Should I Pay for Banjo Lessons? Free vs Paid Learning in the Age of Endless Options
I bought my first off-the-shelf banjo from a local music shop in the summer of 2006. Learning banjo felt inevitable, like it had been waiting for me all along. So, armed with my “Learn How to Play Banjo” DVD, I headed home and got started.
Back then, the internet was a very different place—full of pop-up ads and MySpace pages. Banjo learning resources were not only hard to find, but it didn’t even occur to me that the internet could be a place to learn banjo.
Now, the pendulum has swung the other way. We’ve gone from a drought to a flood. Today’s learners are overwhelmed with options—YouTube videos, apps, blogs, forums, and even AI-generated content. And with all that choice comes a common question:
“Where do I even begin?”
If You Pay, You Pay Attention
There’s a massive amount of free information out there—if you’re willing to dig. But giving a beginner full access to everything at once is a bit like handing them the keys to a university and saying, “Here you go—teach yourself, and good luck on your exams.”
Some people will thrive in that environment. Most will feel lost.
This is exactly why I created Banjo Adventures—an online learning space that mimics the path I took as a beginner. As you progress, new layers of learning are unlocked—but only when you’re ready for them. You’re never dumped in the deep end. You’re guided. Step by step.
There’s structure. There’s support. And most importantly: you’re not doing it alone.
The Free Discord Experiment: A Lesson in Value
When I first started teaching, I did it completely for free. I launched a Discord server for anyone who wanted to learn, and it quickly grew to over 160 members.
But here’s what usually happened:
They joined.
They interacted for a day or two.
They assumed that, because it was free, it must not be valuable.
They disappeared.
Despite offering daily guidance and personalized support—for free—the group slowly turned into a 160-member ghost town. A graveyard of silent usernames and untapped potential.
Only one person stayed engaged. Just one. But that one person committed, stuck with it, and is now absolutely smashing it on the banjo. He’s since become a founding member of Banjo Adventures, and a living example of what real commitment can lead to.
That experience taught me something I now hold as a core belief:
“If you pay, you pay attention.”
People need to have skin in the game.
After seeking advice and reflecting on my experience, I decided to shut down the free server and start offering a paid membership. Today, Banjo Adventures has just 9 members—but it’s a thriving, engaged, and enthusiastic community. We laugh daily, share content, support each other, and most importantly—people are making serious progress.
Why Free Isn’t Always Enough
Free resources are created with good intentions. They’re accessible, flexible, and for some people, they’re enough. But for the majority of learners, free content lacks the one thing that matters most: structure.
Without structure and guidance, it’s easy to plateau early, lose motivation, and get stuck playing the same three easy tunes on repeat. Progress on the banjo comes from making small, consistent gains—not from hoping inspiration strikes.
And let’s be real: learning anything meaningful is hard to do in isolation.
Banjo Adventures isn’t just a course. It’s a learning community. Every day we share goals, progress, struggles, and wins. We push each other, we encourage each other, and the members inspire me to create better and better lessons.
It’s a two-way street—and that energy just doesn’t happen in isolation.
What You’re Really Paying For
Paying for lessons doesn’t just get you videos. It buys you:
Structure – A clear path forward without the guesswork.
Mentorship – Someone to answer questions, spot mistakes, and offer encouragement.
Community – A circle of like-minded learners who share your journey.
Feedback – Weekly reviews, real-time Q&As, and practical next steps.
And beyond all that?
Accountability. Purpose. Progress.
It’s not about the cost—it’s about the commitment.
The Heart of Banjo Adventures (And Why It Works)
Banjo Adventures is built on everything I wish I had when I started: a guided path, direct support, and a close-knit group of players who care.
We’ve got daily challenges. Weekly feedback. Real conversations. No fluff. Just a group of people moving forward together—and having a lot of fun along the way.
That one student from my original free Discord? He’s a prime example of what happens when someone commits. He didn’t just stick around—he thrived. He’s now one of the most active members of the group, and a reminder that it’s not talent that makes the difference—it’s showing up.
And while free resources can work, most learners thrive when they have someone in their corner. Someone saying, “You’re doing great—here’s what to do next.”
It’s Not About Money. It’s About Mindset.
This post isn’t an ad. It’s a reflection.
You don’t have to pay to learn the banjo. There’s nothing stopping you from watching every free video on the internet. But most people won’t get far that way—because motivation fades, questions go unanswered, and structure is hard to build on your own.
Paying isn’t about elitism. It’s not about buying shortcuts. It’s about choosing to show up.
It’s a mindset shift—from “I’ll get to it eventually” to “I’m committed.”
Conclusion: What’s Your Banjo Worth to You?
Ask yourself: how serious am I about learning banjo?
If you’re content to dabble here and there, free content might be enough. But if you’re ready to make real progress, avoid burnout, and learn with clarity and confidence—then maybe it’s time to invest.
Not just in lessons.
In yourself.
Whether you join Banjo Adventures or find another path that fits, make a conscious choice to value your learning. Because the journey is so much more rewarding when you’re actually moving forward—and not just spinning your wheels.
And if you’re looking for a place where you’ll be supported, challenged, and guided by someone who’s walked the road before you—well, I’d love to see you inside Banjo Adventures.
