All about the banjo – tips for learning

First steps

Which Banjo for Kids? Banjo Types Explained Simply – Five-string, tenor, six-string or banjo ukulele? How to choose the right banjo for kids, with tips on weight, size and open-back versus resonator.
How to Hold a Banjo and Wear Fingerpicks – How to hold a banjo: sitting position, strap, fretting hand and how thumb and finger picks should sit. Simple steps for kids and beginners.
Banjo String Names and Numbers Made Easy – What are the banjo string names? Numbers 1 to 5, the notes g D G B D and why the fifth string is so short – with an easy memory trick.
How to Tune a Banjo to Open G – Step by Step – Tune your banjo to open G (g D G B D) with a tuner or by ear, string by string. Plus: why you should check the floating bridge position.
Your First Banjo Chords: G, C and D7 – Learn banjo as a beginner: your first three chords G, C and D7 with diagrams, your first chord change and simple songs to play along with.
Easy songs for beginners – with one, two or three chords – Easy songs for beginners and kids, sorted by number of chords: from one-chord songs up to four chords. All in the public domain and ready to play.

Changing strings and caring for your instrument – When to change strings, what to watch out for on ukulele, guitar and banjo, and how to store and look after your instrument so it keeps sounding great.

Learn Banjo Rolls: Forward, Backward and Alternating Thumb – Banjo rolls for beginners: alternating thumb, forward, backward and forward-reverse rolls explained. Start slowly on open strings with a metronome.
Using a Capo on Banjo – and What About the 5th String? – How to use a capo on the banjo: play in new keys without learning new shapes, and how to raise the short fifth string to match.
Sore fingertips? How calluses grow when you start playing – Sore fingertips are normal when you start. Find out how long calluses take to form and how to keep practising a little every day without pain.
Faster chord changes – 6 tricks for beginners – Chord changes still feel slow? Anchor fingers, looking ahead and short change drills make them smoother step by step – on any stringed instrument.
String buzzing or sounding dead? How to fret cleanly – A buzzing or muted string usually comes down to finger position or pressure. Here’s how to find the cause and make every chord ring out clearly.

Banjo Chords: The Most Important Shapes in Open G – The most important banjo chords in open G tuning with diagrams: G, C, D, D7, Em, Am, G7 and F – plus a sensible order to learn them in.
How to Read Chord Symbols: C, Am, G7 and Fmaj7 Explained – Chord symbols made simple: what C, Am, G7, Fmaj7 or Bb mean and how to read them above the lyrics – for kids and beginners on any instrument.

Time Signatures for Beginners: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4 and 6/8 – What is a bar, and how do you count 4/4, 3/4, 2/4 or 6/8? A kid-friendly guide with song examples and tips for clapping and counting along.
How to Practise with a Metronome – Why a metronome is your best practice partner, and how to start slowly and get faster step by step without tensing up. Tips for kids and beginners.

Major and Minor Chords: Hear the Difference – Major sounds bright, minor softer or sadder. A kid-friendly guide to hearing the difference and the single note that makes it.
Note Names for Beginners: C D E F G A B and Sharps and Flats – The seven note names, sharps and flats, and why German speakers call B “H” – explained for kids, with tips for finding notes on your instrument.
How to Transpose a Song into Another Key – What a key is and how to transpose a song so it’s easier to play or more comfortable to sing – with a simple note-ladder trick and an example.
How to Read Tabs: Tablature Explained for Beginners – Read tabs without sheet music: what the lines and numbers mean and how to play melodies string by string. For ukulele, guitar and banjo.
12-Bar Blues for Beginners: The Basic Pattern – The 12-bar blues with just three chords: the pattern, how to count it, first notes to improvise with and how to jam with a backing band. Great for kids.

Practising with kids – keeping the joy of music alive – How parents can support a child learning an instrument: short, regular practice, no pressure, and praise for effort. Practical tips for everyday life.
Instrument class at school – tips for teachers and parents – Ukulele or guitar class: how to manage group tuning, a shared tempo and focused homework, and how the free app can support lessons without accounts.
Learning app with no account: privacy, microphone and no ads – No account, no ads, no tracking: everything stays on the device, and the microphone is only analysed locally. Here is how the free learning app works.