Getting Away from Strict Memorizing and Creating Your Own Solos

Will J. writes:

I have been taking banjo lessons for about a year and a half now. My instructor is a great banjo player, winning competitions at major events. My problem seems to be that he wants me to learn songs by ear. I currently have about 30 songs in my repertoire, mostly traditional Scruggs tunes. These songs have given me a somewhat solid foundation of the Scruggs style licks, but that is about it. I want to further my instruction that will teach me more about the banjo, instead of plain rote memorization of songs. What I am really trying to say is that I am not getting much from memorizing the songs note for note. I am open to any suggestions at this point. If you have any advice as to any programs, institutions, or anything else that you might think could help, I would be most grateful.

Dear Will,

I appreciate your dilemma. I’d say your teacher could be helping you with ear training, which is appropriate much earlier in your learning, instead of sticking so long with strictly rote memorization.

I recommend you spend some time with a basic step: Finding melodies by ear on the banjo neck, note by note, one finger on each hand (no roll or even chord at first). Once you have the melody notes, you can add the chords, and then use a forward roll (or the Foggy Mt. Breakdown roll) to see if you can combine melody with a roll. Sort of like either: “including in the roll the string with the melody on it,” or else: “Play the melody, and where there’s filler space, put in some rolling notes.”

This process is trial and error. Lots of chances to be confused. Be sure to leave out melody notes that are giving you trouble, and also keep the most accurate rhythm you can, avoiding putting too many or few notes in the spaces. On my website, there’s an article about making a play-along practice tape. That is a very useful way of rhythmically guiding your arrangement as you build it.
Another thing to be aware of: It’s fine and quite normal to have the arrangement come out differently at different times. Lots of ways can be considered correct. Eyewitness quote from Earl Scruggs: “I have no idea how someone could play something exactly the same way twice in a row.” Something to think about. (Something besides memorization is at work.)

At my Basic Skills Banjo Camp every January, I teach this skill to as many of the campers as are ready to take it on. I’m sure you would be one of the folks to figure it out pretty quickly, and then move on to your second arrangement. After that, it gets a lot easier, especially when you learn to incorporate licks and phrases lifted from the many arrangements you’ve already learned.
Please read the article on my website called Teaching Beginners. It emphasizes the need to start playing with other relatively new people as soon as possible, in slow jams. It also shows how to find and even organize slow jams that have teachers for supervision. This will give you a chance to learn accompanying skills (not just soloing). I’d recommend my video, Bluegrass Jamming for that as well.

Best of luck with your picking. I think if you just jump in, this part of the process won’t truly stymie you, just frustrate you for a while! Comfort yourself with the notion that EVERY good banjo player has to go through this step. It’s kind of when your right hand learns to “think” Scruggs style, instead of just “reciting” from memory.

This article was originally published in the Banjo Newsletter. Pete Wernick, aka "Dr. Banjo" is renowned worldwide for his accomplishments and contributions to bluegrass music: the hot-picking force in several trend-setting bands including Hot Rize, innovative teacher and author, songwriter, and long-term President of the International Bluegrass Music Association. Pete is a pioneer in bluegrass music instruction, and since 1980 his banjo camps, bluegrass jam camps, instruction books, videos, and his DrBanjo,com website have inspired players nationwide and overseas. In 2010, he launched the Wernick Method of teaching bluegrass jamming which as of 2016 has certified teachers offering classes in 40 states and 11 countries. 

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