John Hardy - Scruggs Style Étude - Lick Based Solo

This banjo tablature shows you how play through John Hardy using just a few standard Scruggs Style lick. This is an important concept for banjo players to learn. Certain licks can be used to highlight certain scale or melody notes. So, if you know the melody and have a decently sized vocabulary of licks to draw from you can create a banjo solo that sounds authentic and still honors the melody.

If you haven't learned and memorize the basic melody for this tune, go back to the list of banjo tablatures for the song John Hardy and learn that melody thoroughly. If you don't already know a good deal of Scruggs style licks then check out the Essential Scruggs Style Essential Scruggs Licks to learn a large amount of important bluegrass banjo vocabulary that can be used G, C and D chords.

First, listen. Then listen again. Then read. Notice the repeating licks. Practice the repeating licks one by one until each is easy. Do this before trying the whole song. Listening and reading before playing should be a regular habit. Get familiar with the song. Read the music to notice patterns and formulate a practice plan.

If you listen closely and read well you should notice 4-5 repeating musical ideas AKA "licks"!

#1: Measure 1. This one leads very nicely into a C chord. It doesn't loop well with the Focus feature since the measure by itself starts and ends on a thumb note. When looping, listen for a measure, then play. repeat that process.

#2 Measure 2. This is simple a melody note followed by quick hammer on and forward roll over the C chord. Simple, solid, and sounds incredible when played with good timing and technique.

#3 Measure 4. We have a melody note followed again by a quick hammer and forward roll. This lick works great any time a melody note is on the open "d" string. It can be used on a G chord or a D chord. It is very close to the Foggy Mountain roll and lick.

#4 Measures 14 and 15. This is a two measure lick that Earl used in this tune and in the song "Groundspeed". Use focus on both measures to practice the entire phrase.

#5 Measures 18 and 19. Another two measure phrase. This is a classic Scruggs ending phrase that leads from a D chord to a G chord.

After that you just need to master measures Three and Thirteen.

Learning the hard parts first and in smaller pieces will always be a better approach than trying to learn the whole song unless you already have extremely strong foundational skills.

The licks are full of Scruggs style variations and lick ideas using other picking styles. Do not start trying to tackle these until you are comfortable with the basic arrangement.

Explore more John Hardy Banjo Tabs:

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