https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/intro-to-banjo-backup-utility-rolls-banjo-intermediate
Banjo backup rolls can seem complicated, but I’ll make them easy! Let’s learn utility rolls that provide a backup foundation that the band needs, plus some hot licks to spice it up a bit!
Hey Banjo Ben! I’ve been meaning to ask this question about that Banjo your playing! Its, AWESOME!!!
Can you tell us a little bit about that banjo? 
Thanks! That’s my Davis Granada. I’m now the only dealer for Davis banjos and I’ll have a few in stock over the coming weeks. I love 'em, and they’re extremely good for the money.
That’s so cool! I’ll check them out!!
I remember the previous utility rolls lesson. It had TONS of useful, practical stuff in it that I use all the time. Looking forward to this one. Put it together with KSB’s lesson from earlier in the week and I’ll be a backup banjoing fool. (I already got the fool part down.)
Thanks! Yeah, this is actually a prequel to that. I feel like George Lucas.
Hi Banjo Ben, I attended a cabin camp a while back and we spent some time talking and learning vamping as a backup too. Personally, I like the utility rolls with the “bed of notes” as you describe them – it just sounds better (to me). But are there times when vamping is the more preferred backup or is it pretty much whatever moves you during playing? Thanks for the great lesson!
Hello. Thank you for this lesson. I especially enjoy the raspberry at the end of the 120 bpm track! If I make it through without goofing up I do the same. It makes me laugh every time. 
Might be a raspberry, or something from the other end. Ben once shared with us what he called “the tonic toot.” It’s exactly what you’re thinking. See, Ben is so musically gifted, he even breaks wind in key.
I remember that episode, didn’t someone receive a prize for mentioning it. I was too dignified, I didn’t want to cause @BanjoBen any embarrassment. Now that I know more about his character and a certain slingshot prank whilst touring with Taylor Swift I think it’s ok to call him out.
Did Taylor ever discover who was behind that @BanjoBen ?
Great tools for the tool belt here. Very helpful because I have joined a couple jam groups within the last month! Really fun!
@Plinker38 welcome to the forum! I’m certainly no expert, but I’ll often vamp when another instrument is taking a break and I think my rolls will be too loud and drown out the break. If there is someone singing, I’m probably playing some sort of rolling backup. But I’ve heard some professionals say that they pretty much never vamp. They just back off on the volume of the rolls. But they are playing into mics and can just back up from the mic to decrease their volume.
Thank you for that loop. I usually have to go to Strum machine and find something close so I can just keep practicing. Very helpful.
Hi @Brent.H I take no credit for the tool. I am pretty sure someone here on the forum shared it a while back. I just booked marked it knowing it would come in handy one day.
HI rspillers, Thanks very much for the insight! Haven’t done much backup so what you say makes great sense and can see what you’re saying about volume. Very helpful info!
