The Complete Beginner Banjo Player Roadmap
This course is for you if you:
Are a complete beginner (no musical background needed)
Don’t want the membership subscription
Want a clear path instead of random YouTube videos
Prefer learning at your own pace
Want to sound musical, not mechanical
No deadlines. No pressure. Learn at your own pace.
All modules are included within the Banjo Adventures membership.
Taught by Ben Dorning — banjo player, teacher, and creator of Banjo Adventures
Not sure where to begin? Most learners start with Module 1.
Your banjo learning journey starts here. Each module is designed to gently guide you in the right direction from complete beginner to accomplished banjo player.
Module 1
Hobo
£45.00
Module 2
Wanderer
£45.00
Module 3
Hiker
£45.00
Module 4
Pathfinder
£45.00
The Learning Roadmap
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Module 1
“If I can’t get this, I’ll quit.”
Everyone starts here — and this is the most important stage of all.
In Module 1, we slow everything down and strip away the confusion. You’ll learn how to hold the banjo comfortably, fret strings cleanly, and build a solid, dependable clawhammer rhythm that actually feels musical.
By the end of this module, you won’t be guessing anymore.
You’ll know you’re doing it right — and that alone is often the difference between quitting and carrying on.End result:
You can fret confidently and play a steady rhythm that sounds like real banjo music. -
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Module 2
“I’m officially a banjo player now.”
This is where everything you’ve been practising starts to feel real.
In Module 2, you’ll develop a solid understanding of timing and tempo, learn how to read banjo tablature with confidence, and begin committing tunes to memory rather than relying on the page.
By the end of this module, you won’t just be following along — you’ll be playing. These are your first real banjo songs, and they’re the moment many learners realise they’ve crossed an important line.
End result:
You can play your first complete banjo songs from memory, with steady timing and confidence. -
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Module 3
“I sound like I know what I’m doing.”
This is where your banjo playing starts to open up.
In Module 3, you’ll learn melodic techniques such as drop thumb and double thumb, and—more importantly—how to use them musically rather than mechanically. We’ll look at how banjo tunes are built, so you can recognise patterns, phrases, and structure instead of memorising note by note.
By the end of this module, you won’t just know a handful of tunes — you’ll have the tools to approach new songs with confidence, work through more complex songbooks, and learn music faster and more independently.
End result:
You can play a wide range of songs, use melodic techniques naturally, understand how banjo tunes are structured, and confidently teach yourself new material. -
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Module 4
“I can now explore on my own.”
This final stage is about opening doors rather than following steps.
In Module 4, you’ll explore alternate tunings and different time feels, learn how to shift rhythm using syncopated skips, and dig deeper into the old-time melodic sound that gives clawhammer banjo its character. These ideas aren’t taught as rules, but as tools you can experiment with and make your own.
By the end of this module, the banjo stops feeling like something you have to “work out” and starts feeling like an instrument you can explore freely — following your ear, your curiosity, and your musical instincts.
End result:
You understand alternate tunings and timings, can vary rhythm creatively, explore old-time melodic ideas, and confidently develop your own musical voice on the banjo.
