Learning the Beverly Hillbillies theme on banjo
Student Question: The D chord part in The Ballad of Jed Clampet

I bought your books How to Build Up speed and The banjo song book. I am a
newcomer but have got the hang of the basic rolls and can play reasonably
fluently and at a medium tempo.

Problem I am trying to learn The Ballad of Jed Clampet and I just cannot for
the life of me get the phrasing of the end of the 3rd to the beginning of
the 4th measure. I know the tune, I've watched the dvd, I've listened to the
cd in slow mode but I just cannot get it. Yet I rolled off the first three
measures straight away. can you give me some advice.

Ross Nickerson answer

Yes, I can, this is how I teach it to private students.

You must learn that section one measure at a time,

First be able to play each measure solid before learning the next, then piece it together, don't try to hear it all at once.

Before you do that, put your banjo down and count out the timing in those measures,

Next, practice moving your left hand between the fretting positions in those measures. WITHOUT PICKING.

Follow these directions to the T and I bet you will make progress. Good luck!

Another quick fix to get past it is to simply:

Grab a D chord with the 4th string left open.

Then play three forward reverse rolls for those three measures.

Start the first forward reverse roll which is (T I M T M I T M) on the 4th string, the second forward reverse roll on the 3rd string, then the forward reverse roll on the 3rd string again.

Plow right through it with that, it will sound fine.

Thanks, Ross Nickerson

Thanks again,
Sincerely,
Ross Nickerson
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