--- title: Create Your Own Bluegrass Banjo Breaks description: So you’ve been going thru banjo songbooks and YouTube videos, progressing pretty well on a nice collection of bluegrass standards. But now you want something more. You’ve noticed how the banjo players in the videos and even the folks you jam with embellish their playing with their own brand of hot riffs - you’d like to be able to do that as well. image: https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/tenor-banjo-chords.jpg --- [![Deering Banjos - The Great American Banjo Company](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/Logos/Deering%20Logo.png "Deering Banjos - The Great American Banjo Company")](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/) - [Hooks & Nuts](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com) - [Banjos](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/banjos) - [Find A Dealer](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/apps/store-locator/) - [Support](https://help.deeringbanjos.com/knowledge) - [Accessories](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/accessories) [How To Play](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/how-to-play) # Create Your Own Bluegrass Banjo Breaks by [Joe Zeke](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/author/joe-zeke) on September 27, 2019 ##### Share So you’ve been going thru banjo songbooks and YouTube videos, progressing pretty well on a nice collection of bluegrass standards. But now you want something more. You’ve noticed how the banjo players in the videos and even the folks you jam with embellish their playing with their own brand of hot riffs - you’d like to be able to do that as well. First of all, it’s important to have a good knowledge of the various chord positions up and down the neck. Chunking chords in first position (down by the nut) is not enough. Earl, even on a tune like Foggy Mountain Breakdown or songs where he is playing behind Lester’s vocals, played back-up rolls and lead riffs up at 7th fret and 12th fret and beyond. Many of those were out of chord positions. At first look, some of these chords can look rather daunting, especially the closed position chords like G at 3rd fret, or D at 2nd fret where you finger all four strings. ![](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blob.png?width=120&name=blob.png)      ![](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blob-2.png?width=120&name=blob-2.png) But the good news is you don’t have to play the entire closed position. Depending on your picking pattern, you can get away with playing three or even two strings. For example, a standard forward roll in G on strings 2, 1, 5: you can play the3rd and 4th strings open and fret 2nd string 3rd fret, 1st string, 5th. Or throw in the 4th string at 5th fret and play the roll on strings 4, 3 (open), 1, 5; or 4, 3(open), 2, 5 for a cool bluesy effect. For a nice low-D effect, play the first position D chord with the 4th string open. Or play a D7 chord for another cool bluesy effect. ![](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blob-1.png?width=120&name=blob-1.png)  Try a D forward or reverse roll fingering only the 3rd string at 2nd fret, playing strings 4, 3, 1, 5. Learning someone else’s riffs off a video or CD, or out of a book like Tony Trischka’s Melodic Banjo or Pete Wernick’s Bluegrass Banjo is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you don’t rely solely on these riffs for your repertoire. If you’re not careful, you come off sounding like you’re “channeling” another picker. But you can modify those or insert parts of them in your own riffs. [![See All Of Our Banjo Books Here](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/1901150/7b2c39f1-fac2-45f3-87f7-a33f07f22b6b.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/1901150/7b2c39f1-fac2-45f3-87f7-a33f07f22b6b) Once again: Relax! Have fun! And don’t worry about making mistakes. We all make them, but it’s what you do with them that counts. They can come as a pleasant surprise. Many times I’m noodling while I’m watching TV. I’ll play a wrong note, or even an entire riff one fret up or down from where it belongs. Next thing I know, it’s become part of my repertoire. ## COMMENTS [![Deering Rustic Wreath banjo ad](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/1901150/d031fb3a-1cee-4fe5-ac40-1292f8b42d7a.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/1901150/d031fb3a-1cee-4fe5-ac40-1292f8b42d7a) [![Goodtime Banjos](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/1901150/f1c933d7-2d83-4b1d-a834-8ad4056e6a22.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/1901150/f1c933d7-2d83-4b1d-a834-8ad4056e6a22) ## Search Blog Post ## YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Oct 19.2020 [How To Play](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/how-to-play), [Beginner](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/beginner) ## [Jens Kruger Beginner Banjo Lesson 13 - 5-String Banjo Tablature Explained](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/beginning-5-string-banjo-lesson-13-banjo-tablature-explained) Jens Kruger explains what banjo tablature is and how to read it. Banjo tablature is a way of writing out music on paper so that the exact fingerings of what... [Read More](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/beginning-5-string-banjo-lesson-13-banjo-tablature-explained) Oct 12.2020 [How To Play](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/how-to-play), [Beginner](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/beginner) ## [Jens Kruger Beginner Banjo Lesson 12 - 5 String Banjo Styles Explained](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/beginning-5-string-banjo-lesson-12-5-string-banjo-styles-explained) Jens Kruger explains and demonstrates the 3 prominent styles of playing the 5 string banjo with the 3 finger styles. These styles include the Scruggs style,... [Read More](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/beginning-5-string-banjo-lesson-12-5-string-banjo-styles-explained) Oct 8.2020 [How To Play](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/how-to-play), [Beginner](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/beginner) ## [Jens Kruger Beginner Banjo Lesson 11 - Boil Them Cabbage Down](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/beginning-5-string-banjo-lesson-11-boil-them-cabbage-down) In this beginning 5-string banjo lesson with Jens Kruger, Jens will teach you how to play the classic folk song Boil Them Cabbage Down. This incorporates... [Read More](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/beginning-5-string-banjo-lesson-11-boil-them-cabbage-down) Sep 22.2020 [How To Play](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/how-to-play), [Beginner](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/topic/beginner) ## [Jens Kruger Beginner Banjo Lesson 10 - C Forward Roll and Slide](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/beginning-5-string-banjo-lesson-10-forward-roll-c-chord-slide) In this beginning 5-string banjo lesson with Jens Kruger, Jens will teach you how to play a forward