Having recently emerged from 45 years as a closet banjo player, I'm having a wonderful time. I started with the banjo because my hero Pete played one and my local friends (Mel Lyman and Ron Brentano)were willing to help me get started. And besides, EVERYONE was playing a guitar. Banjos can be played softly, and I like them that way. They go well with fiddles, and a fiddle and a banjo can keep people dancing all night. They make really neat sounds. I look forward to another 45 years with mine.