John Hardy - Rolling Backup

Rolling backup for banjo is a foundational skill. It's an essential backup skill, and a good option to use when playing in a group setting. Rolling backup helps you develop familiarity with the chord changes of a song. Practicing rolling backup prepares you to tackle Scruggs style leads with a lot more ease.

This version of John Hardy for the banjo uses the alternating thumb roll pattern. It's also called the square roll. Usually it's just played TITM on strings 3251. Here, an extra alternation is added. We get 3251, 4251. This gives us a nice simple and solid backup sound. Master that basic roll pattern as it appears in measure 3 using the focus feature. It's not all alternating thumb roll. There's also a few pinches to add some variety and rhythmic stability. Near the end, there are a few walks that help lead from one chord change to another.

Focus on even timing and good tone. To practice even timing you will likely need to play very slowly. Don't feel bad about that. It's part of learning. It will help you develop control and good timing awareness. Sometime when trying to play fast you might start to sound sloppy or feel extra tense. If this is the case then please slow down and play at a speed where you can control your volume, timing and can relax some to manage to excess muscle tension.

Also, check out the lick switcher to get ideas on how you can incorporate various roll patterns, walks or more standard Scruggs style banjo licks into your rolling backup on this tune. Remember the licks and rolls work on this song, but also just on these chords and chord changes. If there are some G licks or C licks you really like, then memorize them and try them on another tune with similar chords.

Explore more John Hardy Banjo Tabs:

Melody, Vamping Étude - Pentatonic Walk, Scruggs - Basic, Scruggs Style Étude - Lick Based Solo, Earl Scruggs: Transcription, Earl Scruggs: Transcription # 2, Earl Scruggs: Transcription # 3, Scruggs Style, Melodic Style, Backup