Clawhammer Banjo

Join The Friendliest Online Clawhammer Banjo Learning Community for the Complete Beginner

Hi, I’m Ben Dorning – “The banjo man from up north” – and I’m the creator and leader of Banjo Adventures, a welcoming online community where beginner banjo players from around the world come to learn, grow, and connect. Inside our virtual classroom on Discord, I teach complete beginners how to play music on the banjo using the timeless Clawhammer style – all from scratch.

When I first picked up a banjo back in 2008, online learning resources were hard to find. YouTube was still in its infancy, and most video lessons were grainy and hard to follow. These days, we have the opposite problem – there’s an overwhelming flood of amazing free content. But with so much information out there, it’s easy to feel lost. Many beginners find themselves asking: Where do I even start? What’s the right path for me? What should I focus on first?

That’s where Banjo Adventures comes in.

I’ve painstakingly retraced every step of my own personal banjo learning journey – from the moment I unzipped my banjo case for the first time, to the countless plateaus, breakthroughs, and hard-earned successes – and I have distilled it all into 10 clear, structured milestones. These milestones form the heart of the Banjo Adventures learning journey and are designed to give you a solid foundation, steady growth, and the confidence to call yourself a real banjo player.

But Banjo Adventures isn’t just about lessons – it’s about joining a growing community of friendly, supportive folks who are walking the same path. People who understand the struggles, celebrate the wins, and are always ready to cheer you on.

And here’s the best part: I’m just like you.

I’m not a professional musician. I didn’t grow up in a musical family, I never studied music, and I definitely don’t see myself as particularly talented or special. I was simply someone with a deep curiosity and a strong desire to learn the banjo – and I made it happen. Now, it’s my mission to help people like you do the same, through my relaxed teaching style and slow-paced, beginner-friendly video lessons.

Curious to see what it’s all about? Watch the video below for a guided tour of my Banjo Adventures Discord.