The deep melodies of American folk music are carried by the banjo, an instrument known for its distinctive twang and contagious rhythm. The banjo is a musical instrument with deep roots in history that is adored by artists all over the world for its charm and adaptability.
Discovering the world of banjo playing and the best banjo online lessons is a rewarding experience that connects you with a rich cultural legacy, whether you’re an experienced musician ready to explore new creative directions or an aspiring player entranced by its distinctive sound. At HandsSounds we believe ArtistWorks has the best banjo online lessons.
With the development of technology, the field of music education has seen a significant transition recently, ushering in a new era of online music education. Anyone may now take high-quality banjo lessons, regardless of their location or available time thanks to the digital era. Online banjo lessons are an appealing alternative for students of all skill levels because they provide a number of benefits.
The flexibility of scheduling their own time allows students taking online banjo classes to study at their own speed and leisure. It is simpler for students to juggle their enthusiasm for the banjo with other commitments thanks to pre-recorded lessons and live sessions that allow them to review difficult methods or acquire new ideas at their convenience.
Geographical restrictions no longer prevent students from studying with the world’s top banjo players and instructors. Online platforms give users access to a large number of qualified instructors who share their knowledge and distinctive teaching methods with students all around the world. Students can select a teacher who aligns with their learning preferences thanks to the pool’s diversity.
Contrary to popular belief, online courses often feature real-time feedback, video conferencing, and discussion boards, all of which contribute to a lively and engaged learning environment. Individualised instruction and mentoring can benefit students’ musical development.
Because in-person instruction is more expensive, traditional music courses can be pricey. Online banjo classes frequently offer more affordable options, enabling students to obtain top-notch instruction without breaking the bank.
The banjo has a lengthy and varied history. It is thought to have originated in West Africa and been introduced to America during the transatlantic slave trade. With time, it developed into a fundamental component of traditional folk, bluegrass, country, and even jazz music. It has become a representation of American musical legacy thanks to its distinctive sound and rhythmic talents, and music lovers all over the world are still drawn to it.
Beyond just the enjoyment of making music, learning to play the banjo has many other advantages. Its unusual strumming and plucking movements improve hand dexterity and coordination. Playing the banjo is also a wonderful opportunity to connect with others, convey feelings, and feel fulfilled by making music.
The banjo has a special place in the hearts of both artists and listeners since it is such a compelling instrument. Aspiring players now have the chance to embrace this valued legacy and begin on a musical journey that transcends time and distance thanks to the flexibility and accessibility of online banjo training. The banjo’s alluring tones are waiting for those who are ready to explore the world of this cherished instrument, whether you’re hoping to master challenging bluegrass songs or simply looking for a new creative outlet.
Best 10 Banjo Online Lessons
1: ArtistWorks – Banjo Lessons With Tony Trischka
We’re all appreciative of ArtistWorks, an online learning platform with a wealth of music lessons. ArtistWorks has a comprehensive online course with the outstanding Tony Trischka for banjo lessons.
Features:
Tony Trischka, one of the best banjo players in the world, has released a number of CDs, worked with musicians like Peter Rowan and Stacy Phillips, and served as the music director for the documentary “Give Me the Banjo”. He will guide you through the fundamentals or help you master complex banjo techniques as your online coach.
When you enrol in his course, you’ll get access to a huge video exchange library with hundreds of lectures and enlightening conversations between Tony and his students. You can submit your own work and get immediate feedback by sending up to 5 videos.
Lessons in this course are organised and linear, but you still have the option to learn at your own pace, which is another advantage. Even video lessons can be slowed down or looped to fit your learning style. There are Old Time Fingerpicking, Celtic Tunes, and Classic Style Banjo series, as well as Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced lesson categories.
Unquestionably, ArtistWorks provides some of the top online banjo training. After finishing the course with Tony Trischka, you’ll have a broad understanding of music and a solid foundation upon which to build.
Unique Points:
You will have the opportunity to take lessons from well-known musicians through the ArtistWorks platform. You will learn the banjo with Tony Trischka, which will undoubtedly be an unforgettable experience. After all, he is regarded as the founder of contemporary bluegrass. For players of all skill levels looking for extensive pre-recorded lessons with detailed and knowledgeable supervision, Tony Trischka offers ArtistWorks banjo classes.
2: Udemy
Udemy is an online learning site that offers music courses with pre-recorded video lessons. It functions similarly to ArtistWorks. However, Udemy courses are typically shorter and less expensive as a result.
Features:
Video lessons and digital materials like PDFs and articles are both included in Udemy’s banjo courses. The descriptions in their profiles will give you a good idea of what to expect, but different instructors provide varied teaching methods, styles, and content. Despite claims to the contrary in some course descriptions, Udemy mostly provides online banjo tuition for beginners.
