by Jake Schepps
NOTE: This article written by Jake Schepps was published on his blog in May, 2023
What we owe to the true lion of bluegrass banjo
The legendary 5-string banjo player Earl Scruggs passed away 11 years ago yesterday. Like other major news events (like 9/11 or the Challenger space shuttle disaster), I clearly remember where I was when I heard this news. And unlike those other events, I burst into tears as the NPR host announced his passing. These tears came as a total surprise — while his influence over my banjo playing is undeniable (I play what is classed Scruggs Style Banjo), I had not given much thought to my direct connection to Earl beyond his enormous impact on 3-finger bluegrass banjo. Yet at that moment, my eyes opened to this man's undeniable influence on my own musical path.
Exhibit A (and what led me to tears) — I heard the news just before I walked into a Bateria Alegria rehearsal in which I played "agogo" (the bell) with a 20-piece Brazilian percussion ensemble. As convoluted as this sounds, my path with the banjo led me to this playing samba cowbell in this obscure music. My discovery and deep love of Brazilian choro music came from a deep dive into acoustic stringband music, which came from studying banjo. And therefore, my circuitous path with music through the lens of the 5-string banjo stemmed from this incredible man's incredible music.
Exhibit B — I did not have the Earl Scruggs epiphany that many banjo players experience — instead, I had that experience seeing the great Béla Fleck at Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 1990. I ran home to Boulder, bought a banjo, and began lessons with the late, great Mark Vann, who, of course, started me with Earl. As I dove deeper into this musical world, I realized Béla's primary banjo influence was Earl Scruggs (along with JD Crowe [one of the best all-time practitioners of Scruggs style banjo] and Tony Trischka [my hero and a lifelong devotee of Earl's music]). All the lessons I took, all the interviews I read, all the banjoists I met around the world, they all pointed to Earl. In fact we all played his tunes trying to emulate his work note for note. Think about that!
As with my previous missive about Phish, I wonder if I add much to the endless beautiful words written and spoken about Earl, but here on this anniversary, I hope to add to the conversation. We miss you, Earl.
Enjoy some of his music here:
Earl Scruggs
With Earl's 100th birthday coming up on January 6, 2024, we enlisted comments from Colorado banjo players
James Armington - Bowregard
Favorite tune: Earl’s Breakdown
Earl Scruggs is my biggest influence. His book was what I started learning from. My Dad loved Earl Scruggs and so did my grandfather. They both learned to play the banjo because of him.
I wouldn't play this instrument if it weren't for Earl Scruggs.
Elijah Donovan – Tonewood
My favorite tune has got to be Shuckin' the Corn. Easy and to the point, any banjo picker worth their salt has a good Shuckin'. Honorable mentions include but are not limited to Earl's break on "Why Don't You Tell Me So" off the original Mercury Recordings, and his final pass through "Farewell Blues" where he hits a nasty succession of backwards rolls over a C7.
And honestly, it wasn't until I was given a copy of Earl Scruggs and the Five String Banjo, along with the vinyl record to go with it, that I really started to understand the banjo. Until then I was lost in the sea of YouTube instructional materials. Since then Earl has remained a standard to live up to. His tone, timing, articulation, note choice, are all unmatched. I constantly find myself going back to him. Finding new licks, backup lines, and above all, inspiration. I've probably ranted about the Martha White TV Show more times than I can count (to more people than are really interested) just because it's a visual of Earl in his prime, and a resource to those looking for that extra element of what the Earl really looked like when he played. An air of calm assurance, and a great joy surrounded him.
Ultimately, to me, Earl Scruggs IS banjo playing. And we're all just paying tribute.
Nick Einterz – Slay
Favorite tune: I'll Never Love Another with Lester and the foggy mtn boys.
I like this one because it swings, and Earl is playing up the neck almost the whole time.
Even if a three-finger-roller never learns a single Scruggs lick, they were almost certainly influenced by Earl. But I am most influenced by his artistic spirit, innovative approach, and collaborative nature. The man was much more a musical visionary than a banjo player in my opinion. And it took me a while to find my way to Earl, but all of my heroes (JD, Tony T, Bela, etc_ point to Earl as being the lion to listen to and emulate. So yes, he has had a profound influence on my playing.
Danjo Harris – Buffalo Commons
Favorite tune: Cumberland gap (I don’t think he wrote it but I love his licks on it ) His style of three finger playing with metal picks is so incalculably influential no matter what style of Banjo Someone Plays … this goes even for someone doing claw hammer in a modern style- a lot of the techniques will be emulating licks that he played And even for really progressive players his ingenuity on the instrument is the foundation for everything else that came after
Kane Hollins – Silverplume
My favorite Earl Scruggs tune is Nashville Blues. I got the Earl Scruggs book in 1974 to find out what went where. As I got this message tonight, I am working through that very book. Earl had the smoothest backwards roll. pure magic.
