G'day Rebel,
If your weapon is a 5 string, do what I didn't do - learn tablature. Theres a few good sites you can get the basics try:
www.banjohangout.org look in the lessons area. A goldmine
I played guitar for 15 years before I picked up a banjo and it didn't do me any good - it's a totally different animal but once you can competently knock out a song or 2 you'll be addicted.
Hope you stick with it - the world needs banjo players.
Ned Kelly67