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Back-Up Banjo - Book/CD
by: Janet Davis

Back-Up Banjo - DVD
by: Janet Davis

Basic Bluegrass Backup

Part 2

by Bob Altschuler

Part 1 in the June 2008 issue described backup, and included guidelines, basic patterns and vamping for F position G, C and D chords. As noted in part 1, vamping is a very common and effective percussive backup technique using chords and rhythm. Vamping involves playing fretted notes and then releasing left hand pressure on the strings to mute the notes.

There are entire books devoted to bluegrass banjo backup, and in this two-part article I will focus on some of the practical techniques. Books like Back-Up Banjo by Janet Davis, published by Mel Bay, will give you a storehouse of techniques and examples of how backup is used in songs.

As noted in part 1, backup can be chord-based (like vamping or patterns played out of F, D and barre positions) or roll-based, or a combination of the two. Many of the same rolls are used for leads and backup, but certain rolls (such as forward rolls) are seen more frequently in backup. The type of backup you play depends on the song and whether you are backing up vocals, guitar, fiddle, etc. Please refer to part 1 for more details about how backup works. Here in part 2, there is more basic backup plus some intermediate patterns and techniques.

Backup uses many of the same techniques, rolls and licks as solos, but with a different emphasis to support other instruments, vocals and the overall sound. It uses a song’s chord structure and rhythm, through vamping and rolls, to support the melody. It also adds direction to the music by signaling an upcoming chord or note through rhythm changes, lead-in notes or a lick or vamp with notes added that lead to the next chord. For example, you can add a seventh note to go to the IV chord, as in G-G7-C.

The tab below takes up where part 1 left off, and shows more samples of vamping for F and D chord positions, plus rolls for backup. Measure 1 shows a rhythmic vamping pattern and measures 2 through 4 have the same vamping pattern split between F and D positions for the chord. This is a very useful pattern for general use and is based on a chord position rule. When you play any F position chord, if you move up 4 frets and change to a D position, you have the same chord. For example, an F position G chord moved up from frets 3-5 to frets 7-9 and changed to a D position is also a G chord. When you slide up use strings 1 and 4 as “tracks” with your fingers still lightly on the strings while you switch your index and ring fingers to the D position.

There are other vamping and chord position-based backup patterns shown, and all are moveable for any major chord. Any of the patterns can be played with or without vamping, depending on the type of sound you want. Also shown are rolls for backup and sets of eight measure examples of vamping, rolls and combined vamping and rolls. Try the techniques in your playing, see which you like and incorporate them into your backup.

I hope you enjoyed this two-part article. We touched on some practical backup techniques, and there are various other techniques you can use. In backup you are not directly playing the melody but are supporting the whole sound, and that gives a lot of leeway and options for what you might play. Check out the many books, DVDs and on-line instructional materials available to find more about backup.

Happy picking!

Basic Bluegrass Backup part 2 MP3
Listen to the MP3: BasicBGBackupPart2.mp3

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About the Author

Bob Altschuler lives in upstate New York and has played bluegrass banjo since 1970. As a banjo instructor, his 25 years of experience includes teaching many students at Banjo Camp North, where he has been the Beginner Bluegrass Track Coordinator since 2003. Bob's training and work as a public school teacher sharpened his teaching abilities, and helped him become a patient and sought after banjo instructor (his day job is now with the NY State Retirement System).

Bob performs with the Dyer Switch band at concerts and festivals across the Northeast, Midwest and South, and recorded American Airwaves and Family Business CDs with the band. His banjo playing has also been heard on Northeast Public Radio and on television and radio commercials.

You can contact Bob at arobanjo@aol.com, or through the Dyer Switch website at www.dyerswitch.com.