Laurie Hutton – Weld County Ramblers
Groundspeed is my favorite. Yes, I strive to be complimentary in my playing; Earl was great at not stepping on the singer. His accent licks are so tasty!
Mike Jackson – Program Director for the NSF last seen playing banjo at McMurdo Station in Antarctica Favorite tune: Definitely earl’s breakdown Earl spent his later years playing with his kids in the Earl Scruggs review. This move made him unpopular with the bluegrass trads but he didn’t care. He just kept changing and innovating. That has had the greatest influence on my playing.
Jeremy Koch – Big Hooray
Fav tune: Cabin in Caroline. The song has a country swing feel, except for Earl's banjo break which he plays with straight eighths (so every second banjo note feels ahead of the beat). It is a perfect example of drive without rushing.
I came to Earl Scruggs after spending more time studying Jens, Noam, and Bela. But I realized: in order to understand those players, you need to understand Scruggs. After diving into Scruggs, I started to appreciate him so much, particularly how tasteful he was. I listen to him now more than ever -- he was a great "band" musician, but could still surge to the foreground to play something incredibly powerful and attention-grabbing. With perfect timing!
Paul Larson – Pick & Howl
I love Earl! My first dog, when I was in college, I named Earl after Mr. Scruggs. Can’t pick one favorite song but Saro Jane smashed me between the ears when I first heard it. The kickoff is like a punch in the gut. Groundspeed is a classic instrumental that all three finger banjo players should learn.
He definitely influenced my playing and I don’t know any bluegrass banjo player that was not influenced by Earl. For me, the most important part of good tone and timing is the right hand. He plays sweet up the neck and really digs and drives by the bridge. His right hand is the gospel that all bluegrass banjo players had the good fortune of trying to emulate while they develop their own style. He was the best and we are all so lucky to have the music he made as a reference.
Ernie Martinez – IWMA Instrumentalist of the year
My favorite Earl tune is Foggy Mountain Breakdown! Indeed, I heard Foggy Mountain Breakdown and that’s what did it for me!!
Aaron McCloskey – Woodbelly
Favorite tune: Home sweet home
I learned banjo from Alan Munde and he taught all his students the Scruggs way of playing. I spent years learning the Scruggs rolls and tunes and still revisit them regularly. His playing makes bluegrass music feel right so it’s crucial for any aspiring bluegrass player to learn.
Travis McNamara – Troutsteak Revival
My favorite Scruggs tune is Your Love Is Like A Flower. My banjo teacher showed it to me in a lesson, to study his technique. It’s the song I play almost automatically when I pick up the instrument.
Of course. His timing is the most major influence in me. I can still hear new things in his timing when I listen.
Marte Meyers – Cabin Burners, Kantankerous
Favorite tune: Fireball Mail Earl's timing, touch and taste were unmatched in his prime and he single handedly invented the Scruggs style of three finger picking. A huge influence for me
Dave Richardson – Orchard Creek
The first 5-string banjo player that I ever heard was J.D. Crowe in the early 60’s. He was on the radio every night on WWVA broadcasting from nearby Wheeling, WV. It was only a short while later that I discovered Earl on a vinyl record I purchased called “Foggy Mountain Banjo.” I loved all of the instrumentals. But one particular number that sounded different from the rest was “Reuben.” I tried and tried to figure out how he played it out of a G position with no luck. About six months later I was fortunate to see Earl and his original group live at Kennywood Park. One of the participants in the outdoor audience was a music instructor who taught banjo. I asked him how to play it, and he told me to retune the banjo and play it like Cripple Creek! Later in the show when the band was on break, I personally asked Earl if he could play Reuben. When the band returned to the stage, it was the first song they played. Earl influenced my playing in many ways. His timing, drive and back up are the first things that come to mind. The other virtue is the fact that he makes it all look so easy. He was a real pro. Thank You, Earl. And Happy Birthday!
Dusty Rider
Well, Foggy Mountain Breakdown was the second Earl tune I tried to learn, but that's probably not my favorite.
I've always had a special place in my heart for Foggy Mountain Chimes. It was the full Earl, if you will. It had all the classic string chokes that he was known for, that driving-yet-syncopated three-finger banjo style of his, his trademark Scruggs-tuner string-bending, harmonics, and, of course, the modulation. In the B part of the tune, the original V chord becomes the new I, which wasn't really done in any bluegrass music at that time. All that plus the classic two-four bluegrass chug provided by the Foggy Mountain Boys.
He absolutely influenced me. It was something I picked up unconsciously at first, but I realized that he had this really syncopated way of playing the banjo--even on the upbeat songs. It added this dynamic to the music that gave it this "bounce," which made it irresistible to listen and dance to. When someone called my attention to the way I was syncopating my notes, I immediately realized it was something I picked up from Earl.
Then, of course, there was the way he played when backing the other players in the band. Sometimes it was adding little licks here and there, other times he simply played forward rolls to keep the drive. He chose his notes carefully and always played right when he needed to. No more and no less.
I suppose you could say that Earl gave me my first lessons on how to play with taste and tact.
