The Sally Roll – Clawhammer Banjo Lesson from Sally in the Garden
Written By Ben Dorning
Banjo Teacher and Creator Of
www.banjoadventures.com
If you're new to the banjo, you might enjoy my Complete Beginner’s Guide to Learning Banjo, where I walk through everything you need to know to start your banjo adventure.
If you’ve just come here from the YouTube lesson — welcome.
In that video we explored a rolling clawhammer pattern that I like to call The Sally Roll, taken from the haunting old-time tune Sally in the Garden played in Double C tuning (gCGCD).
This pattern creates a smooth, flowing rhythm that sits beautifully inside modal tunes. Once it clicks, you’ll start hearing places to use it all over the banjo neck.
On this page you’ll find:
• A quick recap of the idea behind the Sally Roll
• Play-along exercises in tablature
• A free downloadable PDF so you can practise the pattern at your own pace
If you haven’t watched the video yet, I recommend starting there first.
What Is the Sally Roll?
The Sally Roll is a clawhammer pattern that replaces the typical bum-ditty feel with a more continuous rolling motion.
Instead of separating the rhythm into strong beats and strums, this pattern allows the melody notes to flow more naturally through the rhythm.
The result is a sound that feels:
• smoother
• more connected
• perfect for haunting modal tunes like Sally in the Garden
In the video lesson I demonstrate how the pattern fits directly into the tune itself, but the real magic is that once you understand the movement, you can begin to apply it to many other old-time tunes as well.
Double C Tuning
The lesson is played in Double C tuning:
gCGCD
Double C is one of the most important tunings in clawhammer banjo and opens the door to a huge number of classic tunes.
Many players spend months exploring this tuning because of how well the open strings support melody and rhythm.
Some well-known tunes that live in this tuning include:
Soldier’s Joy
Angeline the Baker
Arkansas Traveller
Sandy River Belle
Once you get comfortable moving around in Double C, the banjo starts to feel much more musical and intuitive.
Play-Along Exercise – Learning the Sally Roll
In the YouTube lesson we break the roll down slowly and practise it in isolation before applying it to the tune.
The key to making it feel natural is slow repetition.
Focus on:
• keeping your right hand relaxed
• maintaining a steady rhythm
• letting the melody notes rise out of the roll
Start slowly, and once the pattern feels comfortable you can gradually bring it up to speed.
Download the Free Sally Roll Tablature
To help you practise, I’ve put together a free PDF download that includes:
• the Sally Roll pattern
• the play-along exercises from the lesson
• the section of Sally in the Garden we explored
Watch the Lesson
1) Download the exercises here
2) Download The Tab From Janet B at www.mybanjoworld.com
3) Download The Annotated Tab as seen in the video lesson
Keep this beside you while you practise and return to it whenever you need a quick reminder of the pattern.
Want to Take Your Clawhammer Playing Further?
If you enjoyed this lesson, you might enjoy the way I teach inside Banjo Adventures.
Banjo Adventures is a structured learning path designed specifically for adult learners who want to move from basic techniques to playing real old-time music with confidence.
Inside the program you’ll find:
• step-by-step learning modules
• structured technique training
• classic old-time tunes taught slowly and clearly
• play-along lessons just like this one
• a supportive community of fellow banjo adventurers
The goal is simple: help you build real musical confidence without feeling lost or overwhelmed.
Try Banjo Adventures Free for 7 Days
If you’d like to experience the learning path for yourself, you’re welcome to try Banjo Adventures completely free for 7 days.
There’s no credit card required.
Just fill out the short application form and I’ll personally email you back within 12 hours with your invitation link.
From there you can jump straight in and start making some great progress.
👉 Apply for your 7-day free trial
I’d love to see you inside the adventure.
— Ben
