Musicians...

[Daniel Meyer]

I want to make some music. Never had the opportunity to learn as a kid/young man.

Thinking Violin...

Seeking advice...on pretty much everything. Affordable (but not throw away) instrument, self study methods to augment/enhance lessons...the feasibility of even learning to a rational degree as an adult..

Please advise?

[Jess Tolbirt]

DOBRO!!!! I play a number of instruments including pedal steel,, and the one that is self contained is the dobro...

[Bob E.]

Instruments are a matter of taste and preference.  I'd probably suggest an acoustic guitar.  They are fairly portable though bulky, versatile for various types of music, lots of places to get lessons or books for self-teaching, and the skill would transfer to other instruments like the voilin, bass guitar, etc.

Me...I'm pretty much musically challenged.  I love music and even bought a guitar back in college, but never really learned to play it.  So now I'm a Guitar Hero/Rock Band junkie.  That's about the limit of my guitar-playing talents...lol!  As we speak, I'm watching the South Park Guitar Hero episode!  

[The Anvil]

Violin is one of the more difficult instruments to master and you need to start young. I'd look elsewhere. Piano is relatively easy to pick up and easy on the hands and fingers. Drums are tons of fun (if you're rhythmically inclined) and inexpensive electronic kits make quiet practice possible these days. Guitar and bass ar relatively easy to pick up but hard on fingers.

[Reb]

Bought an acoustic guitar 4 years ago just to learn. Everything you need as far as lessons can be found in the internet and youtube for free. I played the drums and trombone in band back in my school years. I still find the guitar the easiest of them all. Best of luck!

Reb

[BF]

Guitar and bass ar relatively easy to pick up but hard on fingers.

You'll get used to fingering the frets after you build up callouses on your fingers.  At first, you'll think playing the guitar is a torture device. 

I'VE GOT BLISTERS ON MY FINGERS!!!!	powered by Aeva

[Dozer]

I play a classical guitar...nylon strings. You can pick up one fairly reasonably but make sure its a good one. If not, you wont play it no matter what it is. Its not too tough on the fingers and certainly not as tough as my 12 string. (steel strings) Once your fingers develop a "memory" it will come to you naturally. A GOOD teacher is great to have for the beginning. After that you can develope & study on your own.
Buying sheet music and books can get pricy. The net has several sites where you can download tablature free (diagrams of notes amd music)
 http://guitar.about.com/od/tabchordslyrics/ss/read_guitar_tab.htm . My preference is classical music so heres an example of one of those sites
http://www.classtab.org/
My suggestion is to just do it. Making music is good for the soul and is almost as mind cleansing as a 100 mi bike ride!!

[CamTom12]

DOBRO!!!! I play a number of instruments including pedal steel,, and the one that is self contained is the dobro...

Love mine

[Michvalk]

Buying a musical instrument can be a challange in itself. Know anyone who playes the violin? Some help would be best. I have played piano for 55 years. Picked up guitar and bass in my early teen years, and played the brass instruments in school. It is easier to learn an instrument that works as it should, and sounds like you expect it to. Go into a music store and shop around. Violin is the kind of instrument that needs to be taught. Hard to learn on your own, at least at first. Guitar is easier to learn on your own, but lessons are faster with a teacher. What ever instrument you choose, be prepared to spend some time practicing over and over until you get it. I feel, no greater satisfaction can be felt playing music, good or bad. You will never regret learning to make music!

[Karen]

Violin? probably not, but Fiddle is doable (same instrument, different musical usage). Start with some classical lessons, just to get the hang of it, then just look around. There are all kinds of collections of fiddle tunes out there, and whether they're Irish, Scottish, Appalachian, etc., they are great fun. As people have said, muscle memory plus a good ear. Technique comes with practice. There are so many styles, there's got to be something that hits home with you.

[Kymbo]

Give the Bag Pipes a go 

The Bad Piper - Australia's Got Talent Audition	powered by Aeva

[Michael K (Az.)]

Played all my adult life as a pro.(that means people actually paid $$ to me, go figure!) I've been teaching my Grand niece the guitar and I think it's most important to have someone to teach you proper fingering positions as you will just have to un learn the bad habits later anyway. A benefit of the guitar is if you learn just 3 chords, you can play a bazillion songs! YouTube has great backing tracks for songs plus starter lessons.
A violin is primarily a solo instrument so playing by yourself can become boring quickly. A guitar allows you to play rhythm and solo plus of course singing along. Herer's a link. Justin Sandercoe is an excellent teacher at all levels!
http://www.justinguitar.com/en/BC-000-BeginnersCourse.php
Scroll down to "getting started"
http://www.chordie.com/?filter=
One of many chord sources for tunes, I use it when I forget some pesky Beatles chords that have left the ol swiss cheese brain.
Hope you try the guitar as the payoff is instant(relatively). Borrow one and learn 2 chords, practice switching back and forth to get smooth.
Give me a shout if I can help out!!

