9 Best Banjo Lessons To Learn in 2023

Carson

Published: October 18, 2023

Are you looking to get started with the banjo?

Do you wish to play banjo like a professional?

Confused about where to begin?

We are here to help you kickstart your journey!

Learning to play the banjo can have an unbelievable effect on your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The banjo engages your mind and affects your personal and professional life positively.

The easiest way to start playing the banjo is through online courses for beginners. However, the difficult step is deciding which lesson to opt for. This is why we are here to help.

We put in the effort so you can find the most suitable banjo course. We were able to shortlist the 9 best banjo lessons just for you. Within no time, you’ll learn the style of legends Earl Scruggs, Steve Martin, Roy Clark, Pete Seeger, and more!

Are you ready to learn more about these online banjo courses?

List of the Best 9 Banjo Lessons to Learn Online in 2023

We have listed these top-level banjo lessons in no particular order, but if you want to know which two classes stand out the most for us, then banjo lessons numbers 1 and 2 are your way to go. 

If you are looking for other music-related lessons, you should definitely check out bongo drum lessons, Carnatic music courses, and Ableton live courses.

1. Best Banjo Lesson for Beginners – Udemy
2. Online Banjo Course with Noam Pikelny – Artisticworks
3. Beginner 5 string Banjo Class – Udemy
4. Most Affordable Online Banjo Lessons with Tony Trischka – Artisticworks
5. Ultimate Way to Learn Banjo – Skillshare
6. Expert Online Banjo Lesson to Tune into Excellence – Skillshare
7. Well-Detailed Banjo Class for All Levels – TakeLessons
8. Advanced Techniques for the 5-String Banjo – Udemy
9. Banjo Timing Study to Strumming Success- Banjobenclark 

Detailed Reviews of Best Banjo Lessons You Should Look in 2023

Banjo lessons offer a comprehensive learning experience for aspiring musicians, providing them with the necessary skills to master this unique instrument. This section will delve into a detailed analysis of the top-notch banjo lessons available on the internet

1. Best Banjo Lesson for Beginners – Udemy

This Bestseller Udemy class is designed for newbies who want to learn 5-string banjo from scratch. It surely offers the best banjo lessons for beginners

In this in-depth course, you will gain an in-depth understanding of how to play a beginner banjo and learn core fundamental skills to help you succeed at playing the banjo. Moreover, you’ll learn how to play banjo in time with real musicians in backing tracks, just like playing with a real band.

The banjo class is designed by Lesson Pros, which is well known for its Award Winning Instructors and 100,000+ student enrollments. The founders of Lesson Pros, Chuck and Sandi Millar, have performed and taught banjo all over the US for years. They aim to inspire others to feel more confident in themselves and their banjo-playing skills. 

This bestseller course is divided into 33 sections and takes a total of 13 hours and 37 minutes to complete. It has a total of 111 lectures and 2 articles. 

This is currently available at a sale price of $19.99 and gives you full lifetime access. 

This highly popular and liked banjo course has a rating of 4.8 out of 5.0 and already has 2,376 students enrolled.

The student’s reviews speak about how well-received this course is. Here’s what one student had to say:

I’ve tried several books, and I’m ok with my roles. This is the first time I’ve tried the rolls with backtracking and it was so much fun! I like the way these lessons are set up. It is helping me to get a feel for the sound that I can’t get from a book. I feel like I’ve connected more in a few minutes than I have in months in a book. Thanks!!

Our rating for the lesson is 9.0/9.0.

The Following Topics you Can Expect to Learn:

Eligibility Criteria

• No prior skills are required to learn the banjo, just a ready-to-learn attitude 
• Access to banjo fingerpicks

Strumming from Anywhere! Enroll in the top Online Banjo Lesson Today and Unleash Your Melodic Potential.

2. Online Banjo Course with Noam Pikelny – Artisticworks

Next up is another top banjo lesson on Artistic works, which will give you a headstart on different styles of banjo playing. This lesson is suitable for individuals of any skill level. 

In this detailed lesson, you will learn the foundations of banjo chords and music, the infamous Bluegrass banjo & Beyond, and master the entire banjo neck.

This online lesson is being taught by Noam Pikelny, who is known as an outstanding banjoist of his generation. He has received a large number of awards and titles for his excellence in the banjo.

Noam teaches his singular and Grammy-winning sound in this comprehensive video library of banjo lessons. Under the guidance of such an experienced and renowned instructor, we believe you will definitely learn a lot! 

This lesson is divided into three sections, smoothly catering to learners of All Levels. Moreover, the amazing part of this lesson is the video submission feature using the ArtistWorks Video Exchange Learning platform, where each submission is reviewed, and feedback is provided for further improvement. 

