Well...you will find a plethora of good vibes here!

In fact, the good vibes have multiplied exponentially!

If you hang around long enough....you will be "killed with kindness!"

I observed you also play fiddle!

You might enjoy Dan Levenson's Patreon page.

He has many excellent lessons on clawhammer and fiddle as well.

Hilarie Burhans (another great player/teacher} also teaches clawhammer on Patreon!

Just go to www.patreon.com

I like Tom Collins' Banjo Quest (also on Patreon). He's very thorough and develops tunes in modules, starting from beginning versions through to more advanced versions.

As a way of getting back into the instrument, check out his (free) Banjo Blitz series. Lots of tips, techniques, and exercises in short-form videos (usually around 5 minutes):

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVOnrXYl4LUjQAlDvrrLBzkrkEcmL1OQA

"Clawhammer."
The answer to the question, "How would Jesus play the banjo?"

Lukas Pool has a free banjo course that will get you started in the right direction: ozarkbanjo.com/free-beginner-c...o-lessons
This is how I started, I found him to be extremely easy to follow. Good luck on your endeavor!

quote:

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Originally posted by Spudwheat

Lukas Pool has a free banjo course that will get you started in the right direction: ozarkbanjo.com/free-beginner-c...o-lessons
This is how I started, I found him to be extremely easy to follow. Good luck on your endeavor!

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I am not a big fan of "free lessons "

that ask you for a credit card 

number to join and receive the 

lessons.  I know some will say this 

is the industry standard and a 

common business practice. I am not

questioning the quality of the 

lessons.....just not comfortable with

the credit card request!

I should point out that the video 

alone is free. However,  if you want 

the tab, soundslice, etc....you must

register and submit a card number.

quote:

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Originally posted by Mark Douglas

quote:

---

Originally posted by Spudwheat

Lukas Pool has a free banjo course that will get you started in the right direction: ozarkbanjo.com/free-beginner-c...o-lessons
This is how I started, I found him to be extremely easy to follow. Good luck on your endeavor!

---

 

I am not a big fan of "free lessons "

that ask you for a credit card 

number to join and receive the 

lessons.  I know some will say this 

is the industry standard and a 

common business practice. I am not

questioning the quality of the 

lessons.....just not comfortable with

the credit card request!

I should point out that the video 

alone is free. However,  if you want 

the tab, soundslice, etc....you must

register and submit a card number.

 

 

 

 

---

Thank you for your reply. In my original response I said, "Lukas Pool has  a free beginner course that will get you started in the right direction." This is true. It is FREE. It does not require a credit card to access. In addition, all of the songs he uses in the free course have the tab posted for free. It appears that you have not gone to the link and checked it out. Additionally, when I started this course, I downloaded the same metronome he is using for free. I can't really figure out why you would imply that he requires a credit card, because he doesn't. The original poster said that he wants to learn clawhammer. Lukas Pool is one of, if not the best in this timeframe. He is internationally recognized and gives people who want to start, a good chance to learn the basics. His free course will not turn you into a concert banjoist, but it will set up parameters of good form and practice. Something that is critical to success. A true beginner does not require Sound Slice, although it is helpful. A true beginner does require someone who has outstanding form and knowledge of the banjo, combined with outstanding skills to explain how things work.

quote:

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 In my original response I said, "Lukas Pool has  a free beginner course that will get you started in the right direction." This is true. It is FREE. It does not require a credit card to access. 

---

Your link goes to a page with several beginner videos - not a course. If you want to get to the course, you have to sign up and pay. $20 per month/$200 per year for online instruction seems excessive to me, but if someone is willing to pay this, why not? He does have a bunch of freely available videos on YouTube as well. 

But there are tons of different banjo teachers on YouTube. I found myself flitting back and forth among them, not making the progress I wanted. So I pretty quickly settled on just one.

quote:

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Originally posted by Mickhammer

quote:

---

 In my original response I said, "Lukas Pool has  a free beginner course that will get you started in the right direction." This is true. It is FREE. It does not require a credit card to access. 

---

Your link goes to a page with several beginner videos - not a course. If you want to get to the course, you have to sign up and pay. $20 per month/$200 per year for online instruction seems excessive to me, but if someone is willing to pay this, why not? He does have a bunch of freely available videos on YouTube as well. 

But there are tons of different banjo teachers on YouTube. I found myself flitting back and forth among them, not making the progress I wanted. So I pretty quickly settled on just one.

 

---

Actually, it says "Free Beginner Lessons" followed by step-by-step sequential videos that wil build on new skills and knowledge learned. I find it astounding that because it is not called a "course," you are dismissive of the viability of it. In your reply, you stated that you were flitting back and forth among many videos, whom did you settle on? Is there a fee to access these videos that you are using? If so, what is it?

I merely mentioned Lukas Pool's site because I felt like it would give a true beginner the opportunity to learn a lot (in the basic lessons section) and get a true feel for clawhammer from a master. 

For whatever reason, this simple comment has brought out the micro-lens in two of you who seek to analyze my original comment to the nth degree. 

Additionally, a banjo teacher usually goes for atleast $45 USD/hour. If you can do it for $20/month from an accomplished teacher, it isn't really as expensive as you profess. Being able to review a video over and over and work on technique is extremely helpful. Instead of flitting around, if you *had* just gone with Pool's basic lessons for *free,* in short time, you would've known a few skills and three simple songs. Then, instead of sacrificing one trip to the bistro a month, you could've flitted around and gotten the rest of your education.

In summary, instead of picking apart a simple, also helpful comment; maybe you should be playing your banjo.

quote:

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Originally posted by Spudwheat

For whatever reason, this simple comment has brought out the micro-lens in two of you who seek to analyze my original comment to the nth degree. 

 

---

Now, now, no need to get touchy. I was only trying to help you understand Mark Douglas' reaction, which is similar to mine. The free videos are all extremely basic (the OP is not a beginner, he's "back in the saddle again"). 

I already mentioned my choice of online instruction platform. Far more reasonably priced, provided by a true full-time, in-person teacher, who also has nothing else to sell (other than some tee-shirt merch I suppose), and who also continues to provide free YT instructional videos alongside his paywall (Patreon) stuff. 

I think it's great that there are a lot of options out there to choose from. The OP should have a look at another YT instructor, BanjoSkills, who has a free beginner's course http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIBrITWq_FFyyiIj__idECnI2aptsBHZu and gives lots of free breakdowns of tunes. 

But like I said, it's easier for me to focus on a single instructor.

quote:

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Originally posted by Spudwheat

quote:

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Originally posted by Mickhammer

quote:

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---

 

In summary, instead of picking apart a simple, also helpful comment; maybe you should be playing your banjo.

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@Spudwheat.....

No one is picking apart your comment. Perhaps Mickhamner expressed it better than I did.

Those free lessons (videos) are designed to entice you....pull you in....and motivate you to subscribe to the course. Nothing wrong with that! That's capitalism 101...LOL. 

If the credit card requirement was not there...I certainly would have explored further lessons and maybe even signed up for a month or two.

Lukas is an excellent player/teacher and it's a great resource for someone who has the motivation and the funds.

No criticism of you or the lessons was intended. I'm just an old school dinosaur who hates giving a credit card number to anyone...LOL!