I could try to come up with some cute, snappy intro to this lesson, but in all honesty, it ain’t happening.
Why?
Because in the world of guitar techniques, finger rolls are just not as sexy as hammer-ons, pull-offs or string bending. They’re utilitarian, practical. They get the job done and move on. They don’t put on a show for you.
[IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: The great Julius Erving's finger rolls did, however, put on a show, as evidenced by the sweet pic to the left where he is schooling Kurt Rambis and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Some of my students call me "Dr. J". Coincidence? I think not.]
But like any good craftsman will tell you, there is a correct tool for every job. And some jobs just require the lowly finger roll.
So what exactly is a finger roll and why should I care?
Glad you asked, young rocker!
The finger roll is an essential left hand technique that allows you to play notes that are on the same fret level and adjacent strings without a break in the sound. By rolling your finger correctly, you can link the notes and maintain that legato character that is so important to a professional-sounding single-note line.
As a bonus, finger rolls are easy to do, once you’ve got the correct approach. So allow your friend JB to take this bad boy apart for you and put it back together. In short order, you’ll be a finger rolling machine! Continue reading “Technique Spotlight on…Finger Rolls” »