Beginner 5 String Banjo – Learn Banjo From Scratch is one of the well-liked courses that includes in-depth lessons on the fundamentals of banjo rolls, chords, and pinches. You will learn the fundamentals of banjo playing through step-by-step instruction. You may also sign up for specific Udemy courses, like the tenor banjo school with a guide to performing traditional Irish music or the old-style banjo course with a focus on up-picking.
Unique Points:
Less comprehensive and more focused courses are available on Udemy. You’ll be able to enrol in sessions catered to a certain level or learning style. For those who are ready to do some research before selecting a course and teacher, Udemy offers excellent banjo instruction. There are classes for all skill levels, but most of them are geared towards beginners.
3: ArtistWorks – Banjo Lessons With Noam Pikelny
Additionally, Noam Pikelny, a Grammy winner, provides a brand-new online banjo course through ArtistWorks. Lessons for the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels of the course are included.
Features:
Along with winning accolades in the bluegrass and banjo genres, Noam founded the celebrated string group Punch Brothers. Unquestionably one of the greatest, he aids students from all around the world in honing their single-string banjo playing in this course.
Both theory and song-playing are covered in Noam’s lessons. For those who are just starting out, the Beginner part is excellent (and crucial), and it will guide you as you advance to more difficult techniques and tunes. You will learn about diatonic chords, a melodic style, and a single string in the Intermediate level. After finishing it, you’ll be prepared for more difficult courses that cover single-string triplets, closed melodic playing, and other topics.
Like in every ArtistWorks course, you’ll have the opportunity to send your teacher a video for feedback. The Video Exchange Library houses each response. The previous courses are flexible and comprehensive enough to provide you a solid foundation in banjo playing, even though this course doesn’t offer any further series of lessons. Any aspiring banjo player would be lucky to have the chance to study with someone like Noam.
Unique Points:
The teacher is certainly the major difference between this course and others. If you like the music of Noam Pikelny, a fantastic artist, you’ll love this course. Anyone looking for a structured online training that will move them from a beginner to a more advanced ability level can enrol in Noam Pikelny’s online banjo school.
4: Banjo Teacher
An online learning resource called Banjo Teacher teaches the foundations of playing the bluegrass banjo. The website’s developer is professional banjoist Ross Nickerson, who is also the author of the book “The Banjo Encyclopaedia”.
Features:
Although the Banjo Teacher website is jam-packed with information, once you get the feel of it, you’ll find both free content and membership choices. You may purchase excellent bluegrass banjo tuition for beginners. The course includes a book, DVDs, and audio files to cover all essential fundamental topics. You will learn how to play banjo rolls, read tablature, and use the right and left hands properly.
On DVD and CD, songs can be played at a slow, medium, or rapid tempo. Play-along practice tracks and various bonus features are also included. This programme will be helpful to advanced banjo players as well because it contains instruction on difficult banjo songs, licks, and arrangements. Whatever your level of proficiency, Banjo Teacher will teach you all the fundamentals and assist you in developing a productive practice schedule.
Unique Points:
The website Banjo Teacher is incredibly adaptable. Everything you need may be found there, including reviews and online lessons as well as banjos for sale. For learners of all skill levels, Banjo Teacher is an excellent resource.
5: Banjo Compass
An excellent resource for online banjo instruction is Banjo Compass. The website provides both free introductory banjo lessons and paid classes with more in-depth banjo tuition.
Features:
If you’re just learning the banjo, you should first take the free lessons. Additionally, they will introduce you to the platform’s instructional strategies. Geoff Hohwald, a skilled banjo instructor, teaches the Switching Chords course. He will show you how to play two fundamental chord shapes and how to effectively transition between them.
Basic neck licks, clawhammer licks, and rhythms are all topics covered in more free banjo lessons. When you’re prepared to advance, you can buy various instruction packages. A book, courses on video, and audio are all included in each bundle.
Additional introductory courses and sessions on more complex banjo techniques are available for purchase. Geoff will teach you many useful ideas through a step-by-step curriculum and show you how to play well-known bluegrass classics.
Packages with song instruction are also offered if you want to diversify your repertoire; they are primarily centred on traditional banjo songs. Additionally, you’ll have the ability to hone your time by practising along with jam tracks.
Unique Points:
The Banjo Compass site, in contrast to many others, provides helpful free courses. They might be a terrific place to start or an additional resource for learning. Beginner and intermediate banjo players should use Banjo Compass. To give them a try before buying, the website offers free introductory banjo lessons.
