Yes, that's a great site for getting started. I was lucky enough to find that site when I got my first banjo and I found the lessons to be clear enough to use without a personal instructor. I really liked that the site had introductory stuff for both clawhammer and bluegrass styles. After having fiddled with both for a while (thanks to that site), I realized that I was having more fun with clawhammer and have stuck with it ever since. If I were to consider messing with bluegrass style again, I'm sure that site would be one of my first stops. I'd recommend that site very highly.

Argh, I just typed in a bunch of stuff, with urls and everything, then lost it. So here is a brief recap of that, you'll have to google for more info.

Don't learn Ken Perlman's style. It has very little in common with actual traditional clawhammer styles.

Don't learn from a book. Forget tab. Learn to do the basic clawhammer stroke and then learn by listening. Get software (the Amazing Slow Downer ($) or winamp plugin (free)) to slow down music.

If you can't learn from a live banjo player (there are good ones in Portland) get Bob Carlin's video, available at Elderly Instruments.

Try and find a fiddle player to play with.

Listen to lots of traditional clawhammer music, start with all 3 volumes of "Clawhammer Banjo" from countysales.com.

Go to festivals if you have spare time.

The Portland Gathering in January

Weiser (Idaho, right across the OR line) in June

Clifftop, WV in August

Good festivals for learning/workshops:

Fiddle Tunes : Port Townsend, WA July 4 week

Swannanoa Gathering, western NC summer

Augusta / Elkins, WV, summer


Good luck.