Lesson 3 Dobro®: Basics Roll Pattern Exercises

by Mickey Cochran

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We will continue our focus with the right hand while introducing chords with the steel on the sliding hand.

Barring Exercises

Make sure you're in a comfortable position to both fingerpick and slide simultaneously. We have established the importance of keeping rhythm with methodical thumb and index fingerpicking matching your tapping foot. We will now utilize a new exercise that will incorporate our first G chord progression along with our first roll pattern. Roll patterns are characteristic of Dobro playing and a good foundation in all the patterns is essential to becoming an accomplished Dobro player.

The following is the Forward roll as applied to a G chord progression...when coming to the C chord, you only need to place your steel down on the strings completely across the 5th fret...when coming to the D chord lay down the steel at the 7th fret.

Note: When placing your bar down, for the C and D chords, remember to lay all of your fingers flat behind the bar to minimize overtones. Additionally, make sure to keep the bar directly above the fret

Follow this pattern with your right hand: Thumb (t) - Index (i) - Middle (m)...

Practice the above exercises until you are completely comfortable with sliding and picking simultaneously without hesitating between beats. Remember, these exercises are considered accomplished only if you're keeping an even tempo without losing a beat.

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