In the second of four sessions on single-string technique, you’ll venture up the neck to find single-string scale positions and licks based around the three major chord shapes: barre, F-shape and D-shape. And you'll explore single-string techniques using closed positions that can be transposed to use with other chords up and down the neck. Bill also introduces you to the playing of Don Reno, one of the first banjo players to explore single-string playing beginning in the 1950’s. Don created an entire vocabulary of chord-based single-string licks, and Bill looks at three examples of his approach, exploring positions and licks used in three classic tunes: “Dixie Breakdown,” “Follow the Leader” and “Arkansas Traveler.” Bill also examines the classic Scruggs “Six White Horses” back-up lick and JD Crowe’s single-string licks on “Ocean of Diamonds” and “Hold Watcha Got.” And he finishes up with a tune of his own that wrote in tribute to Don Reno’s playing called “Reno’s Rag.”

Check out these links featuring songs that Bill covers in this session:

“Six White Horses” Flatt and Scruggs 

“Ocean of Diamonds” Jimmy Martin with J. D. Crowe 

“Hold Watcha Got” Jimmy Martin with J. D. Crowe 

“Dixie Breakdown” Don Reno 1970s recording (lick is around 1:08) 

“Follow The Leader” Don Reno 2nd solo begins at 0:55 

“Arkansas Traveler” Don Reno