Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
It’s hard to say without seeing/hearing you play.
It could be an issue with your banjo. Is a railroad spike blocking you from fretting that note?
Can you email me a video of you playing that part so I can take a look?
– Mike
It’s going to depend on whether or not you’ve got a click on every beat or every other beat.
If you’ve got a click on every beat, 180-200 BPM would be a good goal to get to.
If you’ve got a click on every other beat (like my practice tracks) cut that number in half, so 90-100 BPM.
It’s much more important to be able to play with control and good rhythm and tone though than to be able to play fast.
– Mike
Make sure your fingernails aren’t too long. If they’re too long it’ll make it so you have to play on the wrong part of your finger which will cause a lot of string muting issues.
Otherwise, feel free to email me a video of you playing to mike@mikeheddingmusic.com and I can provide more specific feedback.
– Mike
Thanks Micky!
This exercise is one I consistently go back to for warming up or for working on new roll patterns.
Tony,
Thanks for the question.
I haven’t recorded a video for this lesson yet but I likely will at some point.
Sure, it’s totally fine to use your third and fourth finger to fret the 5th string if that feels easier.
I like to use my thumb a lot of times to fret the 5th string because I have a slightly wider neck on my banjo and it’s a little easier for me.
But it’s personal preference so feel free to do whatever is most comfortable for your hand.
– Mike
Good question.
You’ll want to have licks and rolls that are either 1 measure in length or two measures in length to start.
Once you master those you can create longer combinations.
So if you need three measures you could combine a one measure lick/roll with a two measure lick/roll.
Or play three one measure lick/rolls to create three measures.
Same with four measures. You could play the two measure lick/roll twice.
It all depends on what licks/rolls you already know. At first you’ll be repeating a lot of licks/rolls because your vocabulary will be smaller.
I think of the measures as blocks you can build together to create different amounts of musical time.
If you still have questions let me know.
– Mike
Yes I remember recording this lesson I had issues with the timing of measure 21 as well. It doesn’t translate great to tab.
Yes I use the reverse forward roll all the time. Any time I want to play melodies on the 1st string it’s one of my go-to’s.
– Mike
You got this! It’s fairly common in melodic style and some Scruggs licks. Just takes a bit of time to build up a callous on that part of your thumb.
– Mike
Yes the terms beginner and intermediate are very subjective.
The second solo is drifting into advanced-beginner or beginner-intermediate.
Glad you enjoyed it.
– Mike
Sorry it was giving you trouble. All the videos should play without pausing.
Are you hitting the space bar with your left or right hand?
That would pause the video.
Sorry for the delayed response.
Yes. Here’s the link.
It will be the second video in the series titled Solo #2.
– Mike
