Banjo · Chapter 8 of 23

The Forward Roll

Thumb, index, middle, thumb, index, middle, thumb, middle. Eight even notes to a bar. This one pattern is half of bluegrass banjo.

A roll is a short picking pattern that repeats. The forward roll moves from the thumb toward the middle finger, from the lower strings to the higher ones, again and again, so the banjo never stops ringing.

The pattern

The fingers go T I M T I M T M: eight eighth notes, which fills one bar of 4/4. On a G chord the strings are 3, 2, 1, 5, 2, 1, 5, 1. Notice that the 3-note group (T I M) doesn’t fit evenly into the beats: that’s what gives rolls their rolling, tumbling feel.

Count it

Say “1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and” while you play. The notes on the numbers are on the beat; the others are in between. A light accent on the first note of each bar keeps you anchored.

Keep it even

The thumb tends to be louder than the fingers. Listen for eight notes of the same size, evenly spaced, like a clock ticking twice as fast as the beat.

With the chords

The picking hand plays the same roll; the fretting hand holds each chord for a bar. Watch the fretboard as the chord changes.

Starting on a different string

The roll can start from the 4th string or the 2nd. Same fingers, same order; only the strings change. Starting from the index finger (I M T, I M T, I M) moves the accents and is very common in bluegrass.

Try it. Play the forward roll on an open G chord for one full minute without stopping, with the metronome at 60. Then play the G, C, D7, G exercise four times in a row. If a chord change trips you up, practice just that change: the last two notes of one bar and the first two of the next.

Check each one with the metronome at 60.

I can play T I M T I M T M on an open G chord for a full minute.
All eight notes sound the same size and evenly spaced.
I can play G, C, D7, G four times without stopping.
I can start the roll from the index finger (I M T, I M T, I M).

Remember

Forward roll: T I M T I M T M, eight even eighth notes to a bar.
On G: strings 3 2 1 5 2 1 5 1. The fretting hand changes chords; the picking hand doesn’t change.
Count out loud, keep the notes even, and speed up only when it’s easy.