The top-class banjo lesson is available at a monthly subscription of $35, which includes unlimited access to Lessons and Video Exchange Library as well as up to 5 video submissions to your instructor. 

Even though we were unable to find student reviews on this lesson, considering the expertise of the instructor, it is definitely one of the best out there.

Our rating for this comprehensive banjo class is 9.0/9.0.

The Following Topics you Can Expect to Learn:

• Foundational banjo chords
• Master the entire banjo neck
• Essential banjo music
• Bluegrass Banjo & Beyond

Join Dynamic Banjo Lessons Online and Take Your Skills to New Heights.

3. Beginner 5 string Banjo Class – Udemy

This easy banjo lesson is designed for people who are interested in learning the 5-string banjo using the Earl Scruggs style. These are geared toward absolute beginner-level students with no prior music knowledge.

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to play banjo confidently. You will have gained knowledge about banjo picking rolls and how to combine rolls and chords. Moreover, you will learn about popular bluegrass banjo songs like Foggy Mountain Breakdown and Ballad of Jed Clampett. 

The instructor of this great lesson is Darren Cox, an AWS Certified Solution Architect/Developer and music lover. He has an incredible instructor rating of 4.4 out of 5.0, with over 2000 students and two music courses. 

The short lesson can be completed in 2 hours and 30 minutes lessons and is branched into 6 sections with a total of 35 lectures. It also comes with 14 downloadable resources. 

As of now, the top banjo class is on sale and priced at $19.99, making it pocket-friendly and a competitive option amongst others. 

The lesson has a remarkable rating of 4.7 out of 5.0, with 290 student enrollments up till now. However, the number keeps increasing. 

The Following Topics you Can Expect to Learn:

• Foggy Mountain Breakdown
• Ballad of Jed Clampett
• Rocky Top
• Cripple Creek
• Blackberry Blossom (Melodic style) – Intermediate level

The student’s reviews speak about how well-received this course is. Here’s what one student had to say:

“I like how it is broken down for a beginner like me to start on one hand at a time with rolls prior to moving on to cords and finger placement. Gives a beginner like me a real chance for success.”

Our rating for this online banjo lesson is 8.5/9.0 

Eligibility Criteria 

• Access to banjo, banjo Tuner, banjo Finger Picks, and Metronome

Start Your Journey Right! Discover the Best Banjo Lessons for Beginners – Ignite Your Musical Path

4. Most Affordable Online Banjo Lessons with Tony Trischka – Artisticworks

The next lesson on Artistworks is designed for students at all levels. This online banjo course is a deep dive into the world of single-string banjo. 

This well-detailed banjo course will cover the 5-string banjo rolls, help you explore the banjo tabs, and give you solo and ensemble tips. It gives you the unique opportunity to interview the bluegrass icons and learn more about banjo playing.

This lesson gives students unlimited access to in-depth banjo instructions, tablature, backing tracks, interviews, and performances with dozens of bluegrass legends.

Moreover, the class encourages interaction among students who can access the video exchange library. 

The lesson is being taught by Tony Trischka, who has been an inspiration for countless bluegrass and acoustic musicians. His expertise as music director for the documentary “Give Me the Banjo” will give you an insight into the world of music and direction.

Tony has taught banjo lessons at ArtistWorks since 2009 and started a global learning community with his Video Exchange library.

This top-level banjo class is available at USD 35 per month. This is pricier than the other options but gives you unique opportunities to excel with banjo playing. It also includes unlimited access to lessons, Video Exchange Library, and a music theory workshop, allowing up to 5 video submissions to the teacher.

The Following Topics you Can Expect to Learn:

• 5-string banjo rolls
• Solo & ensemble tips
• Lots of banjo tabs
• Interviews with Bluegrass icons

We could not find the course’s student enrollments, ratings, and comments; however, with all the course has to offer, we believe it will teach you a lot.

Our rating for this top-rated banjo class is 8.0/9.0.

Eligibility Criteria  

• You need to own a 5-string banjo for this course

Strum with Confidence! Dive into the top-notch Online Banjo Lessons for Beginners and Thrive Musically

5. Ultimate Way to Learn Banjo – Skillshare

The next top-rated banjo lesson we have on our lineup by Skillshare is perfect for beginners who are interested in learning banjo from scratch. 

In this short lesson, you will learn about crucial rolls of banjo, like the alternating thumb, forward-reverse, and forward rolls. You will also gain knowledge on how to wear your picks and what to watch for with your tone and timing.

The instructor for this course is Jody Hughes, who has taught and played music for over 25 years. He is 3 time Georgia State banjo and Guitar contest champion. He loves to teach and work with people from all backgrounds and ages. He aims to help people reach their musical goals. 

This online banjo class which is divided into 33 interactive lessons, will take you 3 hours and 28 minutes to complete. It also includes a hands-on class project which ensures maximum learning. 

