Is It Hard to Learn to Play the Banjo?

By Marc Horowitz

Today, after my eleven AM student left, I was inspired to write a few words about an often asked question.

Namely: “Is it hard to learn to play the banjo?”

Not so much!

• First, a banjo is physically easier to finger (press down the strings on the frets) than any other stringed instrument. The strings themselves are a lighter gauge and not under as much tension as guitar, mandolin, or fiddle strings.  
• If you’re learning three-finger (Scruggs) style, fingerpicks and a thumbpick are worn, so there’s no wear and tear on your picking fingers.
• On the right-hand learning to play “rolls” on the banjo is essential to three-finger picking style.  When starting, these “rolls” are actually very simple Thumb, First, and Second finger patterns which can be mastered quickly with repetition.
• On the left-hand side, no action is required to begin with because the focus is learning the rolls on the right hand.  Once the rolls have been learned you can introduce the left hand using only one finger to play a melody line. 
• The standard tuning for the five-string banjo is an open G chord, so if you already play the guitar, you can use the same chord positions as on the guitar’s first four strings by just raising the first banjo (D) string position by a whole tone (two frets).
• If you favor Old Time (clawhammer) banjo, you need to learn just three techniques for the right hand.
• AND … a fine beginner’s banjo is easy to find these days for very little money. You’re already on the website to buy one!

Success in learning a new skill depends on several variables:

• The age of the student
• The student’s experience with music and/or other instruments
• The student’s level of manual dexterity and fine motor control
• The student’s level of motivation and willingness to practice regularly
• The student’s expectations and goals

In my experience, you have a head start if you have a good sense of pitch, any sort of background musical knowledge or some experience with another fretted instrument. As a multi-instrumentalist, I’d say that learning ANY instrument is easier if you meet some of these criteria. That said, my student today was a busy attorney in his late fifties with no prior playing experience. What he DOES have is a love of the banjo and for Bluegrass music, as well as a stern work ethic and a willingness to put in the time and effort to become as good a player as he can be.

I believe that anyone can learn new skills, and that the adventure of taking up a new instrument (either in addition to any you already play, or from a blank sheet of paper situation) can improve your quality of life at ANY age. Small achievements produce feelings of accomplishment and serve the purpose of inspiring one to soldier on.

As such, the banjo has its techniques and idiosyncrasies to be learned just as any skill would require, and to my mind learning to play the banjo is no harder than learning the guitar, the fiddle or mandolin or the bass. What determines what you view as “success” depends on YOUR goals. The one thing I’m adamant about is this:

                      ASK AROUND AND FIND THE BEST TEACHER THAT YOU CAN!!!

The first lessons you take can quickly put you on the right path, but if the teacher isn’t proficient on the banjo him-(or her) self, and/or doesn’t teach you sound foundational playing technique, your chance of success is less likely. Make the effort to find THE most experienced and qualified teacher you possibly can.

Also, choose for your first instrument the best banjo that fits your budget. Avoid second hand-store bargains, garage sale junkers and that old wreck you unearthed in Uncle Bill’s attic. The better your learner banjo, the easier you’ll find the whole process. Happily, these are the good old days for instrument manufacture. There are excellent student-grade banjos available (from reputable name-brand makers with long histories) for as little as $300.00. Coincidently, Gold Tone is chief among these and our AC series (yes, the AC-1 is at that price point) has a number of good-sounding easy-playing and durable banjos. Gold Tone AC-1 Beginner Banjo