TAG ROLL Variations – Banjo

ByJody 05/17/202506/07/2025

One of the most common patterns you’ll hear in bluegrass banjo is what I call the TAG ROLL (3153 1341)

A song like “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” is composed largely of this roll pattern. It comes before the E minor and after it numerous times in the song.

Variations on The Tag Roll

What I want to do today is give you a few variations and options so you aren’t stuck playing this roll ad nauseum. Each measure presented is a variation. The first two measures use a pull-off instead of the usual slide from 2 to 3. The second measure simply adds a hammer-on at the end.

Banjo TAB with some variations in it — TAG ROLL Variations

The fourth measure is a variation I’ve heard Earl Scruggs use a few times. I believe I got it from a recording of “Salty Dog Blues.” The final measure is one that drops out the 1st string and makes the slide from 2 to 3 last slightly longer. I heard Allen Shelton do it this way a few times.

If you would like the entire sheet of EIGHT VARIATIONS ON THE TAG ROLL, please visit my Patreon page. It is available to all members.

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Jody

Professional musician and educator of 27 years. I've played Banjo and Acoustic Guitar on the stages of Carnegie Hall, The Grand Ole Opry, and The Ryman Auditorium. 4X winner of the Georgia State banjo and flatpick guitar competitions. My banjo playing was featured in the "A Waltons Thanksgiving" movie.

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Variations on The Tag Roll

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