There are many different banjo rolls to learn; a difficult, but important one is the inside roll. This roll is played on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings, which are the three inside strings, hence the name. Scruggs style and melodic style both use these rolls and I have included a couple of exercises to get you started.

The middle finger usually plays the 1st string, but in these exercises your middle finger picks the 2nd string. Picking the 2nd string with your middle finger is a little bit tricky, as you don’t have much room. So, take your time, practice, and you’ll get it. The thumb plays the 4th string on both exercises, except the last note of the second exercise.

Here is a forward roll on the middle strings.

Inside Roll

Have a listen:

This next example is a pretty common lick, you’ve probably heard in a song or two.

Inside Roll 1

Press play to listen:

This type of roll needs a lot of practice time to sound good, so add it to your routine and work at it.

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