When playing a break do you tend to imitate other banjo players or try to be original. Being an original player is usually the goal of most players; however, imitating a hot lick or break can be very beneficial.
Try playing a break exactly like the recording. Can you do it? It’s not as easy as it may sound. It takes a considerable amount of studying and listening to a track of music to get it exactly right. You’re not only picking out the tab exactly as it was played but also phrasing the song as you hear it.
Phrasing is an important part of banjo playing. Phrasing is probably what will separate you from the next picker. Most people end up with a phrasing of their own or some combination of their favorite pickers.
When your first starting out, try to imitate Scruggs, JD, or any of the other pros. It always helps to listen to someone who’s picking skills are above your current level of playing. I’ve found that trying to imitate a song just as you hear it will accelerate the learning process, simply because it forces you to listen to how the song is actually being played.
Try imitating a banjo break and see how close you can get.
