Shackles and Chains - Vamping

This vamping backup for "Shackles and Chains" on the banjo covers the verse and chorus chord progressions.

Check out the licks to learn some embellished and authentic backup vocabulary on the banjo. Remember, the chord shapes and licks that don't use open strings can easily be reused in any key! You'll just need to move that shape to the appropriate spot on the neck for the new key. If you find a lick you really like then try to memorize it and use it on another song that has the same chord shape. Even just playing the lick at a different spot on the neck will be a good experiment.

The verse chord progression is a standard "1-4-5", and uses the principal chords in the key of G; which are G, C and D. The chorus chord progression is a bit more complex. The first half of the chorus uses a slightly less common "4 minor" chord. In the key of G, the 4m chord is a C minor. There is also a "2 major" chord, which comes before the D major in measure 15. This is a common chord progression pattern known as a "2-5-1", which ends up being A-D-G in the key of G. These common chord progression patterns will have a similar sound in any key.

What were all those numbers? Using numbers instead of chord letters is common in the bluegrass and country music world. It's based on the Nashville Number system. In that system, everything relates to, and is based on the scale degrees in a major key. G major has these notes: G, A, B, C, D, E, F#. If we give each of those notes a number it becomes easier to see the association between the number system and the letter names. G=(1), A=(2), B=(3), etc. There's more to it, but that's a very brief overview.

Explore more Shackles and Chains Banjo Tabs:

Melody, Étude: Up the Neck Lead & Vamping, Étude: Double Stop Lead & Rolling Backup, Earl Scruggs Style, Earl Scruggs Style #2