Hey John! I assume you’re using the TEF files for learning. If you’re not, you really need to. Download the viewer here:
http://www.tabledit.com/download/tefv.exe
After you install it, download the TEF file from whatever lesson page you’re working on.
Let’s use Boil Dem Cabbage Down as our example. Just like Ben’s backing tracks, there’s a guitar part in the TEF file that is played exactly the way Ben plays guitar in the backing track. Each measure gets an alternating 2 guitar bass notes and 2 strums. As you’ve already noticed, there are 8 banjo notes per measure.
It sounds to me like you’re just not ready for the slowest speed backing track that Ben has, and that’s OK. It takes time build up speed and accuracy. So, here’s what I’ll suggest.
1 - load up the TEF Viewer and open Boil Dem Cabbage Down.
2 - Go to the MIDI Menu option and turn on the metronome. Make sure it’s volume is turned up.
3 - Go to the MIDI Menu option and click on “MIDI Options.” You’ll see 2 Vol sliders next to “Banjo open G” and “Guitar Rhythm.” Pull the Vol slider next to “Banjo open G” all the way to the left. That will silence the banjo track so that you only hear guitar.
4 - Go to the MIDI Menu option and click Relative Speed… Adjust the slider down as slow as you need to go to feel comfortable with the speed. I’ve had to go as low as 20% when starting out on some lessons.
Now, once you hit the Play button (or the Space Bar) you’ll pick 2 notes on the banjo for every click of the metronome. If you have trouble hearing the metronome over the guitar, go back to the Metronome window, make sure the volume is all the way up, and if so, change the “Patch” in the drop down menu to something that sounds better (I like cowbell. We could all use more cowbell.)
Once you get comfortable with this method at about 70 to 80% speed, you should be ready to move over to the backing tracks.