The Right Hand: How to Vamp

The Banjo Picker's Boom-Chuck Pattern

Vamping is an easy way that banjo players play backup behind other people's solos or behind vocalists.

Just like everything else, getting the rhythm for a figure down before applying it to your instrument is really important. Luckily, this rhythm is fairly straightforward! For the vamping pattern, you'll pluck the 4th string with your thumb and then drop it down to the 3rd string, where you'll play strings 3, 2, and 1 simultaneously.

How to Vamp Video Tutorial

The tab below gives you a great template for practicing vamping and once you feel good about it at 50 beats per minute, move the tempo up a bit for a little challenge.