I have a quick question about this song. Does it matter if I memorize it. Should I memorize the basic melody or should I memorize it all? For most of my songs I don’t memorize them and just read them off the sheet music but I was wondering if you guys thought I should start memorizing my music?
Discuss the Banjo lesson: Wreck of the Old 97 Build-a-Break
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Hey, @aacbugle! The goal that @BanjoBen has for us all is to be able to eventually play on our own, without tabs, using our eyes and our ears. I would recommend knowing the melody at least. If you’re going to be playing in jam circles, I would recommend knowing the full break, especially since this seems to be a more familiar song. Either way, the more you practice the full break, it will become muscle memory in a sense. You’re hands will just kind of take over because they know what to do, when, and where. Personally, I usually end up memorizing each lesson through rigorous practice. Now, I haven’t practiced this one in a while, so I’m not as confident on it any more, but, if I know the melody, I can use the concepts in this taught in this lesson to make a fair stab at creating a break. Hope this helps and answers your question! Enjoy the song!
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Learn that melody and memorize it, for sure @aacbugle! Then, learn the lesson but not just to learn the other breaks, but to learn HOW I add rolls and licks. Then, try it for yourself with this same melody and see if you can change some things up. But most importantly, have the melody ingrained.
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Awesome! Thank you guys for the tips!
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Is it best to fret the harmonies in measures 38-40 with index/pinky?
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That’s my preference and feels the best to me!
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