Dooley was a good ol' man he lived below the mill...The song is a traditional bluegrass tune, but it is also considered to be a string band classic. It will keep your feet tapping and is popular among bluegrass pickers all over the world. It's best to get down basic melody before before tackling other versions. That's the "main point" of the song. All the chord changes, rolling backup, and fancy solos are all based on the melody. It's a need to know for all!

The Melody- Basic is a simplified version of the melody that features a repeating pattern so it can be learned and retained easier. The Melody is a little bit closer to how people sing it, but it is still slightly simplified so that it's not too complex or hard to play. Lyrics are included to show how the words and syllables tie into the notes and rhythms. The Melody - Syllabic is full, complex, and a lot tougher to play. It is almost exactly how Rodney Dillard sang it with his band "The Dillards".

The Two Finger version is very basic and only has a few extra notes added into the melody. As the name implies you'll only use 2 fingers, in regard to your pick hand, to play the tune. If you want a slight step up from that check out the Scruggs - Basic version. It has just a few fill-ins and one roll pattern. It's amazing how much excitement and interest just one banjo roll can add to a tune! This one has some more authentic and interesting licks to check out after you get the basics down. Check out the Rolling Backup to get better at rolling and playing through the chord changes. Scruggs - Basic - Up the Neck uses one continuous roll pattern - the backward roll. There's just a few simple chord shapes you'll use. Take it slow whenever you need to.

The Single String version uses the melody and some basic single string technique to add excitement and interesting. It's not too challenging at slower speeds. Check out the Single String Roadmap to learn more about that banjo picking style and get a few workouts to include in your practice sessions. The Scruggs version features a great roll that sounds awesome and is a really good workout for your thumb. The Backup arrangement has some standard Scruggs fare and features some great walks that help lead the ear from one chord change to another. The Melodic arrangement is pretty flashy and includes a bit of single string style mixed in as well. If you like that melodic sound and are up for a challenge, then this one is for you!

DON'T NEGLECT YOUR BACKUP. The skills you build in learning rolling backup and vamping will help all aspects of your banjo playing. Improving your skills with rolls is crucial to Scruggs style, and anything that helps you refine your timing is good and important. Bad timing is the enemy of good music. So make sure to practice the rolling backup and vamping.