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Ross Nickerson's Banjo Roll Tips
RossNickerson.com
BanjoTeacher.com
What banjo roll should I use?
What's your go to roll? Do you have a preference? Which roll works best for playing the melody? How about for backup? These are some questions that get raised by 5-string banjo players at all levels.
Let's start by defining a banjo roll briefly. It could be described as a series of quarter and eighth notes that make up a single four beat measure. The right hand pattern is what defines the name of the roll. For instance, a common forward roll pattern is TIMTIMTM, an alternating thumb roll is TITM.
A common mistake beginners make is believing that the strings they played their first alternate roll on is what defines the roll. You can play any roll pattern on any combination of strings. To illustrate that better, for example,you could play the forward roll pattern above on the first string only, or the third and fourth strings only.
When studying and learning rolls be sure to memorize the patterns and try them on as many combinations of strings as you can create. By doing that you've created a whole vocabulary of right hand patterns that you can use for improvising and making your playing more interesting.
Any time that you spend working on your rolls and other aspects of your right hand is time well spent. You could run your left hand up and down the neck but without being a proficient picker it want sound like much.
What's your go to Roll?
A go to roll could be described as the roll you play the best, know the best, what you think sounds the best, the one you can play the fastest, the one that drives the band the best, etc. It's something that you have to decide. However to have the knowledge to make the best decisions you should become proficient in several varieties of the major roll patterns used in Scruggs Style picking.
Break down some of the songs you know and take note of what different rolls you're playing and how they affect the song. Your goal should be to be balanced and use the rolls that fit the song your playing the best.
Do you have a preference? Even if you're a pro you probably have rolls that you tend to use more than others, but you've reached the level to make choices. If you're not so proficient, chances are you have a roll or two that you can play the best.
Obviously, keep practicing and balance out your ability. However, if the reverse roll is the roll you can play the fastest and it keeps you from backing out of a jam session when the tempos get fast than by all means go to it until the other rolls catch up.
Which roll works best for playing the melody?, and Which roll works best for backup? Again I d like to reiterate that much of how you play is subjective and their are no absolutes. I would not dare suggest that I have all the answers or can tell you the only way to do something. I would however like to share my background, knowledge and experience as a professional to lead to a place where you re more capable of making your own choices or rethink something which may help you have a more rewarding experience picking the banjo. Let s move on to the first question.
Which roll works for playing the melody?
I
think it s safe to say the forward roll and the backward roll are the most useful in playing the melody. Using the thumb to play the melody and filling the spaces where the banjo is unable to sustain the melody note with the forward roll is an effective and simplistic way to pound out the melody so it can be heard.
The roll I m referring mostly too is T-TIMTIM. (the dash is a rest or in other words the first thumb is a quarter note and the remaining six are eighth notes equaling a total of four beats).
Earl Scruggs preferred playing the melody with the thumb and I totally agree. There are times when the thumb is not available to you because you just used it on an eighth note, so please don t interpret my suggestion as you only play the melody with the thumb. I recommend that you use it as what I would call the preferred finger when playing the melody.
The backward roll works in the same way as the forward roll in your approach to playing the melody. The following roll is the backward equivalent of the forward roll above. T-TMITMI. The backward roll works particularly well when playing the melody on the first string.
Lately I have been really into combining the two in a two measure sequence. for instance, this sixteen eighth note pattern, TIMTIMITMITMITIM. Try that pattern on the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st strings. I have some tab available that demonstrates the things we ve been talking about. If you would like some you re welcome to e-mail me at Rossnickerson@aol.com Now on to the next question.
Which roll works best for backup?
This may be
a little harder to answer but it would probably be a good thing if I give you some suggestions on backup as well. When you re picking behind vocals or behind another instrument when they are soloing it s safe to say you don t want to interfere.
Keep your rolls fluid, rhythmic and uncontroversial musically. By being uncontroversial I mean, try not to play notes that stick out in all the wrong ways or detract from what the listener should be more focused on. The forward roll I mentioned above is very fluid and the roll TMTIMITM works great on turnarounds. The reverse roll can be effective and not playing the fifth string every time around is good also.
This backup question could be explored much more deeply but these suggestions may lead you to some of your own conclusions. I think the most important thing you can do with rolls is play them in time and very rhythmically. Probably the most important role of a banjo play is to drive the band, hold it together and provide the fluid motion that really drives people to love Bluegrass music. That is accomplished by a solid rhythmic right hand. Not to be confused with playing a bunch of complicated licks with poor timing. Poor timing is the kind of thing that drives people to have an attitude about banjo players sometimes.
If you would like to learn more rolls and more about them. I have many varieties included in my Instruction book with CD called How to Build Your Speed on the Banjo
You can also find some useful free instruction articles at Ross Nickerson free Banjo Instruction Articles
Here are the links to my websites
RossNickerson.com
BanjoTeacher.com