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You’re adding one new finger at a time. You’ll want to practice keeping your other fingers down until you move to the next string.
This will help your fingers stretch out and will help you not build the habit of unnecessarily lifting your fingers up after playing each note.
If you have any other questions let me know.
– Mike
Sorry I don’t have a tab for the exact backup I played cause it wouldn’t ever be played the same way twice.
I go over a bunch of the techniques I used in the backup video though.
Did you check that out?
Which part is giving you trouble?
Mike
Most people use two metal fingerpicks and a plastic thumbpick. That’s what I’d recommend to start.
I use dunlop .025 fingerpicks and I’d check out a golden gate plastic thumbpick.
That should get you started until you figure out exactly what your preference is.
Best,
MikeIf you’re trying to learn clawhammer banjo yes, you can play without picks.
If you’re trying to learn 3 finger bluegrass style banjo picks are absolutely necessary.
You simply won’t be able to get the speed, consistency and tone from your fingernails. They’re not at the right angle, made out of the correct material or the right length.
It may feel like you’re taking a shortcut skipping learning how to use the picks but you’re just building habits that you’ll have to unlearn later on.
The picks feel weird for everyone at first but it’s critical you learn how to use them if you want to play bluegrass style.
If you have any other questions let me know. Keep picking.
Best,
MikeYou can click the “gear” icon in the bottom right hand corner of the video and adjust the speed if you want to slow the video down.
Or you can let me know timestamp the roll occurs at and I can help out.
In the up-the-neck backup section I’m mainly using the F shape moveable chord. The major and minor version.
You can check out this lesson that has a tab if you’re not familiar with that chord shape:
If you have any other questions let me know.
– Mike
Sorry for the delay in response.
Are you talking about when the song is starting?
The practice tracks count 1, 2, 3, 4 twice before the rhythm comes in.
You’d play the pickup on the second 2, 3 and 4.
So listen for 1, 2, 3, 4, 1 and then start playing the pickup notes.
If you’re still having trouble can you post a video? It’d be easier to help after hearing you play it to see what’s happening.
– Mike
Yes, I’ll most likely do some clawhammer lessons at some point.
I’m still working on improving my own technique though before I feel comfortable offering lessons.
But I’ll try and do some soon. Thanks for the request.
Mike
Sorry it was giving you trouble.
It looks like you have full access to the lesson.
Are you possibly getting logged out switching between the pages?
Can you login on that lesson page right below the purchase option?
– Mike
Sorry for the delay in response.
It’s fine to jump around a bit when you’re learning the basics. I wouldn’t get stuck on one lesson for more than a week.
You’ll always be circling back and working on foundational techniques.
Are you still working through the Basic section?
– Mike
Sorry for the delay in response.
Are you still having an issue?
The video plays when I test it.
Let me know and I’ll investigate.
– Mike
You’ll want to get a 5th string capo if you don’t have spikes.
You’re correct you wouldn’t want to turn the 5th string up too much as it might break.
Otherwise you can play the songs without a capo and just play in G.
– Mike
Sorry for the delay in response.
These licks work out of the barre chord shape and the 1st and 2nd string exercises are more of a harmonized scale playing two notes at once.
The positions do look similar but in this case we’re playing different ideas so they’re not really related.
What song have you tried to play the licks in?
I’d recommend a slow song like Banks of the Ohio to start.
But yes, I can do a future lesson on that thanks.
– Mike
