Up the Neck Banjo Backup

Banjo Backup Licks and Tricks When Playing Up the Neck

This banjo lesson path teaches you how to incorporate common Scruggs-style backup licks up the neck, teardrop-style backup, and includes a study of the song 'Some Old Day.'

1

Overview and Pentatonic Riff

Standard Vocabulary

Throughout this unit you'll be introduced to some standard Bluegrass riffs. It is assumed that you know how to do basic rolls and vamp. If you do not check out Getting Started with Bluegrass Banjo...
2

A Variation of the 6 White Horses Riff

An All Purpose Riff

This is a great and common riff for backup. Use it for fills, or just general backup. It's called the 6 White Horses riff because it was first heard, played by Earl Scruggs, in a song of the same t...
3

Some Old Day - Introduction

An Intro in the Introduction

This intro is a simple turnaround(short chord progression) that gets the song started before the singer comes in on the first verse. For banjo we have a simple chord vamp, and a very standard up th...
4

Some Old Day - Verse

Backup!

It's called backup for a reason. When the lead singer steps up to the mic, it's their turn to lead. It's your turn to backup. Backup your volume, back off the fancy licks, and support what the sing...
5

Some Old Day - Chorus

Teardrop Style Backup

Here we go folks. The main course. Teardrop style backup is a great technique that adds interest, and is played so high on the neck it is usually well out of the lead vocal range.
6

Some Old Day - Backing Up the Instrumentalist

The Good stuff

A lot of the same riffs appear. Again, we have an extra two beat measure, and another full measure, to end the solo - just like the intro. This gives space for the instrumentalist to finish. It als...
7

Ending Riff

Same Old Song, Slightly Different Dance

As you may have noticed, a lot of up the neck backup is just small variations on a few of the same riffs. They can be used as fills, backup, intros, and in this case-as an ending riff. Check out ho...
8

Where to Now

So Much Backup, So Please Stay on Time

If you've been using Tunefox for a little while know, you probably know we have an extensive library of songs and licks. A large majority of that is backup focused. Backup is 90% of banjo playing ...