Hello Mr. BanjoBen. I’m playing a RKH-05 and the head has a matte finish. So it has some tooth to it. I’m working on stopping after each song and checking my hand position. I just don’t want to pick up bad habits.
Discuss the Banjo lesson: Banjo Forward-Reverse Roll Study
That being the case more reason you should post a video and let @BanjoBen see where you are at and advise accordiningly. Sometimes a slight positioning of the banjo can make a world of a difference.
2 Likes
Ok Archie… This isn’t my best, but it shows my right hand. Here I am keeping my pinky down and not sliding down, but I slowed down trying to keep it clean. JM Banjo Clip
1 Like
Hi @jmills60 John so the camera angle doesn’t show us your pinky or ring finger that said you seem to have a good handle on the forward reverse roll and the melody. Do you have your ring finger and pinky on the head?
Mornin @Archie, so I only use my pinky. I found that when I tried to use both fingers, it pulled my social finger too close to the strings. Could be my short fingers. 
Sorry for the camera angle, but I guess it’s just going to take discipline. Thanks for all of your time.
1 Like
It looks good from that angle @jmills60, and I concur with what Archie said.
You might think about trying these, but I don’t want to create an unnecessary crutch: https://store.banjobenclark.com/products/banjo-ben-s-finger-anchor-picking-guide-pack-of-5
2 Likes
Ben, I saw these, but like you said, I don’t want to rely on them. If it takes me longer, that’s ok.
1 Like
So I’m not moving on until I get this down. And if I get there, should it sound like the banjo solo (mp3)? Because at 105 bpm, it’s not. 
2 Likes
Yeah, it’s a funny thing about banjo for me. To my ear, some songs don’t even sound like the same one until they get to a certain speed range. That doesn’t mean you have to get it to 200 or 220 before trying other things, but you’ll know it when you hear it. Things smooth out as the brain becomes less involved and it starts sounding “right.”
It’s sounding good John. Keep at it!
3 Likes
What is the timing (BPM) for the Slow Version of the lesson?
1 Like
Thanks Archie.
I’m having a bit of a problem playing at this tempo for the tune sounding much more than
a F-R Rolls practice. Timing is good, tempo is good, notes are clean but does not sound anything like Worried Man Blues.
Any suggestions on what tempo will begin to produce anything that sounds like a tune rather than a
roll practice ??
1 Like
Hi Steve.
Here is what I do. I play the TEF File in TablEdit at a slow speed say 60 - 65 with headphones on. Banjo in Right Ear, Guitar in left ear I LISTEN over and over till I have the melody in my head. I then try to play along with the TAB. Sometimes it works right off the bat sometimes I crash and burn. I try it a few times, if I continue to crash I pause the TEF File and work on the segment that’s causing me grief. I repeat the process. Sometimes this can go on for weeks / months. Especially if it’s an advanced level lesson.
Once I can play along with the TEF File at 60 - 65 [my starting point] I’ll notch the speed up 5 points to 70 - 75 LISTENING as I practice. As I make progress I notch it up another 5.
The key to drawing out the melody notes largely falls on the THUMB but sometimes the melody falls on the Index or Middle Fingers. Watch/Listen to @BanjoBen play through the tune in the preview get a FEEL for the tune. FIND THE GROOVE.
You have to learn to walk a mile before you can begin to run a marathon. Be patient, persevere and practice as often as you can. Believe you can do it and you’ll find that you can.
Post a video let Ben see where you are at
@kooseman Steve it just occurred to me. Are you still on the forward reverse roll introductory lesson? Or have you scrolled down to the Worried Man Blues lesson further down the page. Where @BanjoBen explains about finding the melody notes?
Further down the page Archie.
It’s Worried Man Blues played slow.
I can follow along with Ben and play at that speed.
However, I’m not sure at what speed I need to play to make it sound
more like a tune than practicing F-R Rolls.
Playing it slow only sounds like roll practice and not an actual song(tune).
As a side note. Is there a reference on how to use/access the TEF File ?
I think that the answer to your question would be subjective, and that making it sound like a tune has less to do with speed and more to do with emphasis than you might think.
Check this out. The website looks different now and your computer probably does too, but this explains how to download and view the files:
1 Like
Thanks Michael.
I worked on playing & emphasizing only the melody notes separately.
The challenge here was the fact that I already knew the song not as something played on
banjo. As such, the melody emphasis was a bit different and I had to refocus on emphasizing the
banjo melody notes. And yes, having done that, speed was not a factor as you mentioned. It’s coming together slow but sure and sounding much better.
I’m also including one of Ben’s (simple) endings and a pahtaytah (also simple) just to make things interesting.
Thanks again for the advice.
1 Like
Hi Steve
Then you are NOT following @BanjoBen advice. In his video Ben highlights the melody notes with little red squares. You have to emphasise these notes for the melody to shine through. Speed in this case doesn’t matter you can play this tune dead slow and it still sounds like Worried Man Blues.
Thanks Archie. See my reply to Michael.
I re focused on emphasizing the highlighted melody notes and things started to fall into place nicely.
Added some extras for some additional fun.
Thanks again.
1 Like