Over the Waterfall - Single String

In this accessible and exciting single string version of "Over the Waterfall" for banjo, you'll learn to tackle this great melody in two positions. For the A part, you'll be up the neck a bit in the 7th position. Check the suggested fret hand fingerings in the banjo tablature if you are unfamiliar with position based playing. In the B part of this tune you'll drop down to second position. Again, check out the suggested fingerings because there is a few potentially tricky maneuvers.

Also, pay close attention to the pick hand fingerings in the banjo tablature. In basic single string style banjo you alternate between the thumb and index finger of the pick hand. However, there are times when you will want to not alternate. This is for an important and specific reason. It's called down driven picking and is borrowed from guitarists, mandolinists and even fiddlers(they call it down driven bowing). The thumb will mostly be used to play downbeats, the index will play offbeats or up beats. If you don't know what that means, then that just follow the suggested fingerings for now. Play first, and understand the theory later. That's advice from Jazz great Miles Davis.

There's some nice melodic, single string, and Scruggs licks to dive into. There are some possibly finger twisting maneuvers required so read closely and listen well before you jump in to the playing. Reading and listening are valuable forms of practice.

Explore more Over the Waterfall Banjo Tabs:

Melodic, Single String - Up the Neck, Scruggs Style, Vamping, B Part: Up the Neck in the Melodic Style