Why So Many Adults Struggle to Learn the Banjo (Even When They’re Doing Everything Right)
By Ben Dorning - Creator Of Banjo Adventures
INTRODUCTION
In this short article you will find a link to one of the best clawhammer banjo books ever written and also some really helpful guidance and information for brand new banjo players who may be struggling to keep momentum and motivation.
If you’ve just watched the YouTube video about the 7 reasons adults give up banjo, chances are something in it struck a nerve.
Maybe you recognised yourself in one of the quitting points.
Maybe you realised you’re not actually “bad at banjo” — just normal.
This post isn’t here to repeat the seven reasons again. Instead, it’s here to help you process what you’ve just learned and turn that awareness into something useful — clarity, confidence, and forward momentum.
Because knowing why people quit is only half the story.
The other half is knowing what to do next.
Most Adult Beginners Quit Quietly — Not Dramatically
One important thing I didn’t fully unpack in the video is this:
Most adults don’t quit the banjo in a big emotional moment.
They don’t throw it in the bin.
They don’t announce they’re giving up.
They just… stop.
They miss a few days.
Then a week.
Then the banjo starts to feel unfamiliar again.
And unfamiliar slowly turns into avoidance.
Understanding this matters, because it means quitting isn’t a failure of motivation — it’s usually a lack of structure and reassurance.
Progress Is Happening Even When You Can’t Hear It
Adult learners are very good at spotting what’s wrong with their playing.
What they’re terrible at noticing is what’s improved.
Your timing might be steadier.
Your hand might be more relaxed.
Your mistakes might be different ones than last month.
That’s still progress.
If you only measure success by “Can I play this tune perfectly yet?”, you’ll miss 90% of what’s actually changing under the surface.
Time on the Banjo Beats Time Thinking About the Banjo
A lot of frustration comes from overthinking progress instead of accumulating experience.
Reading, watching, analysing, comparing — none of that replaces time spent with the instrument in your hands.
One of the most grounding ideas I ever came across was the idea that becoming a musician isn’t about collecting information — it’s about logging hours.
And that brings me to a resource that had a big influence on how I think about learning the banjo.
A Book That Changed How I Viewed Banjo Learning
Patrick Costello’s book The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo helped me relax about the whole process.
Not because it promised fast results — but because it told the truth.
Patrick talks openly about how long it can take to feel competent on the banjo, and why that’s not a problem. He also strips away a lot of unnecessary technical pressure and brings the focus back to music, sound, and enjoyment.
You can read the full book for free here:
👉 The Banjo Bible – The How and Tao of Old Time Banjo (PDF)
https://dn790003.ca.archive.org/0/items/TheHowAndTaoOfOldTimeBanjo/HowAndTaoOfOldTimeBanjo.pdf
If you’ve been feeling tense or behind, this is well worth your time. Patrick no longer teaches banjo online but i’m sure if he did the world would stop and listen because he was one of the best and certainly inspired lots of people across the world during the early 2000’s.
The Real Skill Adult Beginners Need (And It’s Not Technical)
The most important skill for adult banjo learners isn’t speed, accuracy, or repertoire.
It’s patience with unfamiliarity.
Every new movement feels wrong before it feels natural.
Every tune sounds messy before it sounds musical.
Every player feels lost before things start to connect.
That awkward phase isn’t a sign you’re failing — it’s proof you’re learning.
Consistency Doesn’t Have to Mean Intensity
Another mistake adults make is believing that progress requires long, exhausting practice sessions.
It doesn’t.
Short, regular contact with the banjo beats occasional heroic efforts every time.
Five minutes counts.
Ten minutes counts.
Picking it up and playing something counts.
The banjo rewards familiarity more than force.
Why Community Makes Such a Difference
Learning alone magnifies doubt.
When you don’t hear other beginners, it’s easy to assume everyone else is progressing faster, sounding better, and “getting it” more easily.
They’re not.
They’re just at a different point on the same path.
Learning alongside others — even quietly, even asynchronously — makes the journey feel lighter and far more sustainable.
If You’re Still Here, You’re Doing Better Than You Think
If you’ve watched the video and taken the time to read this follow-up, that already tells me something important:
You haven’t quit.
You’re curious.
You care.
You’re still showing up.
And that’s the one thing every confident banjo player has in common — not talent, not speed, not youth — just persistence.
Final Thought
Most adults quit the banjo not because it’s too hard…
but because no one ever explained what normal progress actually looks like.
Now you’ve got a clearer picture.
The next step isn’t perfection — it’s simply picking the banjo up again.
—
Ben Dorning
Creator of Banjo Adventures
