Beginning Banjo: The G Lick

This video shows you how to play the most common of all banjo licks: the "G" Lick. Right hand fingering is the most important part of this lick, so be sure to focus on correct right-hand fingering! (Chris Talley Armstrong; The Bluegrass Shack - New Athens, IL)

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• beginning
• banjo
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• bluegrass
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• lick
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• chris
• talley
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• illinois

[BroBearPig]

I've been playing guitar for about a year now and am pretty decent at finger picking, no real structure though. Just kind of going by what sounds good. Could I do that with the banjo or do i need to learn rolls and such?

[blueiis2]

@BroBearPig In my opinion, you really need to learn the rolls and licks. They are the basis for bluegrass banjo. That being said, it doesn't mean you can't play the banjo differently, it just won't sound like standard banjo playing. When you hear something you like, without the proper rolls and licks, it won't sound the same, or in some cases not even close to the same. I hope that helps!

[sirwoofsalot]

Hi Blueiis2!

Great help but the explanation of index, middle, index is backwards . . . you're showing the incorrect fingers while calling out their names. Took me a while to figure out exactly what you meant. ;-)

Keep posting!!

[blueiis2]

@sirwoofsalot If you watch my fingers, you are looking at the finger in the air instead of the finger that I am pretending to play with. That is why you thought it was backwards. When I say index, I'm moving my index finger towards the correct string and moving my middle finger out of the way so it is obvious I am not using it. You took that motion as meaning I was using it. I'm sorry that it confused you.

[countorlock100]

hi blueiss2, is this lick the one scruggs uses on the turn aroung in foggy mountain breakdown ?

[blueiis2]

@countorlock100 Depending upon the version you are listening to, it is used multiple times in Foggy Mountain Breakdown. And yes, one of the places it would be used is at the end.

[countorlock100]

@hammill444 hey hammill444 You'll get there man, I played guitar for alot of years and got pretty good but the banjo is a different animal, Felt like a total novice. It takes time and the instrument is counter intuitive but very rewarding. Those walls you hit are part of the learning journey. Some weeks I feel I got it, then I'm back to metal work room 101 haha. Use a metronone, practice slow and Scruggs will come eventually x

[hammill444]

@countorlock100 Well, maybe not. But it was nice to have hope-- at least for a little while.

[douglasdooley1]

learned how to play foggy mountain breakdown from your video. Definitely need this g lick to play it. I play alto sax and guitar just for my own enjoyment and for a number of years. Just started playing the banjo and this got me hooked. Just need to get some of the nuances of the fingering and rolls down, then work on speed. Love to visit your shop sometime. Great instruction, thanks

[slickrick134]

that banjo sounds good