I’m looking to learn but can’t make my mind up if I want to learn clawhammer or Scruggs style. I’ll just be playing around the house and around the camp fire at my in-laws cabin. What style do you play? Is one style easier to learn than the other?

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Any banjo players here?

I tried several times long ago.
Despite having learned a handful of other instruments, I failed miserably on banjo.

Get a really good teacher, practice daily, or you may be given the same advise as my piano teacher finally advised when she jettisoned me: you can probably find a more productive way to spend your time, sir. Have the decency to not waste mine!

I've had some banjo friends who are amazed I flunked out of banjo class when they found it so invigorating.

Good luck.

Bought mine when I was living away from my family for work. A basic model from Deering.

I started out learning the three finger Scruggs style and once I felt I was decent, I transitioned to learning claw hammer. I currently practice both.

My one piece of advice is that if you want to be good enough to play around the campfire and have people know what you are playing is to practice everyday regardless of what style you start out with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuqBUTDEir0

One of my oldest friends is a killer banjo player. He shared this.

You buy the banjo, tune it up, put on your favorite banjo record, and start making noise. Yer musical interests will dictate your style.

Melodic banjo is hardest, I think. In the end, it's like the master chess player who refuses to play checkers with the old checker pro. Just like the blues, the simpler you make it, the harder it is to copy.

If I’m ever in Clayton, GA I may have to look up Billy Redden, if he’s still working at the Walmart. I rewatched Deliverance the other month with the son.

The creator of ‘dueling banjos’ sued the movie for using the theme without throwing some $$ his way, won as I recall.

Search YouTube, or country music record shops, for any recordings by Red, White, and Blue(Grass). Listen to Dale Whitcomb's banjo. Whoo-hoo!

Also, Ginger Boatwright, who fronted the Red, White, and Blue(Grass), did some recordings with the late Doug Dillard (you might remember him from the Andy Griffith show). These are worth a listen, for great banjo work.

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Originally posted by techguy:
I’m looking to learn but can’t make my mind up if I want to learn clawhammer or Scruggs style.

Doesn't his depend on how many teeth you have lost?

I've played guitar for a long time and a few years ago I started playing around with a banjo. Scruggs style sounds impressive and its a must if you want to sit in with bluegrass players but it can be harder to learn. Its an advanced style and takes awhile to build up speed and accuracy.
The various old time music styles were definitely easier to learn for me. A two finger, thumb and index finger style is the most intuitive way to get started making some noise.
There's a guy on YouTube named Clifton Hicks who does a good job of demonstrating old time styles.

I don't play banjo, but I'll certainly echo the play everyday....even if only for a few minutes.

A joke we heard from a banjo player in a Bluegrass band:

What’s the difference between an onion and a banjo?

Nobody cries when you chop up a banjo.

It has been my impression that clawhammer is easier. I play a little mandolin and guitar, but I am not a banjo player. So, my impression may be all washed up.

I enjoy both styles. Good luck and have fun.

There is an Earl Scruggs 'learn the banjo' book that I used when I wanted to learn banjo picking.

I thought it was a very good tutorial book. It starts off with the basic stuff of notes, the strings, how to pick, etc. I would strongly recommend it.

I got all the way to Cripple Creek but I didn't make it to Foggy Mountain Breakdown when that darn Navy thing kept me too busy. The other posters are correct in saying you have to practice a little bit every day.

Don't play it, always wanted to.