Well, I just watched this one of her playing a song that I’ve recently fallen in love with, gentle on my mind
Ashley Campbell
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Great classic bluegrass song written by the legendary Banjo and Fiddle player John Hartford RIP John
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This popped up in my YouTube recommended viewings this morning Enjoy
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Thanks @Archie. It always amazes me how effective a simple rolling banjo can be. This is a great example. Certainly nothing advanced technique-wise here, but yet very effective if one can achieve a nice even roll…
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Hi Neil, This goes to the root of what I have been trying to understand about playing rolling backup. I have listened to this stuff pretty much since I took up the banjo but try as I might I can’t find anything remotely like this in any of the backup lessons I have studied. Perhaps @BanjoBen can persuade Ashley to pop by the cabin next time she visits Nashville. Boy wouldn’t that be great having Ashley make a guest appearance.
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I could be wrong, but it sounds like most of it is just a series of square rolls with some specific key notes walking (mostly down) to lead the listeners ear to chord changes.
I will say, though, she may be making it look easier than it really is.
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Hey Mark,
If you get some time, can you give us a vid on rolling backup? Watching her play has led me to listening to GC’s version on Pandora repeatedly these last several days.
For me, it’s quite difficult to pick out the rolling banjo, because the acoustic guitars are playing in a very similar fashion.
That was the first time I ever heard Ashley Campbell play, and she played that spectacularly. It just flowed like nobody’s business. The old guy was phenomenal too. Still has a very clean voice with little graveliness.
No offense to the bluegrass purists, but a rolling banjo in a popular type song, (though not written with that intent), is just indescribable.
Was she playing melodic style on that solo?
Excellent analysis!
OK, so it sounds like John is doing 8 beats per measure, with a slight accent on beats 2 and 4??? when he’s not singing, but what does he do while he’s singing? Can’t quite tell.
Man, I want to learn this one.
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He’s doing the same thing only with less volume so the bajo doesn’t interfere with the vocals…dynamics
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Me 2 Jack
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OK, I was playing around with this a bit.
I’m pretty sure the progression is C, D7, G, and back to C. On the D7 chord, he is walking the C, C# and D notes.
I think from here it’s just a matter of cracking how he does the rolls. Hope that helps Archie.
Thanks Dave. Not nearly where I’m at, but working on it right at this moment.
Archie,
I tried to come up with something that might be playable and singable for somewhere between beginner and intermediate players. (Pretty much my level).
This is by no means a performance level video, but rather something to demonstrate some chord and roll possibilities.
I stuck with C, D7, G, and back to C. There is a small walk on the D7. Hope that the camera shows how I did it. It’s really very basic.
Hope you like it and will give it a go. By the way, I think this would be a good one that guitar players can strum and sing as well.
Jack
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Hi Dave, Thanks for this, very much appreciated. I am not really looking to learn the solo break. I am just interested to learn what Ashley is doing with her backup. I’ve got a mountain of tunes to work through.
Thanks for sharing Jack. Much appreciated.
Think you’re nailing it Jack. Doing nice easy rolls and adding movement are really effective like you showed. This, combined with perfect timing make it just so complementary to the song.
PS: No picks today eh? Must have been getting late 
Thanks Neil,
Yeah, I have a tendency to make notes sound shrill when I’m using picks, which would led to repeated takes. I did this one in four, which was my lowest ever. 
Finally starting to get over recording fright. It seems no matter how great your take may have been, you always see something that you wish you had done better.
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