When I was about seven my big brother got a banjo. He was 16. He took a few lessons and then took his banjo and ran away from home. We didn't see him again for about four years. By then he played pretty well, partly because he didn't have the money for entertainment, so playing was his way of entertaining himself and also because jamming with friends was a good way to socialize for cheap. He took the GED and then put himself through college and got an engineering job for decent pay, which meant that he could afford to have a nice instrument made by Wildwood. He had a radio show on the local NPR station in his spare time where he interviewed local musicians and occasionally played banjo live with friends. He'd come a long way from being a homeless runaway and wanted to be involved in our lives again, which was special for me because I was growing up and enjoyed getting to know him and sharing his interest in acoustic music. He was killed in a car accident when I was 15 and his banjo sat untouched in my mom's sewing room from 1986 until a few weeks ago when I asked her if I could have it and learn to play. She shipped it to me and now I'm done staring at it so I can give it a try.
I have it tuned and. It. Sounds. Awesome. I have picks that fit and two old bluegrass books. I don't expect I'll sound like him because he received all the musical talent in the family but I would like to play because I like the sound and because it makes me feel connected to him after all these years. Besides, I've moved from the beach to the Bluegrass State and it seems fitting.
Any ideas where to start? I can't really afford lessons, but I can commit to a half hour a day of practice. (but really not much more. I have eight kids, six of which I homeschool and two under five who are climbing on me if I sit still very long.)