Another very common banjo technique is the pull-off. This is a tricky technique to get sounding good, but with practice - you will get it.
Place your middle finger on the 3rd string - 2nd fret. Now pick with your thumb and snap your finger off the string towards the palm of your hand. Try to get the second note as loud as the first.
Here are two more banjo pull-offs on the second fret.
You can also do a pull-off from your middle to your index finger. For the following exercises, your index finger is on the 2nd fret and your middle is on the 3rd fret. Your index finger should be held firmly in place. In this exercise you play a note at the same time as the second note of the pull-off, it is important that both notes are played simultaneously.
Let’s put a couple of pull-offs into two more exercises.
Make sure to count while playing this exercise - 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and …
The counting for the exercise above is as follows: 1 and 2 and 3, 4. Count and play at the same time and keep your pace slow and steady until you are comfortable. When you are able to play consistenly at a slow speed - try the exercise at a faster pace. When you play the exercises at a faster tempo, be sure that you are playing clearly and crisply, there is no point playing poorly at a fast tempo. Listen to this one here:
If you want some inspiration, listen to Earl Scruggs or J.D. Crowe. These two legends play pull-offs very loud and clear, so listen to them and try to play as well as they do.
Popularity: 33% [?]
