How to Learn the Banjo (From Scratch)

Learning the banjo from scratch is one of the most rewarding (and humbling) musical journeys you can take. But before we get into finger rolls, fretboards, and gear, there are three core ingredients that matter far more than the instrument itself:

1. Desire

2. Self-Awareness

3. Patience

Let’s dig into each of these, because trust me—this is where your banjo journey really begins.

Desire: You’ve Got to Want It

Ask most accomplished banjo players how good they are and you’ll likely hear:

“I’m still waiting to get good.”

That sense of never quite being “there” is part of the banjo lifestyle—it’s not a race or a marathon, it’s a never-ending adventure of discovery. You’ll hit milestones and breakthroughs, but you’ll never reach a finish line. And that’s the magic of it.

But here’s the truth: you’ve really got to want this.

Learning banjo isn’t a throwaway hobby like casual golf. Let’s be honest: if you’ve got a dusty set of clubs and you play three times a year with your mates, that’s fine—but it’s not the same as being serious about the sport.

The keen golfer is out there for the love of the game: hours on the putting green, hundreds of balls on the range, endlessly refining their short game.

That’s the level of commitment banjo demands.

It can’t just be something you pick up on a whim. It has to come from a place of genuine, personal desire.

You have to want to learn banjo for one person only: yourself.

If the great hand of God came down from the sky one day and declared,

“You may never tell anyone you play the banjo. You must not record, or perform, or share it with another soul ever again,”

I would still play, every single day. Because I don’t play for anyone else. I play because I love it.

Self-Awareness: Know How You Learn

The way we learn an instrument is a mix of brainpower and muscle memory. It’s not just about repeating things over and over—it’s about understanding what you’re doing as you go.

Pay attention to how your body moves, how your fingers respond, and how your mind absorbs patterns.

Know your learning style. Some people thrive with videos, others with tab sheets or one-on-one lessons. Some learn by ear, others by sight. The better you understand how you learn, the faster and deeper your progress will be.

Patience: This Ain’t Instant Noodles

Here’s a little reality check I got from my banjo instructor:

“It takes between 500 to 1000 hours of practice to become a half-decent banjo player.”

Think about that. If you practice 30 minutes a day, that’s over 6 months before you really start to sound like you know what you’re doing. And that’s just the beginning.

Most people underestimate just how long it takes to become comfortable on a banjo.

Don’t expect magical results in the first 100 hours.

You’ll fumble, plateau, get frustrated—and then suddenly, you’ll have a breakthrough that feels amazing. That cycle repeats, and it’s part of what makes this journey so rewarding.

Final Thought: Do It for the Love of It

Take a look at your bucket list. Be honest—how many of those things are there so you can say you’ve done them?

So you can tell other people?

Who are we doing these things for, really?

If the great hand of God told half the folks climbing Everest they could summit but never tell a soul… most of them wouldn’t bother.

So many things people pursue are just fuel for a humblebrag.

But learning the banjo can’t be that. It needs to be selfish—in the best way. It has to come from a place of pure desire. You have to love the process for what it is, not for what it gets you.

And if you do, you’re in for a lifetime of joy, challenge, and music.