Hello students. New students need to learn how to play banjo rolls as it is the foundation of learning how to play the banjo. It builds the necessary “muscle memory” in your right hand as well as stretching your left hand when you incorporate the traditional G, C , D movement on the fingerboard.
But I have to admit it can get very boring. In other postings, I have already mentioned that perseverance will lead to success. So the question remains, how do I resolve the monotony that accompanies playing just the rolls over and over and over again. Because the rolls are so important to play them accurately with a “metronome” boredom is part of the beginners challenge to overcome with time and patience. However, I do have a few suggestions that may help you alleviate your boredom.
1. Practice shorter intervals more frequently.
2. Practice sitting down, practice standing up practice while walking around.
3. Practice with your eyes closed.
4. Practice with the tablature, then practice without the tablature regularly
5. Practice your timing by counting the 1& 2& 3& 4&
6. Practice by using your right foot on the 1 and 3 beat.
7. It is OK to skip a day or two especially when you have been working very hard. You may find you come back even better.
8. Practice a combination of techniques: rolls, vamping, study chord patterns.
9. Learn how to pick out a scale on a single string, using these steps: 1, 1, 1/2 , 1, 1 ,1, 1/2 which means: whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step).
10. Above all don’t give up!
I hope these little tips will help your practice be more interesting and less boring.
Bill