Banjo Lessons: 4 Improvisation and Melodic Styles

Learn banjo from award-winning banjo player and teacher Tony Trischka. In part 4, explore melodic-style scale patterns, single-string scales, and alternating thumb roll techniques.

Introduction

• Welcome

1. Melodic & Single-String Style

• Melodic scale patterns: Part 1
• Melodic scale patterns: Part 2
• Melodic scale patterns: Part 3
• Single-string scale exercises: Part 1
• Single-string scale exercises: Part 2
• Single-string scale exercises: Part 3
• Single-string scale exercises: Part 4
• "Cattle in the Cane": Part 1, playing in the key of A without a capo
• "Cattle in the Cane": Part 2

2. Advanced Rolls

• Backward-alternating thumb roll: Part 1
• Backward-alternating thumb roll: Part 2
• Shelton roll 1: "Boil Them Cabbage Down"
• Shelton roll 2: "Salty Dog"
• Shelton roll 3: Ending lick

3. Scale Techniques

• “The Danny Thomas”: Part 1
• “The Danny Thomas”: Part 2
• Advanced scale techniques: Part 1
• Advanced scale techniques: Part 2

Conclusion

• ArtistWorks and Next Steps