Bluegrass Monthly Music Lesson

Bluegrass Questions and Answers from the Music Lessons

Welcome to the Bluegrass Questions and Answers section of www.projectsandhobbies.com

To view previous lessons go to http://www.projectsandhobbies.com/bluegrassmonthly.htm

Question: Warren,
I can play the Earl Scruggs roll smooth and fast but not fast enough to make it roll. I would like to ask you if I should continue to practice on the 3251325132513251 until I can make it roll properly or add the other variation at this stage alternating the third and fourth string so it goes 32514251325142513251 until I can make that variation roll properly.
Also, should I attempt any of the other rolls, chords and exercises before I can do the Scruggs roll properly.
I would like to save your sound file examples but find that I can't as the
save facility is blanked out, why?

Best wishes from the UK and thanks again for your help and encouragement,
Tony.

Answer: Tony,
Try to learn all of the rolls at the same time. You need all of them and it will make practice more fun. Alternating the third and forth strings is the way that you will start picking out the lead notes while doing the roll at
the same time. Playing the banjo involves using whichever roll you need for the appropriate place in the song. When you are playing the lead break in a song, you will want to play the lead notes as much as you can and put in what ever roll that will fill it out. Some notes will need to be emphasized to add punch to the song; usually at the point where you will begin another roll. Once you learn one part of one song, you will see the same pattern
repeated in almost every song. The sound files are stored in your temporary internet files. You can save
them to a permanent location from there. You can use the "Transcribe!" program to slow them down so you can work on them. As long as you don't empty the files, they will load instantly. Of course you will have to empty
them to make your computer run faster but they will load again the next time that you visit my site.

Question: Warren,

Thank you for your reply. You suggested I learn all the rolls at the same time, does that include the forward and reverse rolls and what you describe as "another good roll" that has no name. At what stage do I start playing
the chords? as I don't want to overload the gray matter too much to begin with.

Thanks for pointing out the way to access the music files off line, I have downloaded "Transcribe" as you suggested and have started to use it.

Tony.

Answer: Tony,

Continue practicing the Scruggs roll, forward roll, reverse roll and incorporate chords when you are feeling experimental. Use chords while you practice the rolls and see what kind of sounds that you get. If you practice with different chords with different rolls, you will find things that work and things that do not. If you don't use different chords as you practice, it will turn into something like the Chinese water torture. This isn't good for others living with you. One night I was practicing with the Transcribe program, looping the section that I wanted to learn. It automatically starts over where you tell it to and will run forever until you stop it. I started out at a low speed that I could keep up with and gradually speed it up until I could play along with it at top speed. I was in my own zone, concentrating very hard when my wife busted through the door with fury in her eyes and said, "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH! CUT IT OFF!!!" At that point I realized practicing can be hard on the rest of the family.

Let's look at a way to link runs and chords together that I think will answer some of your questions.

First I will walk into a forward roll on the second string, 1st string open and hitting both of them at the same time. 1st fret then second and third fret were I will start the forward roll. I will start and stop the roll to emphasize the notes needed. Second, I will use the arrangement shown about half way down the page located at http://www.projectsandhobbies.com/playingthebanjo.htm. This is the section that had the no name chord. Third, I will use the section also on the above page referred to as "another good roll". This is an arrangement used when a "D" chord is played for a long period of time, playing in the key of "G". Listen to the example.

Warren

Question: What is the correct way to replace a broken banjo string?

Richard

Answer: Hi

Banjo strings have a loop at the bridge. Make sure not to bend it too sharp, it can break. Start the string there first not letting it get bent. Sharp bends are hard to straighten out. Place the string in the peg so that the string ends up to the inside. You need about 4 or five winds around the peg on the small strings and about 3 on the big one. Clip the excess string off so that you don't have sharp points left.

Good luck.

Warren

Question: Hi, I have inherited a banjo from my granddad and am excited about learning how to play. My question is basically where to start? I need to take the banjo to have some of the strings replaced and then I will be ready. Any info on how to get started would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Jeff

Answer: Hi Jeff,

The first thing is to listen to all of the bluegrass that you can. It is important to have an idea of what you want to learn and to have it in your thoughts as clearly as you can. I use the Transcribe program to help slow things down so I can hear it; otherwise, it will fly by and you have a hard time understanding it. Then go to http://www.projectsandhobbies.com/playingthebanjo.htm and start practicing the rolls. Watch the newsletter and you may catch a trick from time to time.

Thanks.

Warren

Question Hi Warren, Here's something I've always wondered about. When picking Scruggs style melodies within rolls, should I always fret one note at a time, even if the melody notes are all chord tones? Or is it okay to hold down the chord for those few notes while picking. I'm fairly new to this, and I don't want to fall into any bad habits.