6: Ross Nickerson Bluegrass Banjo
Another excellent way to study the banjo online is provided by Ross Nickerson, the banjoist and creator of the platform Banjo Teacher. The program’s goal is to impart the proper 5-string banjo technique.
Features:
Ross Nickerson, a seasoned banjo player who is passionate about instructing banjo students all across the world, will be your teacher. You can watch the sample video before buying any course on the website. There are various beginner course options available, each with a different pricing and the amount of lessons included.
Fundamentals like how to pick the right direction, left-hand skills, and sliding are covered in all introductory courses. Lessons for the intermediate and advanced levels include techniques for developing speed in your right hand as well as more intricate arrangements. CDs and song tutorials are also available for purchase on the website.
Unique Points:
Courses that merely promise to teach you how to play the banjo are readily available on several platforms. On the other hand, Ross Nickerson’s website provides thorough course descriptions that let you know exactly what you’ll learn in each lesson. You can then decide for sure if this course is right for you. Beginners and intermediate banjo players can use this e-learning platform.
7: Bradley Laird’s Banjo Lessons
You will learn how to play the banjo using an engaging and hands-on method with Bradley Laird’s banjo lessons. For students, the website offers free podcasts, materials, and banjo lessons.
Features:
An accomplished banjo musician and instructor, Bradley Laird chose to give out his skills online. The 20 lessons in his Beginning Bluegrass Banjo course include fundamentals like reading tablature and playing the thumb-pinch. For the most part, they have text and visual help.
However, you ought to look at Bradley’s video lessons if you’ve never played the banjo before. To perfect your first notes, you must watch someone else perform. Although the production quality of these videos isn’t the best, they nonetheless provide a tonne of helpful advice and straightforward directions that can help you become a better banjo player.
On the website, you can buy Bradley’s eBooks as well. They are reasonably priced and a good addition for anyone starting out on the banjo musical path.
Unique Points:
This website was made by Bradley Laird because he loves music so much and you can sense that. His website offers useful teachings with a personal touch while lacking modern tools and capabilities. For anyone looking for free online banjo tuition, this website is fantastic. It is a trustworthy source with video tutorials and downloadable materials.
8: Lone Hand Western Banjo Lessons
The Itasca School of Folk Music created these online banjo classes. Videos and texts are used to present content, which is appropriate for all skill levels and age groups.
Features:
This historically accurate website offers free banjo instruction for newcomers. These lessons will help you get started and cover the fundamentals, including how to read tablature, play up and down the neck, and the basic rolls and chords of the banjo. Traditional bluegrass (Scruggs Style) and melodic playing techniques are covered in lessons.
The ability to schedule private online banjo lessons using Skype is the platform’s greatest perk. You’ll be able to advance more quickly with a tailored approach and honest feedback. Although you can learn how to play the banjo by viewing video tutorials, private online lessons with an instructor let you identify your areas of weakness and discover the most effective strategies to strengthen them.
Unique Points:
The history and customs of the Old West are the focus of this website. This is evident everywhere, even in the banjo lessons, which were developed with traditional bluegrass in mind, and in the layout of the platform. For those looking for online private banjo classes, this music education website is the ideal option. Anyone who requires an additional learning resource might also benefit from the website.
9: Peghead Nation
A fantastic instructional resource that was developed by banjo experts is called Peghead Nation. With a monthly membership, you can gain access to a certain course.
Features:
A top-notch website with lessons for several instruments is called Peghead Nation. Additionally, it offers news, reviews, and videos of equipment and instrument demonstrations. The website is simple to use and offers play-along tracks, notation guidelines, sample lessons, and a beginner’s section.
Any banjo course you choose will have a clear description of what to expect if you purchase it when you click on it. For instance, Bluegrass Banjo with Bill Evans has 87 lessons, 71 songs, and content devoted to the bluegrass masters’ respective styles, such as Earl Scruggs and JD Crowe.
Exercises in the clawhammer technique, improvisation, and playing in the fashion of the modern three-finger banjo are all topics covered in other courses. All videos are shot in high definition with numerous camera angles so you can see both hands up close. That is crucial, especially for newcomers.
Unique Points:
Peghead Nation provides instruction centred on various banjo playing techniques and styles. You can enrol in bluegrass banjo classes, instruction on the single-string banjo, exercises on the clawhammer technique, and more. There are many different lessons available. Peghead Nation offers online banjo lessons for beginners, but the website is also excellent for intermediate players looking to pick up a new trick or style.
10: Deering Banjo Lessons
An attractive website called Deering provides instructions and lessons for the banjo online. It is an online banjo playing community with a range of features.
Features:
The Deering platform is supported by a number of well-known banjo players, notably Tony Trischka, who is well-known. Free banjo courses like the Clawhammer Method course are also available. You can learn the fundamentals of clawhammer technique from banjoist Barry Hunn in the video lesson that is accessible on the website.
