Lesson #048, Fitting Quarter and 8th Notes in a Measure

Hi All,

In this lesson we are going to fit 1/4 notes and 1/8th notes into one measure. We are also going to start on our very first Improvisations.

Lets start by fitting 1/4 and 1/8th notes into one measure. If we start with the thumb pinch we have two beats because we are using 1/4 notes with that. A 1/4 note is equal to 1 beat. Now lets play the alt thumb roll right after it using 1/8th notes. An eight note is equal to 1/2 beat. 2 quarter notes plus 4 eigth notes is giving us our 4 beats. Yeah Buddy.

Its important to break up these rolls later on when we go on to start our soloing so the rolls don't get monotonous. You'll see what I mean when we start to work on soloing.

Lets talk about Improvising now a little bit. We can break up each measure now using 1/4 notes and 1/8th notes to fill up our measures. You can start with any that you like as long as you fill the measure up evenly. When doing this in your practicing you have started on your first Improvisations!!! How cool is that! You are playing what you know....HOW YOU WANT TO PLAY THEM! I can't stress enough how important that is! It is the beginning of great things to come in your soloing and expressing yourself as an Individualistic Banjoist!

Rock On