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First and foremost is the medium you are utilizing:

1. Check your action, height of strings above the fingerboard, on your tenor banjo to ensure that it's not uncomfortable to play.
To do this, try pressing your strings down, fretting, to see how much tension there is...if for some reason it's very difficult to press down, have your tenor banjo set up by a qualified instrument technician. You may need to find a repair technician to assist you with setting up your tenor banjo for ease of play. Some filing or sanding of the bridge and nut may be required...or a coordinator rod adjustment for neck angle may assist.

			Bridge height may have an affect on the action (string distance from the fingerboard). Sometimes a bridge may need adjustment to ensure an easy action. Consult a repair technician.
	Bridge placement is critical to intonation. If the bridge is not properly placed, the tenor will not play in tune up the neck.

Eye your tenor banjo neck down down its edge to determine if your neck might be warped. This could contribute to a high action or buzz and rattle. Additionally, when first starting out, it's highly recommended that you find light gauge strings, not heavy or medium. You certainly do not want to become discouraged when first attempting to learn. If your action is abnormally high, or if you're using a custom set of heavier gauge strings, you may find it difficult to be inspired to practice.

2. Make sure you feel comfortable holding your tenor banjo, especially, if you're determined to practice long hours...It can become discouraging to adhere to a practice schedule if you do not feel comfortable holding and playing your tenor banjo. My recommendation is to first learn to play while sitting down...be sure to hold the tenor banjo upright...do not let the tenor banjo lay in your lap at an angle. When holding the neck, allow it to rest at the bottom of your index finger, and be careful not to let the thumb protrude too far over the neck. Experiment with a footrest to prop up your leg for added support on your tenor banjo.

3. Find your inspiration...rediscover the reasons you're inspired to learn the octave mando. Categorize all of your tenor banjo CDs that bring you pleasure. Be sure to also get your library of tenor banjo instructional videos and books together...view and read through all of them and become familiar with the road that's ahead. And, then sit down with your most basic lessons, whether video or book, and methodically go through every detail of preparation.

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