This course is available for an affordable rate of USD 2 per month and gives you access to other Skillshare courses as well, which is a great catch!

The course has 614 student enrollments already, and the number keeps on increasing. Moreover, 60% of the students who took the course felt like their expectations had been exceeded. 

The Following Topics you Can Expect to Learn:

• Introduction to the Course (1:32)
• How to Wear Banjo Picks (4:11)
• Basic Right Hand Tips (2:38)
• 1st Right Hand Technique: Pinches (2:28)
• Alternating Thumb Roll (5:31)
• Forward Reverse Roll (5:15)
• How to Practice Rolls (2:59)
• Your First Chord G Major (0:57)
• Left Hand Pointers (1:39)
• Your 2nd Chord – C Major (2:40)
• Your 3rd Chord – D7 (1:55)
• Putting All Three Chords Together (2:20)
• 4th Chord – E Minor Chord (3:03)
• Forward Banjo Roll (3:32)
• Cumberland Gap (7:55)
• Cripple Creek Part ONE (4:04)
• Cripple Creek Part TWO (4:07)
• Ornamentations: Slides for Cripple Creek (6:47)
• Adding a Slide to Cumberland Gap (1:11)
• Adding a Hammer-On to Cumberland Gap (3:19)
• Forward Roll Level Two (4:20)
• Nine Pound Hammer (9:56)
• Train 45 Prerequisites: Foggy Mt Roll (3:47)
• Train 45 Prerequisite: Adding Hammer-Ons (4:06)
• Train 45 Prerequisite: 302 LICK (2:56)
• Train 45 Prerequisite: TAG ROLL (2:33)
• Adding the LEFT HAND to the TAG ROLL (2:09)
• Train 45 Banjo (7:17)
• Left Hand Fretting Technique (3:15)
• Left-Hand Advice for Increasing Speed (5:01)
• Barre Chords (5:50)
• Shady Grove (17:28)
• Farewell Blues (10:55)

Based on reviews, the course is pretty amazing. This is the feedback given by students: 

“This class exceeded my expectations!

Great teacher! I bought an extra month of skillshare for him exclusively.” 

Our rating for this course is 8.5/9.0.

Banjo Adventures Begin Here! Start with Engaging Beginners Banjo Lessons and Unfold Your Talent

6. Expert Online Banjo Lesson to Tune into Excellence – Skillshare

Up next, we have a beginner-level banjo course by Easy Steps on SkillShare. By the end of this banjo online lesson, you will be familiar with the types and parts of the banjo and find yourself playing the claw-hammer style to some famous tunes. You will be amazed at how quickly you can jam with other musicians or play by yourself for your friends.

The course instructor, Dan Harville, is known to make banjo lessons engaging. His clarity of instructions will have you playing the easiest stringed instruments very soon!

This short 21-lesson on SkillShare is available on a subscription basis, priced at $2 per month, which gives you the freedom to learn at your own pace. The duration is 1 hour and 36 minutes, with a hands-on project for you at the end to practice your skills.

The banjo lesson has received stellar reviews from the enrolled students, with 100% of them rating the class to have met and exceeded their expectations.

With 92 students enrolled in the course, it seems to be gaining popularity rapidly.

The Following Topics you Can Expect to Learn:

• Introduction To Clawhammer Banjo (2:07)
• Class Project (0:20)
• Types Of Banjos (4:48)
• Parts Of The Banjo (3:19)
• Strings Of The Banjo (1:24)
• Tuning The Banjo (5:44)
• Strumming Thumb (9:08)
• Strumming Hit (6:44)
• Strumming Strum (6:23)
• Strumming Thumb Toss (3:20)
• Faux Bass Line on the Banjo (2:19)
• Chords Music Theory for the Banjo (7:44)
• Your Finger Anchor And D7 Chord (11:13)
• Cowboy Chords on the Banjo (10:25)
• Chords Patterns 1-4-5 (5:16)
• F Chord (1:31)
• Jim Hogg Road (1:48)
• Will The Circle Be Unbroken (0:53)
• Polly Wolly Doodle Key Of C (4:27)
• Sitting On Top Of The World (5:24)
• Summary (2:11)

We found positive comments for the course. Here’s what some of them had to say about the course:

“Yes, this class met my expectations. That was a lot of fun, thank you!”

We will rate this course 8.5/9.0.

Discover Your Best Way to Learn Banjo! Join for Comprehensive Lessons and Elevate Your Playing

7. Well-Detailed Banjo Class for All Levels – TakeLessons

The next class in our lineup is a jackpot for individuals with some or no prior knowledge of the banjo. This well-detailed will teach students at all skill levels. Additionally, you will be taught music theory. By the end of the class, you will be amazed at the quick progress you make with the banjo.

