Rolls

Rolls are the foundation of 3-finger style picking. You can compare them to practicing scales on other instruments. Take your time to learn these properly and play them smoothly.

Rolls are a set pattern that your right hand fingers play. They are not necessarily the actual strings you play, although specific strings are assigned to rolls so that you have something that you can practice on. In other words, a forward roll is when you play index finger, middle finger, thumb, index finger, middle finger, thumb, etc.

To practice the forward roll, you can play the strings in this order: 2, 1, 5, 2, 1, 5 ... However, you could also play 3, 1, 5, 3, 1, 5 ... or even 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 3 ... It's okay if you start the roll with your thumb, as long as you continue the pattern: thumb, index, middle, thumb, index, middle, etc. (3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1 ...) The most important thing is that you continue to play the pattern.

Keep on Pickn'

Angie

Banjo FAQs and more!
Gold Tone Banjos