Mastering Forward Rolls
With
Avram SiegelAvram Siegel breaks down banjo forward rolls and how to track the downbeat so you don't get lost while playing them.
What's in the course
33 lessons (1h 35m) · 1 free
Lesson transcript
Understanding Forward Rolls
Now we're going to learn something else about forward rolls.
You noticed in Cumberland Gap, we played a roll that started with the thumb and went to the index. A forward roll follows this pattern:
- One beat on one finger
- Next beat on the next finger
- And so on
I call this tracking the downbeat, because you want to track the downbeat through whatever you're playing.
Complications of Forward Rolls
It becomes the most complicated when you're playing forward rolls or backward rolls for a period of time.
Utilizing the Skill
Now, we're going to use the skill we learned of playing one note louder than the others at a given time, but it's not going to be the same note; it's going to keep changing.
When you're playing a song that uses a lot of forward rolls, keep this in mind:
- If you just try to count your forward rolls, you're not going to stay on the beat.
You can also do this exercise with the backward roll.
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1h 35m of structured video lessons
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Meet your guru
Meet your guru
Avram Siegel is a banjo player and a mainstay of the California bluegrass scene. He has played with the Kathy Kallick Band and True Blue, among many others, and has taught for decades - his step-by-step method has turned out some of the state's most respected young players. In his courses he breaks down three-finger Scruggs rolls, backup and melodic playing so you can build clean timing and tone at your own pace.
