One of the most important banjo rolls is the alternating roll, it is used in both leads and backup and sounds great. This roll is a little different than the forward roll, as your thumb gets a pretty good workout in this one.
Let’s get setup; your thumb plays the 3rd string, index finger on 2nd string, thumb down on the 5th and middle picks the 1st string, now repeat this until you can play it in your sleep. Be careful not to go too fast - start slowly, and build up your speed when you’re ready.
Count as you play, if you are having trouble, take it one note at a time and make sure you are not overlooking anything. Practice this roll until you can play it with authority and each note is clean and clear.
Have a listen to the alternating roll right here:
Stay tuned for more banjo rolls in upcoming posts and keep on picking.
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