roll over a C chord and incorporate a slide into this. You... [Read More](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/beginning-5-string-banjo-lesson-10-forward-roll-c-chord-slide) ### sign up for our newsletter ### Popular Posts [The Four Essential 5-String Banjo Rolls](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/the-four-essential-5-string-banjo-rolls) [Ukulele Sizes – Soprano, Concert, Tenor & Baritone](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/ukulele-sizes) [Celtic Tunes on the 5 String Banjo](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/celtic-tunes-on-the-5-string-banjo) [Learn Melodic Style 5 String Banjo With G Scales](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/learn-melodic-style-5-string-banjo-g-scales) [How To Wear Banjo Picks](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/how-to-wear-banjo-picks) ### Recent Posts [Steve Martin & Alison Brown release new music](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/steve-martin-alison-brown-timobrien) [The Artisan Elephant Goodtime Banjo - Giving Tuesday 2024](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/the-artisan-elephant-goodtime-banjo-giving-tuesday-2024) [Buying A Banjo on Amazon](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/buying-a-banjo-on-amazon) [Steve Martin & Alison Brown On the Kelly Clarkson Show](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/steve-martin-alison-brown-on-the-kelly-clarkson-show) [Keith Urban Covers Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso" on Deering Phoenix Banjo](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/keith-urban-covers-sabrina-carpenters-espresso-on-deering-phoenix-banjo) ### Archives - [June 2013 (35)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/06) - [April 2020 (20)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/04) - [August 2020 (15)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/08) - [May 2020 (12)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/05) - [July 2020 (12)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/07) - [March 2020 (10)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/03) - [September 2020 (10)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/09) - [April 2012 (9)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/04) - [June 2012 (9)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/06) - [March 2017 (9)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/03) - [August 2019 (9)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/08) - [June 2020 (9)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/06) - [October 2013 (8)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/10) - [September 2016 (8)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/09) - [August 2018 (8)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/08) - [September 2019 (8)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/09) - [May 2012 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/05) - [May 2013 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/05) - [August 2013 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/08) - [May 2015 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/05) - [June 2015 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/06) - [August 2015 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/08) - [July 2016 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/07) - [December 2017 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/12) - [October 2019 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/10) - [October 2020 (7)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/10) - [September 2012 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/09) - [March 2013 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/03) - [April 2013 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/04) - [July 2013 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/07) - [July 2014 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/07) - [May 2016 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/05) - [August 2016 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/08) - [May 2017 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/05) - [June 2017 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/06) - [June 2018 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/06) - [May 2019 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/05) - [November 2020 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/11) - [December 2020 (6)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/12) - [July 2012 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/07) - [December 2012 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/12) - [September 2014 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/09) - [October 2015 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/10) - [March 2016 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/03) - [April 2016 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/04) - [June 2016 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/06) - [August 2017 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/08) - [September 2017 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/09) - [May 2018 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/05) - [September 2018 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/09) - [October 2018 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/10) - [March 2019 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/03) - [June 2019 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/06) - [January 2020 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/01) - [May 2021 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/05) - [December 2021 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/12) - [January 2022 (5)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/01) - [August 2012 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/08) - [October 2012 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/10) - [September 2013 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/09) - [March 2014 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/03) - [April 2014 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/04) - [October 2014 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/10) - [December 2014 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/12) - [March 2015 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/03) - [November 2015 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/11) - [November 2016 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/11) - [February 2017 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/02) - [October 2017 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/10) - [July 2018 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/07) - [November 2018 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/11) - [December 2018 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/12) - [December 2019 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/12) - [February 2021 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/02) - [February 