Answer

Hi Sally,

I don't think there is a wrong way if the outcome is a good sound. Playing the banjo is really using all of the rolls like links in a chain. Start one, stop, start another, stop, start another, add a fill in run and so on. Of course they will all blend together. If you put the chords in, play the runs and rolls, you can play a song without ever playing a melody note. The problem here is that all of the songs will start to sound the same. The melody notes help to break the song up into unique sounds. The melody notes will also help to guide you into which roll or run you will use. Hope that helps.

Warren

Question I am learning to play a Banjo. I have trouble getting the fingers in the right location while fretting. Please advise.

Harold
Answer Hi Harold,

This is a very common problem with every instrument when a person is first learning. It is easy to look at a chord in a book but quite another to produce a clean sound from it. The pain can be excruciating to the finger tips as well as every muscle in the hand and arm. When a person buzzes a note, they tend to grip the chord harder and that makes it harder on everything. The way to overcome this is to realize that the fingers are controlled in conjunction with the hand, arm, and the entire body. When the fingers don't want to stretch, reposition the elbow or tilt the hand. Move parts of your body that you think have no effect on it and watch how the fingers realign to the neck. In time, it will work itself out but these little tricks will help speed up the process and ease the pain.

Warren

Question I am eleven years old. I've always loved the banjo. My mom and dad bought me one. Thank you for the lessons! They are very helpful!!!!! My banjo is very shiny. It gets dusty. Is there a cleaner I can use on it?
Donnie

Answer

Hi Donnie,

I have a Gibson Mastertone, Earl Scruggs addition. I use chrome polish with a piece of T-shirt material on the metal. Use just a touch and wipe all of it off after you have finished. I use car wax for the wood. Again, T-shirt material and go lightly on the wax. I use olive oil on the fingerboard to keep it from drying out. It is good to keep a clean cloth in the case to wipe the fingerprints off of the metal and the strings before putting it back into the case. You are now into something that will give you a lifetime of pleasure. Enjoy it and good luck!

Warren Yates

Question (banjo)

Is it better to concentrate more on right hand technique than left hand when
starting?

Answer

I think a little bit of everything is the best. If you play the same roll over and over without changing the sound, it will drive you crazy. Many times the chord combined with the roll makes a unique sound that you will only know about if you combine them. When you get tired of one thing, go to another. The main thing is, have fun and you will learn plenty.

Warren Yates

Question

I'm interested in the upright bass lessons and information on how to choose the right strings. Its for playing Bluegrass music.
Answer

Bass strings are all prices and they don't start out low. Everyone has an opinion on what is best but they all sound close to the same. Strings are important but not as important as the set up of the bass. Example; if the bridge is not set to allow the string to be the correct length, the bass will not sound right. If the sound post is not set right, it is just as bad.

The string length on a 3/4 size should be 42" from the nut to the bridge. The sound post should be under to just behind the treble side of the bridge. The sound post must also be straight up and down. If these things are in place, you might find that you do not need strings.

Good Luck! Warren Yates

Question

Warren, I'm having a problem with anchoring. When I anchor with
my pinky finger, it feels really comfortable and my picking the Scruggs roll is
better. When I anchor with my ring finger, its not as comfortable as with the
pinky, and my picking suffers a little bit. But if I try to anchor with both
ring and pinky fingers, its very uncomfortable and my picking goes almost
completely away. Its very uncoordinated feeling. Danny

Answer

Hi Danny

Depending on who you ask, there will always be the right way to do something even though everyone's right way is different. You have to do what feels best for you. I anchor with my pinky and always have. Lately I have learned that anchoring on one spot on the banjo for stability, robs us of a lot of the other tones available. For example, if you can float a little, you will be more free to move up and down the picking area to add dynamics to a song. What I mean is, don't plant your finger down so hard that you don't feel free to move. Pushing your finger into the head, kills some of the sound as well as pushing on the edge of the bridge. Try it different ways and listen to the changes. Do whatever it takes for you to be comfortable. I hope that helps. Warren Yates

Question

Hi I am Danny from Arkansas. I am a late bloomer, 41 and just getting my first
banjo. Can I tune this 5 string with the electronic tuner I use with my
guitar? If so how?

Answer

Hi Danny,

It depends on the type of tuner that you have. Some tuners are capable of every note; in that case, yes you can use it. Some of the old tuners are locked in to the strings that only a guitar has. In that case, the second, third, and fourth string will be the same as the guitar. Tune the first string down two frets to an open G. Match the fifth string to the first string where it is fretted on the fifth fret. I hope that helps.

Question

That is what is bending a guitar string? Matt

Answer

Hi Matt

Bending a string is when you fret a note and push it to the side to raise the pitch. Earl Scruggs used special tuners to do this as well. When BB King plays the blues, the one high note that he commonly hits is likely to be a bent note. He frets the note a little low and pushes the string until the higher note is achieved.

Thanks Warren Yates

Question

Hi Warren.

