Banjo Lessons 

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Learn To Play Banjo

This is a tough musical instrument and takes a lot of coordination to play but with the right banjo lessons you just might learn to play. Just to humble myself, my first banjo lesson was a complete tragedy. Well, I suppose it wasn't technically my first banjo lesson. Actually, I had been taking online banjo lessons for a good while, and honestly thought that I knew what I was doing.

I found a website with videos of some guy strumming which you could download, and tabs which you could pick along to to your hearts content. I had my first banjo lesson online months ago, and although I was a bit of a slacker about the whole thing, only learning those songs and techniques that interested me, and ignoring the rest, still, I thought that I had started to get somewhere.

The First "Real" Banjo Lesson

My first banjo lesson certainly smothered that illusion under a half ton of disappointment. I got there and tried to show off. He looked at me and I immediately missed a chord. This is my first instrument, and the first time I've ever played in front of someone else on it.

I figured that it would be a piece of cake. I've never had any problem speaking publicly to a whole room full of a hundred people, so what should be so hard about a banjo lesson where it was only me and a teacher. The whole thing should be easy, right? Wrong. It was terrible.

What I don't understand is how I am ever going to learn anything from my banjo lessons if I can't even play in front of my teacher. I mean, I guess he is nice and accommodating, and besides that a hell of a banjo player.

He showed me some great exercise which I could use and practice for my next banjo lesson, and that was definitely very helpful. Not to mention how much you gain just from having the opportunity to closely observe and work with a great player. But really, will I sound any different during my next banjo lesson?

If I can't play in front of him, how will he even know if I'm making any progress. For that matter, how will I even know if I've learned anything from one banjo lesson to the next.

It just isn't possible to get feedback if I can't play with the teacher present. I've decided to start recording my own playing to play back to him. At first, it might be hard to play, knowing that I'm recording to show at my next banjo lesson, but eventually it will get easier.

A new enthusiast seeking a banjo lesson might visit local music stores or turn to fellow musicians. There is perhaps no better way to learn to play an instrument of any kind than by spending time with others who have mastered or even just enjoy the craft, and the best banjo lesson of all may be to spend a warm summer night by a campfire with someone who can fill the air with sweet bluegrass music and soft country twang.

Local Music Stores And Colleges Are A Good Starting Point

A local music store, a college of university with a music department and a continuing education center are all possible places you can find a banjo lesson. New enthusiasts could always ask where they might find someone to provide a lesson or ongoing training from the shop or individual who sells them their first instrument. In fact, many music stores offer discounted lessons to their patrons who purchase an instrument.

Taking Banjo Lessons Online

When thinking of learning to play an instrument, the last place one might think to look for instruction is online. It seems that music should be heard, felt and experienced first hand to be learned and appreciated, and an online banjo lesson may not seem at first to offer much to a new musician. Surprisingly enough, more than one concise, complete and informative lesson can actually be found on the Internet.

DVD Banjo Instruction

There are also DVDs available offering a banjo lesson or series of lessons. Often these come with an accompanying manual or instruction book so the aspiring musician can easily follow along.

While there is no substitute for making music with others, there are many enthusiast sites on the web that provide general information, and an introductory free lesson.

Learning To Play Banjo Or Putting It Together

What an online or in-person banjo lesson might entail depends upon the needs of the individual. It is possible to find a lesson on very introductory topics such as assembling a banjo that does not come already put together, banjo tablatures, or building a banjo bridge. A more advanced player can benefit from a banjo lesson focusing on different playing techniques such as claw hammer.

Many of the resources online for those seeking a lesson, or information on associations, or ways to network with other players, are free. These are a priceless resource for someone just becoming acquainted with the instrument.

Taking Banjo Lessons Means Daily Practice

There is probably no banjo lesson more valuable than that warm summer night around a campfire with someone who loves the craft and plays their instrument from their heart and soul. But there are many resources out there for enthusiasts of this age-old instrument. Likewise, there is no substitute for daily practice.