New Grass Revival - Can't Stop Now - Bela Fleck's intro lick

Details
Title | New Grass Revival - Can't Stop Now - Bela Fleck's intro lick |
Author | danjo515 |
Duration | 1:00 |
File Format | MP3 / MP4 |
Original URL | https://youtube.com/watch?v=GnGAXVB3XUE |
Description
This is the intro lick Bela Fleck used in the song "Can't Stop Now" by the bluegrass supergroup New Grass Revival.
The song is in B major, so I capoed up 4 and capoed the 5th string up 4 as well. You need spikes to do this.
You can use a 5th string capo, but it might get in the way when you have to wrap your thumb around to fret the 5th string.
The left hand is moving in a way that allows there to always be a sounded note.
First, when the 5th string is played, the left hand refrets the 1st and 2nd strings to be ready for the next notes.
Then, while those strings are played, the left thumb comes off the 5th string.
Finally, the open 5th string is played, and the left hand changes position to again refret the 1st and 2nd strings. In the left hand closeup, that's where I pause to move my hand.
The right hand is playing forward rolls (thumb, index, middle) and backward rolls (middle, index, thumb).
From there, it's more straightforward. I believe Bela varied the rest of the lick sometimes when he played this song.
Although New Grass Revival has long since broken up, if you look at some of his improvisation material since then, you might notice some variation of the first part of this lick. It's a nice combination of major and pentatonic tonalities in a way that plays easily, once you get it down.
You can modify this lick as well and play it in other situations. If you're interested, Bill Keith has a wealth of instruction on this melodic style of banjo playing, as does Tony Trischka.
Played on a Stelling Crusader