Comedian Steve Martin once said it is impossible to play a depressing song on the banjo. Once I learned how to fingerpick the guitar as a classical guitar major in college, learning the banjo was a pretty simple transition. As a result, I learned quickly because on guitar, I'd already done any hard work needed to have a fun and easy payoff with the banjo. I have recorded with the banjo and played for fun with other musicians in the years following, and am glad I took the time to learn to play, since it is an instrument that always makes people smile.
    The hardest part of learning to play the banjo is learning to fingerpick. Once you learn this skill, everything else becomes a bit easier to learn and make music with. So after teaching the basic chord shapes, I make this a priority and apply it to playing with songs you like. In fact, there doesn't have to be a banjo in a song for you to be able to play along with it- chords are a universal factor with guitar, piano, and any other instrument that plays more than one note at a time.
    Although the banjo is most often associated with the musical style of bluegrass, it is featured in many country, crossover country, southern rock, classic rock, and even pop songs since its sound lends a high energy feel to music wherever it goes. Musicians from The Eagles to Taylor Swift to Led Zeppelin have used the banjo in their music. If this kind of sound and musical feel appeals to you, give banjo lessons a try!