But, it IS completely different from playing guitar, although I HAVE heard people play guitar in a similar fashion - mostly bluegrass, porch stompin' type music..
Without really knowing, and pretty much only watching Ed Helms play one on The Office, seems like all the hard work is actually in the picking hand as you hafta use all your fingers to finger pick it.. but, have never played one, nor discussed the methods with a banjo-ist..
Pretty sure I wouldn't be able to play one, in a traditional sense.. I probably could play one in the style Warrant did at the beginning of the song Uncle Tom's Cabin, which is fairly simplistic and more guitar-ish..
Friendship is like peeing your pants.. Everybody can see it, but only you can feel the warmth..