These days, I figure there must be some great resources online for musicians to learn the basics (for free). Finding them is not so easy, because searching the web for quality content apparently is still an unsolved problem.
So, musicians of HN, what resources have you or yours used to learn how to play a new instrument or style?
For guitar, the single best online resource is justinguitar.com. The dude is a legend. He has made hundreds of free lessons providing a comprehensive education in guitar.
A lot of people also swear by Yousician for guitar/piano/ukulele.
I've used the video game Rocksmith, which claims to be able to teach you guitar or bass. It's OK - more a bit of fun than a learning tool.
For more specific instruments - like clawhammer banjo and the dobro (which looks like a resonator guitar played lap-style), I think YouTube might be your best bet.
If you guys already know some music theory, you'll probably pick things up pretty well and have a lot of fun just through YouTube.
If this is your wife's first instrument, might I suggest something a bit more common? It makes a big difference, as there's so many more online resources for, say, piano/guitar, and a lot more answers when you get stuck.
But, this is probably a works-on-my-machine because Youtube isn't the obvious answer for you and even if it were, it's not the obvious learning method for your wife.
...and because I pay for Youtube Premium so it's more of minimal marginal cost than free.
Anyway, my free advice is pay a local musician for banjo lessons.
Good luck.