Discuss the Banjo lesson: Rolling Backup in C Position

[Archie]

Hi @BanjoBen

Measure 26 in the F triad section is shown as an A Chord.

I am a little puzzled as all the notes in that measure form pat of the F Chord. Did I miss something here?

I realise the second fret of the 3rd string is an A note

[BanjoBen]

Yes, in the video I mention that those are the triad notes that are being highlighted, not the chord. Great question, thanks!

[Archie]

Thanks

[Davo]

That’s a great lesson! But I’d still love to learn some rolls or licks that work specifically for backup in D. It’s a topic that doesn’t get discussed very often!

[BanjoBen]

So, essentially you’d like the format I did with this C position lesson but with D instead?

[Archie]

Hi David, I think it’s fair to say that backup in general in ALL keys is a topic that doesn’t get the same level of exposure that teaching a break does despite the fact that 90% of the banjo players job is to play backup in a band situation.

It been a bit of a crusade of mine these past six or seven years trying to persuade most of the prominent teachers out there to include backup as part of their teaching syllabus. I am personally grateful that Ben has listened to my feedback on this very topic and has been making great efforts to address this problem and has begun to include lots more lessons on backup as part of his teaching program. I am sure he will in time get round to teaching backup in the key of D.

I am also hoping he will look at doing some Advance Lessons on Classic Scruggs Licks check out my earlier post.

On a Roll with Ben's Banjo Backup

Like most of you. I have struggled for years trying to learn to play some meaningful banjo backup. It’s not much fun trying to connect dot’s on a printed page and turn them into something musical when you don’t know what the heck you are suppose to be doing and you don’t have easy access to someone with the knowledge and expertise to advise you. The past several years I have been lucky enough to be able to call on a good friend and mentor to advise me, someone pretty special who has taken the …

[Davo]

Yes! In this one I enjoyed the transition licks and scale movement in addition to the basic roll patterns. I’m quite enjoying the recent videos that focus on backup. Seconding what Archie said on doing more backup lessons, we’d all appreciate it.

[lonewolf223]

i agree

[lonewolf223]

i should explain more. I have Banjo Bens, up the neck licks memorized but that is not enough for good backup. Not enough . Wayfare points in G was great. That added a little more, for G anyway. Seems like to me you cant get enough backup licks memorized, up the neck. Jams i go to they dont want to hear a thundering banjo behind the singer. So i go up the neck to be quieter. Just my opinion for what its worth.

[Archie]

Hi @BanjoBen in measure 36 in the Licks Section should that be a fretted 4th string after the pull off? It’s shown as open in the TAB but you seem to fret the 4th string second fret in the demo and I have a tendency to want to fret the 4th string too.

[BanjoBen]

I’m pretty sure I play it like the tab.

[Archie]

Ok just double checked, right at the start of the Lick’s Lesson you do fret the string in both the clips but on the slow demo where you play the whole tune through you play it open. Both sound great BTW.

Not a prob. Just seeking clarification

[BanjoBen]

You know, I didn’t listen to that. I just listened to the lesson preview.

[Archie]

The more I get into this lesson the more I am lovin these tricky lick combinations

[Spin47]

@BanjoBen, is this the basis for playing fills while backing up a singer?

[BanjoBen]

Yep, very much so. This is one common option, and the trick is to not be too busy in your licks.

[ambergkeith]

So, after working through and getting up to speed at 200 bpm, what’s the best way to practice these techniques to do them on the fly? Say I go to a jam and someone decides to play a song I sorta kinda know the chords to but want to do more than boom - chuck backup. How do I go about getting skills up to speed to be able to do rolling backup in this type setting?

[Archie]

How do I go about getting skills up to speed to be able to do rolling backup in this type setting?

Hi Keith if you have worked through this lesson and can play along a 200bpm you doing pretty well. Thing is @BanjoBen fastest demo speed is 180bpm. Playing rolls at 200bpm should be do-able so long as you avoid the alternating thumb roll. TablEdit should help you practice rolls and build speed. Just TAB out the chord progression of the rolls patterns you want to practice and you’ll be good to go.

Please post a video.

[Archie]

So, essentially you’d like the format I did with this C position lesson but with D instead?

It’s been a while since I submitted a request for a lesson @BanjoBen However when this discussion came up today I thought I might as well ask. Could you possibly do a banjo backup lesson in D - NO CAPO with Guitar and or Mandolin solos in D and G. of Red River Valley.

[BanjoBen]

Great idea. I do have this one: https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/how-to-play-in-d-banjo

@ambergkeith I think you’re concentrating on learning the tab and perhaps bypassed what the lesson tries to convey. 200bpm is pretty fast and the way to answer your question is to take a key in C and give the skills/approaches in this lesson a whirl. Don’t know how? Post the song here and let’s do it together.