How to Play Sally Goodin Backup

A Study of J.D. Crowe's Rolling Backup

This lesson will walk you through rolling backup in the style of J.D. Crowe. J.D. has some really great roll patterns and licks. Once you learn them, they'll become an indispensable part of your backup vocabulary.

1

Overview

Looking Ahead

Backup is an underappreciated role. But as a banjo player it's one you need to be well versed in. If you are playing with others, it's what you'll do the majority of the time. Rolling backup behind...
2

Sally Goodin-Backup

Rolling Right Along

Technically, there's not a lot going on here. We have some recognizable roll patterns, and a few standard Scruggs riffs. What makes the backup good is solid timing. Playing this with the backing ba...
3

A New Backup Lick

A Great Walking Line

This is an excellent backup lick. Great for any 1-5-1 chord change(G-D-G, A-E-A, etc.) The first half of the lick doesn't change. The second half adds in a great chromatic walk on your bass string....
4

Another Backup Lick

A Roll and some Rhythm

Not much is changing in this lick from the original measure. But often, a simple variation can be a powerful one. That's definitely the case here.When your ear, the soloists ear, and the listener's...
5

What's Next

Summing it Up, and Adding More

Done already? Not exactly. Good backup takes a while to master. Even after you can play the notes in time, developing you own rhythmic feel, and timing is the next step. Go deeper into the music. T...