Forward Rolls

Basic Bluegrass Banjo is played in the style developed by Earl Scruggs
Most songs and tunes are in 4/4 time so taking two bars we can play eight half 
notes over two bars.
The basic picking is in the form of a roll playing the eight notes in sequence 
in a roll pattern leading with the THUMB :- 
Thumb, Index, Thumb, Index, Middle,Thumb, Index ,Middle
Try this pattern on open strings of the banjo

The pattern is to play eight notes. These can be grouped into different combinations 
the roll above plays grouping of  two notes, three notes, three notes
This pattern can be reversed :-
THUMB lead
three notes, three notes, two notes as shown below:-

This pattern can be played on different combination of strings instead of playing
 on the 2nd and 3rd strings move to the the 4th and 3rd strings:-

Using this forward roll play each successive roll on the 4th string 
playing a descending scale:-

Most often the THUMB is used to start the lick off but the same concept 
can be used of three notes ,three notes, two note pattern leading with the INDEX finger

 Index finger can start on the third string :- 



  
  
  
  
Index lead 7 note Forward Roll 
When playing high up the finger board using chords only fretted on the 
1st and 2nd strings then only the 1st, 2nd and 5th string need to be played 
in the roll.  The index lead roll is ideally suited.
Playing the index lead forward roll  the second note in the run can be omitted 
replaced by a  silence equal in the measure of time . 





  
  
  
  
Thumb lead 7 note Forward Roll 
Playing the THUMB lead forward roll  the eigth final note in the run can be omitted 
replaced by a  silence equal in the measure of time . 





  
  
  
  
 G scale practice 7 note Forward Roll 


Playing the forward roll the using  the TIM TIM TM pattern the strings can be 
played in various combinations and  since the pattern is the same and only the string 
selection changes many diffent tonal sounds can be made with little effort. 

There are  a huge number of possible combinations but practice having a go at 
these and see which ones you like:-




  
  
  
  
Bye Now 
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