How Long Does It Really Take to Learn Banjo? (Honest Beginner Guide)
Written by Ben Dorning
Creator Of Banjo Adventures
First, it’s important to understand that learning any musical instrument is a lifelong process. We never truly “learn” the banjo—because that implies there’s an end. A finish line. A final checkpoint where we’re crowned official banjo players. But that’s not how it works And the sooner you accept that reality, the better you’ll sleep at night.
By the end of this article I will help you to understand:
What it takes to learn the banjo
Understand what slows progress and what causes people to give up and how to avoid that.
Set a realistic timeline for learning your first tune
A way you can learn the banjo basics online with me completely for FREE!
What Most Beginner Banjo Players Actually Want
When someone joins Banjo Adventures for the very first time I always ask the same thing:
“What are your goals with the banjo?”
And almost every time, the answers are modest, honest, and beautiful. Things like:
“I want to play a tune from memory.”
“I want to sit in the garden and play something relaxing.”
“I just want to be able to enjoy it for myself.”
Nobody’s dreaming of headlining Glastonbury with a bluegrass-inspired, 5-piece banjo band. Not yet anyway. So take a moment to seriously think about what you want to achieve with learning the banjo. Now compare that against all the amazingly complex things you do in every day life: Drive a car, Raise a family, Play video games… Compared to these complex tasks, learning a few tunes on a piece of wood is fairly straight forward, if we put our minds to it.
The Wild West of Banjo Learning
The problem with learning the banjo—despite its rich heritage—is that there’s no clear, designated path. No grade system like classical piano. No universal progression structure like guitar.
Banjo learning is a bit of a free-for-all.
That’s probably why we all come out the other side a little different. Especially now, when so many people are learning online. There are thousands of instructors, teaching thousands of students, thousands of different ways.
No wonder banjo is such a vibrant contrast of sounds and styles across the board.
So… How Long Does It Actually Take?
It’s hard to put an exact time on it. Some people get it quicker than others. But we can make an educated guess—just like we know most learners need 20 to 30 driving lessons before passing their test.
That’s why I came up with something we now use inside Banjo Adventures:
Banjo Hours.
A Banjo Hour is just this:
Time spent with your banjo tuned up, in your hands, with your fingers on the strings making sound.
Not watching tutorials. Not thinking about playing. Actually playing.
And based on what I’ve seen—after teaching a dozen or so beginners—I’d say it takes about 35 Banjo Hours to learn your first full tune from memory. That’s assuming you’re putting in a 30-minute session every day, for about 10 weeks.
Let’s break that down…
🎯 Your First 35 Banjo Hours
(based on learning “Skip to My Lou”)
1. Understand the Basic Frailing Strum – 1 hour
This is more about concept than action. Once you understand how the frailing strum underpins clawhammer banjo, it’ll click into place.
2. Learn to Perform the basic frailing Strum – 9 hours
This is where your hands get involved. The bump-ditty rhythm feels weird at first—it takes time to tame (no need to master it just yet).
3. Target Individual Strings – 7 hours
You’ll learn to hit specific strings cleanly, while keeping that frailing motion going. This is when things start sounding like music.
4. Add the Fretting Hand – 10 hours
Now we’re bringing in the D7 chord and learning to coordinate both hands. It’s like splitting your brain in half. Tough—but so worth it.
5. Play “Skip to My Lou” from Memory – 8 hours
This is the fun part. Letting go of the tab, ditching the tutorial video, and actually owning the tune. It’s where confidence grows.
TOTAL: 35 Banjo Hours
My Biggest Regret Learning The Banjo
Looking back, the best part of learning the 5-string banjo wasn’t just the songs I learned, but the learning process itself—those small challenges and “aha” moments. I wish I had recorded my progress daily so I could look back and see how far I’ve come. Even just the first six months would be great to revisit.
I wrote a book called The Path Of The Hobo - A Clawhammer Banjo For Complete Beginners course. It’s a perfect tool for new banjo players, with daily prompts, space for journaling, and exclusive video lessons only available to Banjo Adventures members.
This course is available WORLDWIDE! Click here to order your copy Today.
Learning The Banjo Isn’t Difficult — It’s Just Unfamiliar
You’ll eventually see that learning to play the banjo isn’t hard because the banjo was designed to be played by human hands. It’s evolved over generations to be ergonomic, playable, and musical. The only reason it feels hard at the beginning is because it’s new. It’s unfamiliar.
So whenever you’re tempted to say:
“This is difficult…”
Try saying:
“This is unfamiliar.”
Because that’s all it is.
And the way to get familiar? You guessed it: Banjo Hours.
A Neighbourhood Analogy
Think of your banjo like that neighbour you never speak to.
You live next door. Maybe you nod hello. But you’re strangers. Meanwhile, your co-worker—who you only see a few days a week—is someone you know far better. You’ve had chats, shared stories, learned each other’s quirks.
Why?
Because you’ve spent time together.
Your banjo is the same. The more time you spend with it, the more you’ll get to know it. The more natural it will feel. And the more of a banjo player you’ll become.
⚠️ What Slows People Down (So You Can Avoid It)
Let me quickly share a few things that tend to hold people back:
Skipping the basics. You can’t run before you can strum.
Practicing inconsistently. Banjo rewards those who show up regularly.
Relying too heavily on tab or YouTube. Great for learning, but not for long-term memory.
These are totally normal speed bumps. The key is not to panic—just keep racking up your Banjo Hours and you will get there.
Join My Free Clawhammer Banjo Mini Course
If you’ve ever dreamed of learning the banjo but didn’t know where to start, this is your perfect first step. My Free Clawhammer Banjo Mini Course is designed for total beginners — no experience, no music theory, just clear, simple lessons that get you playing real music fast. I’ll guide you through tuning, rhythm, and your very first chords, all at a relaxed, easy pace. You’ll build confidence, timing, and that satisfying banjo groove one note at a time. So grab your banjo, take a deep breath, and start your adventure today — it’s completely free, and it might just change the way you hear music forever.
Final Thoughts
Whether it takes you 10 weeks, 6 months, or a year… the truth is that becoming a banjo player is just about showing up.
Pick it up. Play something. Learn. Rest. Repeat.
Over and over and over again.
That’s the only real path to becoming the kind of banjo player you dream of being.
And if you want a little help along the way—that’s exactly what I created Banjo Adventures for. I’ve laid out a clear roadmap, designed to help beginners skip the brick walls, avoid the burnout, and start playing tunes sooner.
All the best,
Ben Dorning
