Sure you can do that!
Discuss the Banjo lesson: Unclouded Day Build-A-Break
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I’m having trouble playing with the jam tracks even the slowest one, I get lost two measures in and I dont when the chords change, if I’m not playing with it then I can follow along in my head but I lose it when I start to play, any ideas?
I know it can be scary, but best thing to do is record your attempt and post it here via a youtube link. Then, I’ll be able to diagnose and get you going!
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Attempt with jam track.
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Attempt without jam track
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I know this took me half an eternity but here it is. This might sound pompous of me but I hit the very evident reality that I am still a beginner. I want to play from the soul but still am playing mechanically. Critique away.
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Hi Jesse, @Hillbilly_picker
Can you hear the backup track well enough?
It takes a while to get the feel of doing this…you’re playing ahead of the BU track…when you get too far ahead it’s causing you to wait for it which usually ends up in a bobble.
Not an easy thing to do when first starting out, but you’re getting a handle on it, even if you might think not.
Try relaxing and letting Ben’s track tell you where the beat is (that’s what it’s for). This is not quick & easy either, relaxation takes practice also.
It does not happen overnight… it takes time and patience.
I think you’re getting ahead on the rolls…it happens when we practice them a lot & start knowing them well …they get easier than actually getting through the whole piece, so they tend to be easier (more comfortable) to play faster, and we are already under pressure to “keep up” when learning any piece (particularly with the added stress of recording added in), which can cause us to play faster than required on parts we are really familiar with. It’s all quite normal…
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Hi Jesse, Like Dave said are you able to hear the backing track? You seem to speed up and then slow down. I do the same when I use the backing tracks. Do you use the TEF files ? I find I have much better control because I can adjust to a speed that I am comfortable with. set the software to replay and just practice over and over adjust the speed up gradually over a few days .
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thanks I’ll work on those.
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Is it very important to learn all levels?
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It’s not “necessary”.
It’s good to try to see what you might pick up or be able to use though.
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It’s good to watch my process of how I arrive at each level, but not necessary as @Fiddle_wood says. These build-a-break lessons are really more about you learning how I take a basic melody to an intermediate or advanced solo, more so than actually learning the solos (though that is a benefit!).
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I was wondering if there is a duet part to this. My brother plays the guitar, my sister plays the mandolin, and I play the banjo. We all play for worship team at church and this one would be a wonderful one to play!
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Hi @kaelynspin Joe 
to @BanjoBen 's Forum
If you look just below the video you’ll see links to the Guitar & Mandolin lessons. Also if you download the Banjo TEF you’ll find it also has a rhythm guitar TAB included.
Is the MP3 jam track available for all 3 parts together? I’ve been working on this song for some time and would like to play it as presented in the demo.
Check this out. It’s not the exact solos but all 3 instruments playing from their POV:
Guitar: https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/guitar-pov-pickalong-unclouded-day-guitar-intermediate
Mando: https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/mandolin-pov-pickalong-unclouded-day-mandolin-intermediate
Banjo: https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/banjo-pov-pickalong-unclouded-day-banjo-intermediate
So on on measure 16 of level three, the Scruggs lick. I find it very difficult to reach back to the d string e note with my index finger while playing the slide with my second finger. I’ve watched you over and over and other then being impressed, I can’t seem to figure out how you can reach that… obviously I can and will keep working on it, but my question is this: If I use the third finger for the slide, it’s much easier for me to play the lick , but is this going to be a problem for any other reason going forward or this is an acceptable variant?
Hi @pastormac David. Keep a loose wrist and twist your wrist slightly as you make the slide. A classic response to your question might be “that’s not the way Earl did it” As banjo players we aim to follow Earls example.
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Thankd @Archie. Weirdly I kept trying the lick by itself and couldn’t do it and then when i started playing the song I could suddenly do it. I must have started unconsciously doing what you suggested. It’s not great but it’s doable now. . Weird phenomenon.
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Hi David, Like a lot of Scruggs Licks they seem impossible when you are trying to learn them then suddenly the lightbulb flashes and your off. 
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