In my mind I am sounding out every note of
a song like it would be sung. (e.g. Amazing
Grace or Will the Circle Be Unbroken ) But
when I try to play every note like I'm hearing it
in my mind it doesn't fit with the rolls. Too many
notes.

Yes, this is part of the arranging process...and, my suggestion would be to continue building your foundation...you'd be surprised at how much more arranging becomes natural after learning many songs and exercises by rote...Have your teaches teach you more on a methodology level: exercises, technique building, theory, etc. So that you have a fully laid out foundation as opposed to just learning one song after another...

Hope somthing here helps, Mickey

This banjo playin' preacher would appreciate any help you
can give him.

THANKS MICKEY,

Reg--