There's a bunch of ways to do this..... my method is but one.

You can also experiment with adding a measure at the beginning of the song.... use the tools to mute everything else for that one measure and let the banjo or whatever play that first measure as the pickup.

Using the right tools to accomplish the job makes it easier to do, but just like anything, the more you practice and work and experiment and do, the better you become at doing the audio editing.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.