Improvising on Banjo
Scruggs' Style
A list of suggestions that may help
1. Learn at least ten Earls Scruggs' classics correctly.
2. Use one song as
an example and alter each measure slightly. Start with small changes.
3. Learn
how to transpose down the neck solos to up the neck solos.
4. Learn the chords
in each different position on the neck. Next, learn where the notes are in each
chord.
In particular the root notes of the chord.
5. Practice altering your
rolls by keeping the roll pattern the same but changing the strings you pick.
6. Memorize as many solid technique Scruggs' licks as you can and play without
tablature.
7. Improvise around the chord positions and the melody. That is
what Earl did often.
8. Build a solid foundation of technique in both your
right and left hand.
9. Learn backup licks and then begin to alter them slightly
in both the right and left hand.
Be sure to double check that your technique is
staying solid.
10. Using a metronome, play one and two measure phrases or
parts of songs and begin making small changes.
Then try not to play each phrase
the same way twice.
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Songs Included:
Lonesome Road Blues, Little Darlin' Pal of Mine, Fireball Mail, Groundspeed, Sally Goodwin, and Foggy Mountain BreakdownIncludes up the neck solos and breaks for Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Little Darlin' Pal of Mine, Fireball Mail, a solid low break for Lonesome Road Blues, and some other tasteful innovations in solid bluegrass Scruggs Style.
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