With banjoist David Bandrowski, you can also learn how to play the tenor banjo in the classic jazz manner. From your first chords to strumming patterns, chord voicings, and arpeggios, he will guide you in his video series. You’ll learn a few melodies from him as well.
Deering Live, a location for live video streams including interviews with banjo masters, is what is really cool about this website. There, you may watch every episode that has already shown and find out what will happen during the following live session. In addition, the website has a blog and a way for you to get in touch with the Deering team for assistance with whatever you might require.
Unique Points:
One of the nicest and most distinctive aspects of the Deering Banjo platform is Deering Live. On their website, you can simply catch up on all the episodes and be motivated by accomplished banjo players. For all fans of the banjo, Deering is a fantastic resource for knowledge. It provides means to connect with the community of other banjo players in addition to a number of free tutorials.
Choosing The Best Banjo Online Lessons:
Fortunately, there are a lot of seasoned banjo players who are happy to teach new banjo players from all over the world. Check who exactly is behind the platform before selecting it as your online learning resource. You can get a good sense of the tutor’s teaching style and methodology by watching sample videos or taking advantage of free lessons. It’s critical to identify a learning motivator.
You should also look at the content. Make sure the programme has a level-appropriate style available. For instance, beginners should begin with 5-string banjos. Read evaluations from other students if you’re searching for advanced material because occasionally you’ll get intermediate lessons for something you thought would be more advanced.
Online courses have an extremely valuable quality that teaches you how to practise, especially if you’re a beginner. If you master the right techniques for exercising, you’ll be able to do it on your own and continue to get better at playing even after the course is over.
Advantages Of Banjo Online Lessons
Traditional banjo lessons and individual teachers can be a little hard to find in some places because the banjo isn’t as common as a guitar or a piano. However, it doesn’t matter where you learn from with online banjo lessons.
Additionally, you’ll have the ability to choose when to practise, which will help you discipline yourself and improve your time management skills. You must also pay close attention in online sessions if you want to replicate the teacher’s actions and advance. Your ability to focus will undoubtedly improve as a result of this learning process, which will also put you in the advantageous “flow mode”.
You’ll feel better overall if you develop a practice schedule and discover how to enter the flow state. Online music courses also provide students a feeling of accomplishment. Therefore, exercise patience, perseverance, and don’t give up when things get difficult.
But there shouldn’t be any issues if you take online banjo lessons. The top online banjo lesson developers and instructors are passionate, skilled specialists who know how to guide you in the proper direction. All you have to do is put your trust in them and take their advice.
Playing the banjo has various mental and physical advantages as well, such as bettering coordination. It is commonly known that music-making generally has many positive effects on both physical and mental health.
How We Evaluate The Best Banjo Online Lessons
Based on firsthand knowledge and extensive investigation, HandsSounds writes evaluations that are truthful and factual. As a result, the HandsSounds review method for online banjo lessons is completely editorially independent.
Standard Of Content/tutors – Are the lessons simple to understand? What is the video quality like? Are professors simple to comprehend? Do they present directions that are clear? Do they offer information in a pleasant way?
Variety Of Content – What topics or abilities does the platform emphasise? Does it offer lessons for more experienced players? Does it have enough content, music, and tutorials if it’s only appropriate for beginners?
Helpful Aspects – Does the programme support numerous devices? Is it possible to receive constructive criticism for your playing? Is the service adaptable and configurable? Does there exist features like the capability to loop or slow down video?
Ease Of Use And Setup – How simple is it to download and register for the programme? Is it simple to use? Is it simple to navigate the content?
Conclusion:
Learning the banjo will be enjoyable and rewarding if you choose the correct online course. Gaining a solid basis on which to develop will be simple. You have a choice between private online lessons and pre-recorded video courses, so you can pick the one that works best for you and learn rapidly.
You’ll soon see why studying the banjo online has become so popular, along with the fact that you’ll have renowned banjoists as your instructors. We sincerely hope that our list assisted you in making a wise decision and beginning this exciting new journey!
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A music enthusiast who has taken his passion for music to the next level by starting his own blog. He spends most of his free time listening to new albums, attending concerts, and researching emerging artists.
What sets John apart from other music bloggers is his ability to connect with his readers on a personal level. His writing style is warm and engaging, making it easy for readers to relate to him as both a fellow music lover and someone who truly cares about the art form.
John’s love for music started at a young age when he discovered classic rock through his father’s vinyl collection. Since then, he has expanded his musical horizons to include everything from indie rock to hip hop and beyond.
As a blogger, John has found a way to share his love of music with others while also providing valuable insights into the industry.