2022 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/02) - [March 2023 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/03) - [August 2023 (4)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/08) - [November 2012 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/11) - [February 2013 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/02) - [November 2013 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/11) - [February 2014 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/02) - [May 2014 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/05) - [June 2014 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/06) - [August 2014 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/08) - [February 2015 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/02) - [April 2015 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/04) - [July 2015 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/07) - [September 2015 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/09) - [December 2015 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/12) - [January 2016 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/01) - [February 2016 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/02) - [December 2016 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/12) - [July 2017 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/07) - [November 2017 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/11) - [March 2018 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/03) - [April 2018 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/04) - [April 2019 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/04) - [July 2019 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/07) - [November 2019 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/11) - [February 2020 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2020/02) - [March 2021 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/03) - [August 2021 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/08) - [September 2021 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/09) - [November 2022 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/11) - [May 2023 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/05) - [September 2023 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/09) - [May 2024 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/05) - [October 2024 (3)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/10) - [February 2012 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/02) - [March 2012 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/03) - [November 2014 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/11) - [January 2015 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2015/01) - [October 2016 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2016/10) - [April 2017 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/04) - [January 2018 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/01) - [February 2018 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2018/02) - [January 2019 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/01) - [April 2021 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/04) - [October 2021 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/10) - [August 2022 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/08) - [June 2023 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/06) - [November 2023 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/11) - [November 2024 (2)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/11) - [April 2011 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2011/04) - [September 2011 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2011/09) - [January 2012 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2012/01) - [January 2013 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/01) - [December 2013 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2013/12) - [January 2014 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2014/01) - [January 2017 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2017/01) - [February 2019 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2019/02) - [January 2021 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/01) - [June 2021 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/06) - [July 2021 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2021/07) - [March 2022 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/03) - [May 2022 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/05) - [June 2022 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/06) - [July 2022 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/07) - [September 2022 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/09) - [October 2022 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2022/10) - [February 2023 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/02) - [April 2023 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/04) - [October 2023 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/10) - [December 2023 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2023/12) - [January 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/01) - [February 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/02) - [June 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/06) - [July 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/07) - [August 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/08) - [September 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/09) - [December 2024 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2024/12) - [March 2025 (1)](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/archive/2025/03) see all [![Deering Banjos - the Great American Banjo Company](https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/Logos/Deering%20Logo.png "Deering Banjos - the Great American Banjo Company")](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/) 3733 Kenora Dr. Spring Valley, CA 91977 - [619-464-8252](tel:+619-464-8252) - [info@deeringbanjos.com](mailto:info@deeringbanjos.com) - [HOME](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/) - [BANJOS](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/collections/banjos) - [FIND A DEALER](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/apps/store-locator/) - [ARTISTS](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/blogs/deering-artists) - [CONTACT US](https://www.deeringbanjos.com/pages/contact-us) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Joe Zeke", "url" : "https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/author/joe-zeke" }, "dateModified" : "2019-09-27T14:19:43.832Z", "datePublished" : "2019-09-27T14:19:43.000Z", "headline" : "Create Your Own Bluegrass Banjo Breaks", "image" : [ "https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/tenor-banjo-chords.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/create-your-own-bluegrass-banjo-breaks", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.deeringbanjos.com/hubfs/Logos/deering-logo-green-406325-800x163.png" }, "name" : "Deering Banjos" } } ```