TOPIC: What would you recommend

Time is the only thing any of us have. No matter how long or short life is it is just time, and music may just extend that time. So yes she should get Jens' DVD, and she should explore, and stretch. Never know where she might go.

The most important thing is that she plays something she likes. Playing one style or another because it's easier is silly if that's not the music you want to make. If someone gave me a piano but told me the only thing I'd ever be able to play on it was hip-hop, I'd sell the piano.

Don't discourage her from Scruggs style picking if that's what she expects banjo music to sound like. The classic advice holds true -- start slowly, concentrate on playing clean albeit slow, and in a few weeks she can have a couple of tunes friends will recognize. Maybe not FMB or Dear Old Dixie, but Yankee Doodle, Buffalo Gals, and Goodnight Ladies can all be learned pretty quickly to some recognizable degree.

Give her someone to play along with, that's the best help you can offer.

Great advice!

I guess the key thing is interpreting what the new banjo players meaning of "I dont have that much time" is. If that means that she has a busy life and can't practice much, that's an issue. If on the other hand if she is a pesssimist in general and doesn't thing she has much time (sic.life left) that is silly.

Having viewed the Kruger beginning banjo DVD I think it is great to get the beginner making some music and not being a slave to TABS. They can also move on to Scruggs or other methods after they get their feet wet. It is important to make music, enjoy and be able to get around the fingerboard.

You've gotten some great advise from a couple of seasoned banjo players and of course you have your own learning experiences with the banjo. However, it is an omnimus responsibility to advise/mentor a novice banjo player.

Perhaps you should find out why she bought a banjo (on a lark while on vacation?),the type of music she thinks she wants to play and the purpose of playing (instrumental or singing backup). Also, she should understand that even beginning, the banjo takes a lot of practice. Show her some rolls and songs on the banjo and let her make her own decision.

And after she makes her decision, let us know how much she wants for it.