Okay, time to become a banjo hitter.

December 16, 2020 7:57 AM

I've got me a nice new 5-string banjo. I've got me some time indoors. What's the best online banjo course I can follow to teach myself.

Just like it says. My wife bought me a new 5-string banjo. I already play guitar and piano and I want to add to my music skills, such as they are. Is there a go-to banjo person online I can learn from? Free, preferably but I'll take all comers. Thanks for assisting me on being a plucky Steve Martin wannabe..

posted by lpsguy to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (13 answers total)

Pete Seeger's How to Play the Five String Banjo is a great place to start. The book is still widely available, and he made a DVD to go with it. Looks like there are clips of it on youtube, but I don't know how comprehensive those are.
posted by Capt. Renault at 8:13 AM on December 16, 2020

The IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) put together a resource for supporting Bluegrass musicians during Covid, which includes availability of online lessons. Good way to both get some lessons and support a musician negatively affected by lack of live music performances during the pandemic.
posted by MustangMamaVE at 8:20 AM on December 16, 2020 [1 favorite]

I play banjo very badly, but I picked up some clawhammer skills from Brainjo. I find clawhammer a lot easier than bluegrass, which has always seemed like sorcery to me.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:20 AM on December 16, 2020

I asked this question a few months ago, and I'm loving Bill Evans and Peghead nation. Have fun!!
posted by kinsey at 8:21 AM on December 16, 2020 [1 favorite]

I really like Jim Pankey on YouTube. He has a ton of song lessons and also a few beginner lesson series. Something about the way he looks down at the camera when he talks really feels "banjo-ey" to me, like he's your cool old folky uncle talking do you as you sit at his feet watching him play.

His lessons are free and then if you want the tablature for a song you can get it from his website for a couple bucks. It's a pretty good model.

I started re-learning the Banjo a couple months back, I even bought a new Recoding King banjo to replace my pile-of-junk import starter banjo. Sadly, I haven't been playing much lately but I hope to do more one of these days.
posted by bondcliff at 8:21 AM on December 16, 2020 [2 favorites]

I don't play, but I'm a fan of Jens Kruger and the Kruger Brothers. Jens has 50 videos on beginner banjo:

Jens Kruger - Beginner Banjo
posted by tman99 at 8:30 AM on December 16, 2020

First, watch a lot of banjo players on youtube. Decide whether you're drawn to old time styles, which tend to be more melodic, or bluegrass styles, which tend to be more rhythmic. Also think ahead to when you will get to play with others, and consider what kind of group you will seek out.
posted by fritley at 8:39 AM on December 16, 2020

It's not the cheapest option, but Noam Pikelny has a really comprehensive, high-quality set of online lessons. Might be better to help make the jump from advanced beginner to comfortable banjo player than from novice, but it's good quality material.
posted by lhputtgrass at 9:46 AM on December 16, 2020

As I mentioned in the previous ask, Bill Evans on Peghead Nation is a great resource (and by paying, you're supporting musicians in a difficult time.)

Oh, and if you have neighbors, get a banjo mute. (No, not
that one.) Your neighbors will thank you.
posted by blob at 10:53 AM on December 16, 2020

William Nesbitt banjo lessons

Lots of good and free beginner stuff.
posted by freakazoid at 5:59 PM on December 16, 2020

Strongly recommend avoiding the Pete Seeger instruction. His style is idiosyncratic and only works if you want to be a mostly-solo or folk player like him. If you are interested in playing bluegrass or old-time in sessions, you need to learn from people who play those styles. I am speaking from experience to save you time - after I self-taught using Seeger and then took old time lessons, I had to unlearn everything I had learned and start over.
posted by Miko at 6:39 AM on December 17, 2020 [1 favorite]

Also: most teachers are doing online lessons now which means you can study with some of the greats. Splash out for some introductory lessons in the style you hope to play.
posted by Miko at 6:40 AM on December 17, 2020

A former instructor of mine, Tom Collins, has a great Patreon with beginner videos, tabs, frequent live workshops, and much more. He knows his stuff! And you can move beyond beginner material when you're ready.

Signing up for his Patreon isn't costly.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 12:14 PM on December 17, 2020