Charlie Rose - Elephant Revival
My favorite Earl Scruggs tune is Flint Hill Special. The D tuners are such an interesting and unique sound on the banjo and the tune is so happy and driving! It helped lead me down the path to playing pedal steel. Also I’m from the Flint Hills of Kansas!
Earl influenced my playing as he has any bluegrass banjo player, his vocabulary and rhythmic feel are impossible to escape if you truly want to "Pick the Banjer Solid".
Chris Roszell – Blue Canyon Boys
Favorite tune: Shuckin' the Corn. You'd be hard pressed to find a cooler 24 notes of banjo music than the first C lick in this song.
Playing banjo is like throwing a boomerang - it always comes back to Scruggs.
I came to the banjo from the drums, and the complex rhythms built into Scruggs' right hand is one of the things that caught my interest early on, and continues to amaze and inspire me. Take the "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" roll. On first glance, it's just a string of eight eighth notes. But, if you listen just right - just to the second string - you hear a really cool syncopated rhythm. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Cool stuff!
Jake Schepps
Favorite tune: Hands down it is "Groundspeed” And it took me a while to find my way to Earl, but all of my heroes (JD, Tony T, Bela, etc_ point to Earl as being a the lion to listen to and emulate. So yes, he has had a profound influence on my playing.
Jeff Scroggins – Colorado
Groundspeed is my favorite Earl Scruggs tune, and Earl was a huge influence; hearing his playing on the Beverly Hillbillies, Bonnie and Clyde, etc is a lot of what sparked my original interest in playing the banjo.
Mike Silbernagel – The Humminbirds
Very tough choice to name a favorite, but Nashville Blues and Randy Lynn Rag are right up there!
Favorite song Earl banjo break – Probably Polka on a banjo.
I had heard banjos.. folk, (Pete Seeger) some Irish style and Ragtime strum style (at Shakey’s Pizza Parlor) when I was young. When I began listening to bluegrass and Earl Scruggs, it was fireworks! I MUST PLAY THIS STYLE! I was mainly a guitar player, which all changed when a friend and bandmate at the time loaned his sister’s’ banjo, A Kay. The first banjo book I purchased was 'Earl Scruggs and the 5-string banjo (The Banjo Bible!). Spent years in that book alone! Thanks to Bill Keith and Warren Kennison Jr. for creating such a historic and important learning resource. I still own the book (in many pieces)
Kevin Slick - Orchard Creek Band and previous CBMS PresidentFavorite song: Blue Ridge Cabin Home from the Foggy Mountain Jamboree album, the kick off is classic Earl, the melody is stated clearly, the picking is precise. His backup during the vocals is stellar as well, perhaps even better than kick off and solos, listen to his fills on the chorus, they really pop. Influence: Play the melody! Play like a vocalist - Earl would slide into notes like a singer would, his breaks sing the melody. The excitement came from sustained powerful playing, not overly flashy licks. Here’s a photo of my first in person Earl experience in 1967:
Pete Wernick — Dr. Banjo - Hot RizeMy favorite Earl tunes are "Shuckin' the Corn", and "Foggy Mt. Special". They sound so good on the 50s recordings, and it was "Shuckin'" that was myfirst taste of Earl, when I was maybe 13 years old. It lit up my ears and still does any time I hear it. His execution is beyond great -- the tone, the drive,the incredible content, and the daring it took to play some really tricky stuff in there when blowing it would have messed up the recording in those daysof no "fixing" anything on a recording! And F.M. Special is another masterpiece, such beautiful finesse in playing those signature licks.
Re his influence.... If it weren't for Earl, I doubt I'd have even tried to play 3-finger style, but with his inspiration (I saw him in person in early '61 when I was not yet 15), I struggled to copy what I heard him do on records, until it finally started to come. My career as a banjoist would not have happened were it not for him. Once Hot Rize was making regular trips to Nashville, I became acquainted with him, and visited him and Louise many times. I treasured their friendship, and they were so nice to me. Getting to know Earl was one of the highlights of my life.
Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose – Lil Smokies
It's pretty dang hard to top Home Sweet Home as a banjo tune. It is heartwarming but keeps the drive.
I think Earl is such a huge early influence on the instrument that everybody who plays 3 finger is influenced by him in some regard. Whether they know it or not! I am especially inspired by his phrasing. When he kicks off a song you can practically hear the lyrics come rising above the perpetual rolls.
Michael Zwiebel – Crooked Cannon
Favorite tune? Today I'll say Farewell Blues and his backup to Doin My Time. Tomorrow my answer might be different. Did Earl influence my playing? Don't get me started. The licks Earl invented are now so fundamental to the banjo that we consider them "simple" and forget how revolutionary his playing was. Even in the most advanced players today, it's still the Scruggs’ licks that give the banjo its drive. I've heard some players say they play a more "modern" style and don't know Scruggs. That's bullshit. If you don't play Scruggs, you don't play banjo.
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