Scruggs Style BackUp For The 5-String Banjo

What you’ll learn

• Basic rhythm patterns so you can accompany other musicians and jam!
• Movable licks so you can play all over the neck in any key!
• Learn driving first position backup!
• Use walk ups and walk downs to lead the listeners ear through the chord progressions

Requirements

All you need is a 5-string Banjo and fingerpicks!

Description

Welcome to this Bluegrass Backup course for the 5-String Banjo!

Playing BackUp on the Banjo is one of the most fun and creative aspects of playing Bluegrass banjo. There are three basic elements of music which is rhythm, melody and harmony. When you are playing backup or accompanying another musician, you are dealing with two of those elements which is rhythm and harmony. Rhythm being the roll pattern and harmony being the chord progression. In this course we will cover everything from the most basic Boom Chick backup pattern so you can accompany other musicians and we will learn more advanced sounding patterns with walkups and licks so you have a well rounded understanding of traditional Scruggs style backup so you can jam!

Another important aspect of backup you will learn is movable fill licks so you can play all over the fretboard and "recycle" licks and ideas. Repetition and pattern recognition is the key to success! We will also go over the aspect of playing driving first position backup which relies heavily on the Forward Roll pattern. This style of backup is used for creating "Drive" in the song and staying in the lower register of the banjo. You will also have the opportunity to learn how to play slow backup when someone calls a slow song in a jam session. This pattern is called the teardrop pattern created by the Master Earl Scruggs. Playing slow songs can be very satisfying and enjoyable with the proper techniques. Be sure to play each new technique you learn with the backup guitar tracks so you get a feel for using the new ideas in a jam session.

I guarantee that practicing these ideas and techniques, you will expand your banjo vocabulary and get ideas on how to create your own licks and ideas. Thank you for your interest in this Backup Banjo course and have fun! Chris Elliott

Who this course is for:

Anyone who wants to learn Scruggs Style backup so they can jam with others!

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