I normally look at patterns in the Tabs, it’s easy to memorize when you know what is being repeated. That’s one way I memorize songs. You can break measures up too and repeat them over and over again.
Discuss the Banjo lesson: Lonesome Road Blues
I found that muscle memory is very important. learning melodics is very helpful for muscle memory.
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I would probably focus on getting really confident with one solo at a time—the nice thing is that you don’t have to play them all to have a great-sounding arrangement. It is a ton to remember; you’re definitely not alone in that!
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Yes this one is a big pill to swallow in one go @ambergkeith Keith.
The way I learned it was one solo at a time. Get that down pat before moving to another solo. I vaguely remember tackling these solo’s out of sequence, some were a bit awkward like the melodic solo so I leaned toward learning the Scruggs style solos first then I moved on to the others. The hardest challenge was putting it all together. The best advice I can offer is LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN get the melody in your head. Listen also to Earl it’s his baby.
This is one of several new year challenges I set myself back in 2020 and by February 19th I had it nailed and posted a video on YouTube warts and all so no pressure Keith.
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Oh that was great Archie!
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Lets just say it was an attempt that still needs some refining. 
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Hi @ambergkeith Keith
Sorry I meant to include this little tool to help you implant the melody in you head. If you scroll down you can slow the video.
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@ambergkeith Some folks may be able to memorize it all note for note, but many can’t, and that’s fine. In fact, I think it’s better if you can play the song your own way than reproduce my playing.
I recommend you think about the song in positions as it’s a very position-based song, especially the up-the-neck part.
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The backing tracks have an extra measure and a half (or something like that) after you do your “One, two, one two three four ready go”. I can’t figure out when I need to come in and throws me off.
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Listen to first jam track where I play the solo and you’ll hear how I come in with the counting.
It comes in on beat 3, fyi.
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But it’s different than the solo track. It doesn’t just start after the count in. I can do it fine on TEF and I can even do it on my own but not on the backing tracks.
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There is a tradition in this song for the banjo to begin the song, then the rhythm section comes in later. When Earl recorded it, the band delays one measure: https://youtu.be/V4dgyx9Q850?si=r-SN_KBI-Z7D2lxu
I chose to let the banjo play for two measures and the band to come in when it chokes that 10th fret. Lots of folks do it this way, like Del and the Boys: https://youtu.be/mckIScndSXI?si=YKwcI7nQjCD17VtJ
You’re not hearing two different length tracks. If you’ll compare the solo track and the backing track that are both at 260BPM, they’re both 1:38 long and the the guitar comes in on both tracks at :07. The difference is that I let a click continue to play during the first two measures of rhythm track when it would be banjo-only, SO that those who are playing along won’t get off-beat.
If you were playing this in real life, the band would listen for the banjo and know when to come in. The click wouldn’t be necessary.
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I can barely make that 3 to 5 stretch in measure 51 to 52 using index and middle fingers. It only works for me because my index finger lands on the side of my finger. Any suggestions to make that stretch easier?
I think my finger bends a little wonky.
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Feel free to post a video of your fretting hand and we’ll let you know if we can see anything that needs fixing! That is a big stretch of course, and I actually feel like it wouldn’t be too hard to switch to index and ring fingers instead.
Yes. Place your index finger on the 1st string at the 3rd fret and your ring finger on the second string at the 5th fret and go watch TV for an hour. It’s all muscle memory. Don’t THINK about it just Do It!
