Hi. I have been taking lessons locally for 2 years and am very happy with the results. I started from the beginning with your lessons, as a way of getting a different perspective on everything. I just completed your Pull Offs instruction. I was taught that there is a simple “UP” pull off, which amounts to a similar sound as a HAMMER ON but the other way or a “FLIP” pull off, where you ‘hook’ the string as you taught. Is this just another perspective from another banjo player?
Thanks
I’m of the opinion that you should be able to pull UP or DOWN (I call both of them pull-offs, but some call the UP movement a push-off). I believe you’ll need both to be a complete banjo picker though you’ll get in the habit of doing one more than the other.
I have a habit of pulling down on open strings and pushing up on fretted strings. Just feels natural to me.
On measure 3, I supposed to leave my index finger on fret 2 and put middle finger on fret 3 and when I hit the note flick the middle finger on fret 3 while leaving index finger on fret 2? Hard to see in the video. Thank you.
Chad
Hi Chad @chaddlee1978 Yes. Keep your index finger on the string. With the middle finger also on the 3rd string. Pick the string as it rings pull off, the string will continue to vibrate and with the string fretted at the second fret (index) you get a second note. It’s important to LISTEN and get the timing right.
Okay. I had it right. The tablature has it looking weird I guess.
NO! the TAB looks fine. Measure 1 & 2 your pulling off to an open string. Measure 3 your pulling off to a fretted string.
Yes, leave the index finger down on measure 3 
The last half of the measure for the final lick as you play it sounds like an extra note is in there which makes it sound so much better than how I play it. Are my ears playing tricks on me possibly because of how quickly you are playing it? I noticed it at the start of the video when you introduced the final lick too. When I load up the tef it sounds and translates exactly as the tab, of course. Which honestly is more in line with the lick I am getting when I practice. What magic is happening here when you play it?
Thanks!
Hi @slade.edmonds Slade
If you look closely at ending of that last measure you’ll see that @BanjoBen is playing a 16th note pull off compare that to measure 18 and you’ll see Ben plays an 8th note pull off. With the 16th note pull off you get a extra note because your playing an open 1st string AFTER the pull off not as part of the pull off in measure 18. The whole purpose of this lesson is to teach you the difference. If you rush it you won’t hear that extra note. It’s all about LISTENING and training the brain to know the difference.
Yes, I understand the 16th note and the intent of the lesson. Still, I am hearing something extra in there. I tried slowing it down but the separation is lost when it slows down. I will have to analyze more closely.
It’s the only way to learn , break it down until it makes sense
I think maybe what I am hearing are two extras that don’t make it to the tab. The first one is tricky for me because of the nuance but I think I hear the finger when it lands on the G string third fret (before the actual pulloff) as he is setting up for the last half of the measure. The last one is easy; there’s an open G to end it. So to my ears there are two extra notes in there making it sound that much more awesome. Maybe I am crazy though 
Trust me with time you get there.
Are you playing the open 1st string with it? That’s the only “extra” note I can think of, and when you play the pull-off as a 16th note it also gives the sound of an extra note in there. A lot of it does come down to touch and getting it “just right”, of course—getting the pull-off to be crisp, getting the right balance of emphasis between thumb and fingers, good tone, all that good stuff. If you listen to 5 different professional banjo players, it’s not uncommon to hear 5 distinctly unique sounds when they do their pull-off licks.
If you’re able to upload a video of how you play it, I can try to point out if you’re doing anything noticeably different than how Ben plays it
I can’t really put it into words that I haven’t already, but I have practiced the lick and it sounds much better now and aligns closely with what Ben plays in the video. Thank you!