A banjo roll is a technique for keeping time on the banjo that involves plucking eighth notes in a repetitive pattern. There are forward and backward (reverse) banjo roll picking patterns, as well as mixed and forward-reverse patterns. The thumb, index, and middle fingers of the player pick each banjo roll in the Earl Scruggs bluegrass picking style. The banjo is frequently played in open tunings, which allow the roll to start on any string. The roll pattern is used to add a counter-melody to the music and to break up the rhythm of the song.
The banjo roll, which is commonly used when playing bluegrass-style music, gives the music an uneven flow that breaks up the melody’s metronomic feel. When playing with a large stringed ensemble, this is especially useful. The banjo roll can be played in a single note or in changing notes throughout a song to provide a subtle background to any type of music, at any tempo. This picking style is frequently achieved by combining various banjo roll styles, with occasional back-up licks thrown in for good measure. While there is no set rule for selecting a forward roll, the pattern is fixed, and the roll must contain eight notes.
Unlike traditional guitar strumming, which involves striking all strings with the pick on a single strum, the banjo roll requires only three strings to be picked in a specific order. The banjo is commonly picked at twice the speed of the other stringed instruments during a typical four-count melody due to the stings of the banjo being picked at eighth notes. In a typical roll, only three strings are picked, but the player has the option of switching which strings are picked. The banjo’s ability to improvise the roll in the middle of a picking session is what distinguishes it from the other stringed instruments.
Many new banjo players begin by playing a single forward roll for the duration of a song in open tuning. This method, while not difficult, gives the music a distinct banjo sound. Reverse and mixed rolls will be added to the music as the player’s talent develops, eventually leading to rolls in various chords. After a while, the player will be able to change chords and banjo roll types several times during a song, giving the music the Scruggs bluegrass sound.