Swing Low Sweet Chariot (Up-The-Neck) Beginner Banjo

[Mike]

This is the discussion topic for the lesson Swing Low Sweet Chariot (Up-The-Neck) Beginner Banjo. Please leave your comments or any questions you might have about the lesson here!

[Ken]

In measure 9 you played the FMB roll and hit string 2, fret 11, twice. It is not part of the melody but it sounds great. My music theory is poor but this seems like a flatted 6th note to me. If I am correct what chord does this make? I think Scruggs uses this in Lonesome Road Blues also. Thanks. ken

[Ken]

Many times you use T, I, M, T, starting on the 5th string with the thumb. when you do it in measure 2 you then start measure 3 with an index and it keeps the order of the roll going. But in measure 3 you vary that 4 note sequence by going T, I, M, I and then you are able to start the next measure with the thumb. At our level that seems hard to think of: Am I going to keep this going straight forward roll and then start with an index or I need to reverse this roll with the last note so I can start with a thumb. Can you do that level of thinking on the fly with a new song or is that something you had to work out to keep the timing right. Thanks, Ken

[Mike]

Ken,

Sorry for the delay in response.

Yes, and no. Sometimes I work out the fingerings exactly and play it the same way every time. Other times I can do it on the fly without figuring out the exact fingering.

My thought process here was this:

We need to play that 9th fret on the 3rd string started in measure 4. That’s my target melody note I’m looking to hit.

I want to hit that note with my thumb so it has power and stands out.

So I kind of reverse engineered it from there. The previous index finger at the end of measure three is basically just filler.

That T, I, M, I roll is very common though and one you’ll want to master.

If you know the most common Scruggs lick it uses this exact roll in the middle of it.

– Mike

[Author]

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