I realize that this isn't the correct email address for your question and answer section (I couldn't find one), but I want to ask a question if I may. I just finished reading an email from a 41 year old in Arkansas and I fall into that same category..41 and from Arkansas.

My question to you is this. I have been practicing (primarily from only your lessons) for about 2 weeks. I can't seem to get my "Scruggs" roll to "roll over" either. Should I just continue working on that roll (to get up to speed) before I try other things? I do not have any kind of music background nor am I competent about playing by ear. Any suggestions on where I should direct my practice sessions? I currently practice about 2 hours a day.

Thank you

banjo-wanna-be-man

Answer

You got the correct address because I am a one man deal; I just stay busy. There is always a "first place to start" such as the Scruggs roll, but it can drive you nuts pushing the same old thing hoping for perfection. It will come in time so just work on it as you can. You will want to work on many other things so that you will start to understand what to do with the Scruggs roll once it works. The main thing that you want to accomplish is the enjoyment of playing. Learning new things, hearing how they sound, realizing that you have actually heard that part in a song before and now you are doing it. It might sound like a mess to the rest of the world but it should be the best thing to you. In time maybe it will sound that good to everyone else as well. Try all of the rolls and see if they sound familiar. The thing about a run or a roll (not having a clue where it goes) is that you will be playing a song one day and it will just fly in there without you expecting it and it will knock your socks off. Back up, try it again and try to remember what you did. Bluegrass music is so much the same all the way around that if it works in one song, it will likely work in most all of the other songs. Try different chords with your roll and see what happens. Don't be afraid to make a total mess; if you happen to hit a good note, go back and see what you did. Many times in order for me to grow in my ability, I will go to an area that I never play in, in a break and purposely get lost just to see if I can work my way back out of it. Recording it has paid off because it is so easy to not know what happened especially after I get back home. I hope that helps.

Thanks, Warren Yates

Question

I received a beautiful Martin DM for Christmas this year, and I have been playing it like mad. It is not a gloss-top; it has that natural toner finish thing. Anyway, I noticed the other day that just behind the bridge, where my wrist rests when picking, and below the sound hole, where my ring and pinky fingers sit during the G-Run and similar rhythm picking, sweat has accumulated and given the git fiddle a bit of a sheen. There is also similar discoloration where my arm reaches over the instrument.

I have read elsewhere that I should try to rub it away gently with a *slightly* damp cloth. I have tried this to no success. I intend to put a pickguard over the area below the sound hole, but that doesn't cover the bridge or rear-end of the instrument. Martin does not recommend the use of guitar polishes on this type of finish. Am I stuck? What can I do? Will I have a shiny guitar for the rest of my life? (I'm only 15. That's a long time.)

Also, I plan on going to my first bluegrass festival this August (Summergrass, here in Cali.) I plan to bring my axe and do a little jammin'. What is the etiquette of a festival? Are there any things that I should know about before I leap into it?

Thx in advance,

Alex F, Carlsbad California.

Answer

Hi Alex,

Sometimes what seems bad to one, is a blessing to another. There is history in things and places that need to be told for those who will appreciate them; from the fingerprints of a famous potter in his work to the footprints of a dinosaur to the shinny areas on a musical instrument. I like worn out coins much more that proof sets because of the history of the hands that they has been through. I just rebuilt a violin that was around 150 years old and the scraper marks were still in the wood. The finish had worn off from where someone loved playing it and obviously did so often. I left as many defects as I could that were caused by use. When I see shinny spots on a flat finish, I think about the history of the musician. That's just me, I suppose everyone sees things in a different way. It's likely that you can take some light steel wool and rub it back dull, but it will just get shinny again. If you keep dulling it back, there will be no finish left at all. I think I would learn to love it if I were you. The flat finishes will all shine when worn by touch. If you add polish it will get shinny all over.

What is the etiquette of a festival? I guess there should be a good policy written for this. Being that I don't know of one, I would start like this:

1. Don't pester the excellent musicians to death or ignore the "not so accomplished" ones. Ask for help, but be willing to share as well.

2. Never touch anyone's instrument with out their permission.

3. Listen for the soft playing musician and give them a break if they seem to want one. Share the fun.

4. Show good sportsmanship and support those that try.

5. Never feel that you are too good; someone will show you that you are not.

6. Don't blast the others with volume. The person right in front can hear it better that the player can. Playing too loud causes competition for sound and then everyone gets too loud. It turns into a framming match.

7. Don't bump your instrument into other people or their instruments while moving around. Their instrument is their baby.

8. Never belittle another person's instrument even if it is junk. If they love it, it's as good as gold.

9. If someone is playing a song wrong, don't insist that it be played in a particular way. Just go with the flow until it is over. You can workout the details at home with your own group.

10. Be proud of other people's accomplishments as you want other people to be proud of you.