Here’s Why Banjo Players Never Give Up
You Don’t Need Floods Of Practice To Get Good On Banjo
It’s the summer of 2026 and British weather couldn’t make up its mind.
First, we had this:
Then, just 18 days later...
The truth is that neither farmers nor muddy ravers benefit from such extremes.
And neither does your banjo playing.
Don’t Be Fooled By The Flood
When beginners first pick up a banjo, they often go all in, were talking MONSOON levels of practice!
They practise for hours.
and hours
They watch lesson after lesson.
They try to learn five different techniques and three new songs at the same time.
For a little while, everything grows quickly.
The first green shoots begin to appear.
They play their first recognisable tune, change between a couple of chords and finally start to feel like a real banjo player.
But that level of practice is difficult to sustain.
Life gets in the way.
The initial excitement wears off.
The monsoon suddenly ends...
And before long, their banjo playing enters a drought.
One missed practice becomes a week.
A week becomes a month.
and in my case
…
That month became eighteen!!
Yes, My Banjo Drought Lasted 18 Months!!!
I had spent well over a year trying to learn the Scruggs style fingerpicking.
I could follow the instructions and play the patterns, but I never felt as though I was actually making music.
Eventually, I decided Scruggs style wasn’t for me.
So I put my banjo down...
And there it stayed.
For another 18 months.
At the time, it probably looked as though my entire banjo adventure was over.
But I hadn’t really quit.
The roots were still there beneath the surface.
I still loved the sound of the banjo.
I still wanted to become somebody who could pick one up and simply play.
Eventually, I discovered clawhammer...
And the rain returned.
I picked up my banjo again and I’ve never stopped playing since.
Banjo Players Never Truly Quit
If your banjo is gathering dust right now, you haven’t necessarily quit.
You might simply be going through a drought.
Think back to the reason you picked up a banjo in the first place.
Was it to relax after a long day?
To play your favourite songs?
To make music for your own enjoyment?
You don’t need another monsoon of practice to start making progress again.
You just need a light shower.
Set aside 15 minutes today.
Pick up your banjo.
Tune it.
Play one simple rhythm.
That small amount of practice is enough to water the plants, fill the ponds, feed the lawn and keep those roots growing beneath the surface.
If you’re unsure where to begin, start with my completely free Banjo Beginner Roadmap, beginning with the Banjo and a Beer series.
Just grab your banjo, press play and spend 15 minutes making music with me.
No monsoon required.
Ben
Creator of Banjo Adventures