Jason M. is teaching this, whose teaching experience since 1996 for all levels, from beginner to advanced, will help you learn at your own pace. His lessons can be arranged according to your schedule. Jason’s experience with the guitar, ukulele, bass, banjo, and keyboard enhances a student’s strength in music and art theory, ear training, and memorization.

Jason offers in-person and online lessons worldwide, leaving no stone unturned! 

These banjo lessons are available for $30 for 30 minutes. Varying prices, time slots, and special offers are available for students.

Students have rated this lesson stellar, 4.9 out of 5.0. With 106 reviews from students, we believe the class has a lot to offer.

We looked through student comments and found positive reviews. Here’s what they said about the banjo class:

“Jason is seriously the best. He cares about you and your goals and helps you reach them successfully. He’s not only an incredibly talented artist, but he’s also encouraging along the way! I’d recommend him to anyone!”

We rate this course 8.0/9.0.

Make sure to check out the banjo lesson!

8. Advanced Techniques for the 5-String Banjo – Udemy

Next up in our lineup is an advanced-level course recommended for learners with good prior knowledge about the 5-string banjo and who wish to take their playing to new levels.

This informative lesson will offer you a great deal of learning such as playing challenging arrangements of tunes, hot tricks for improvisation, and adding color to your solos. Moreover, you will study the Diatonic Triads to help you understand the geography of the fretboard and advanced right-hand patterns so you can get out of the same old habits. 

The instructor for this lesson is a famous professional performer and instructor, Christopher Ryan Elliott. He has been teaching banjo for over 15 years and has taught at banjo camps around the world. Additionally, he is also the winner of the 2007 Telluride and RockyGrass band competition and is the 2007 RockyGrass banjo champion.

Spread across 7 sections and 22 lectures this amazing lesson can be completed in 4 hours and 11 minutes. It comes with 21 downloadable resources and 4 hours of on-demand video.

All of this is available for full lifetime access currently at a discounted price of $19.99. This is definitely a bargain!

The course has a great overall rating of 4.8 out of 5.0. Although it has only 61 students enrolled, the lesson content will help you advance your banjo skills very quickly.

Overall, students love the banjo class. Here is what they have to say about it:

“Excellent course. Good combination of theory along with some great tunes to learn at the end. This is the second course I took with him and I already signed up for my third. Still pickin’ and grinnin’.”

Our rating for this course is 8.0/9.0.

Eligibility Criteria

• Know basic rolls and chords
• Access to  5-string banjo and finger picks

Strings of Knowledge Await! Join Banjo Lessons and Embrace the World of Melodic Mastery

9. Banjo Timing Study to Strumming Success- Banjobenclark

Last on our lineup is another lesson perfect for beginners interested in the fundamentals of studying banjo timing. 

This interactive lesson by Banjobenclark will surely step up your banjo game. It covers banjo timings, note values, the blue glass genre, and a lot more. 

The instructor for this lesson is Ben Clark who is the founder of the platform banjobenclark. 

Ben, in his career, toured the world and made dozens of national TV appearances with Taylor Swift playing banjo, mandolin, dobro, guitar, and piano. He launched BanjoBenClark.com in 2011 and aims to see his students learn and grow. 

The lesson is divided into 4 parts and interactive exercises to ensure maximum learning. Moreover, it also comes with several downloadable resources. All of this will cost you a one-time price of $10.  

We could not find the course’s student enrollments and ratings, however, we found positive reviews for the course. This is what students loved about the class:

“Ben – As a beginner, I most appreciated the suggested practice exercises. As I am learning the various roles the idea of slowly stepping up the speed will help me better develop my picking speed and provide a good measure of where I stand. So – thanks.”

Our rating for the course is 8.0/9.0.

Factors To Choose the Best Banjo Lessons

After thoughtful consideration, comprehensive research, life experience, and the most important challenges of the eLearning industry, the components below were deliberately constructed.

• Tutor Rating
• Course Objectives Are Cleared or Not
• Depth of Course
• Recourses and Material
• Who can take this course? Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced Level
• Details of the course
• Student Reviews
• Course Duration
• Price

Conclusion 

Are you a passionate music lover searching for a platform to fulfill your banjo passion simply and easily? Do you find playing banjo fascinating but are unsure where to begin? Or are you looking for a way to improve your physical and mental well-being? 

Well, you are at the right place. All you need is to enroll in banjo Lessons online. These top-notch banjo lessons online have been designed specifically to equip you with the skills you need as per your current level. 

Among these 9 best online banjo lessons, we highly recommend courses 1 and 2 for their popularity and the expertise of instructors. 

Enroll now and check out for yourself!

If you enjoyed these banjo lessons and are looking for other music-related lessons, you should definitely check out bass guitar lessons and online drum lessons.