[czuch]

I picked up the sterio in my youth and have been playing it ever since.
Never fails, never had to practise. Cant carry a tune in a bucket and have no rythim.

[hubcapsc]

Here's a web page I made about my musical journey, it renders on firefox
and Safari, but not at all on IE8...

http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~hubcap/straightline/straightline.html

-Mike "I've got blingers on my fisters!"

[thegorrilla]

My friend told me to tell you to start here:

http://youtu.be/fQkMu456VNM

He also said to tell you that many times fiddles are available at pawn shops.  Also, have a "private" practice area away from friends and family or you will drive them crazy and they will want to kill you.

[Daniel Meyer]

Thanks for all the feedback so far...keep it coming if you have it.

I have lots of choices...I own an old but quality upright piano (would need to be tuned and have general going over). Also own a good but consumer level electronic keyboard.

I think I would enjoy violin/fiddle...but guitar or such maybe a good choice as well.

Probably not going wind (even though I *love* flute music) as I've a life-long battle with asthma. Born with it...usually doesn't get me...but when it does, it does.

Percussion...I think I would enjoy a drumset...but also think I want to write music and I'm not sure that's really doable on the drums...

I suppose life won't give me time to get good at more than a couple choices...

Hate to spend hundreds (or more) on an instrument and then decide on a different one...but the rentals/loaners look pretty crappy even to my untrained eye...

I have very strong, long but nimble fingers...and have detail oriented and some dogmatic traits that I think would combine with my creative/passionate side to help me master anything I can find excitement in doing...

Lots of food for thought...

[BIG--T]

Alright Jess and Cam, we need to get together and have a battle of the steels or dobros! I love mine and actually love anyhing with strings. I've got a wall similar to Michaels and wish I was a pro on every one. I do love my dobros tho!

Michael, I love to hear someone who can really play a fiddle! But all it took for me was less than a few hours is all my ears could take. It chords like a mandolin but that bow is what hurt my ears and my wife, cat and dogs wanted to kill me- and my neighbor if I was outside!   My best advice is go with the insturment that sounds the prettiest to your ears. If you really love the sound you'll learn to play it and tne next thing is it will take a lot of patience and practicing! Good luck with your choice! 

[Michael K (Az.)]

Major problem with beginning fiddlers is that, with no frets to guide your fingers, it becomes absolutely CRITICAL to hit the note intervals spot on! Tricky bidness, that!

[old2soon]

I hope i've spelled this correctly-dulcimer. Went to a mountain man festival years ago when i lived in Colorado. Had to be some of the finest music i ever heard. For lack of a better decription the music was pretty. A fine left field suggestion if i do say so myself.

[BIG--T]

Major problem with beginning fiddlers is that, with no frets to guide your fingers, it becomes absolutely CRITICAL to hit the note intervals spot on! Tricky bidness, that!

Yeah just like a doghouse bass (upright) but you'll get used to it. It takes a lot of practice and patience but it'll come. Also pace yourself and alot yourself a certain amount of time daily and try NOT to do too much at one time. In no time it'll get easier day by day. Also I like the instructional DVDs that you never have to bother a real life teacher and cost a lot less too. You can rewind and play til you get it!!  

[MartinT]

Daniel, I suggest piano. Tons of good teachers around, even good teaching software. You can start with an electronic keyboard, hook it up to your computer and run lesson software to get started. If you enjoy it, take lessons from a pro and see where that leads you. Some serious advantages:
1. learn to read music in two clefs at once
2. Play many notes at the same time!
3. You are your own accompaniment
4. keyboard players are always wanted in many types of bands
5. You can make the bass player feel useless by just playing chord arpeggios with your left hand
6. If you get good at it (or even if not), a grand piano in your living room looks great
7. Play any (ANY) style of music
8. Transposing on an electronic keyboard is as easy as hitting a switch
9. You're always in tune
10. You'll make nice sounds from the very beginning

As a contrabassist, I always envy the keyboardist who just needs to rake a few chords here and there to sound professional, while I need to work on every note, bowed or pizzed, to make sure it is in tune, on time and sounds good.

I'd get back to piano if I had the time for it right now - maybe in a few years when I'm retired.

Martin

[fiddle mike]

.
I'd suggest you begin with guitar or keyboard.  I think you get a  good basic music education, that way.  People learning guitar can see  progress early in the game.
Learn three chords and you can play a country song, learn two and you can play "Achey Breaky Heart", learn one and you can play the Palestinian national anthem (really).
.

[The Anvil]

1. learn to read music in two clefs at once
2. Play many notes at the same time!
3. You are your own accompaniment
4. keyboard players are always wanted in many types of bands
5. You can make the bass player feel useless by just playing chord arpeggios with your left hand
6. If you get good at it (or even if not), a grand piano in your living room looks great
7. Play any (ANY) style of music
8. Transposing on an electronic keyboard is as easy as hitting a switch
9. You're always in tune
10. You'll make nice sounds from the very beginning

Good points about piano and keyboard. One drawback though is that you need power for a keyboard and piano is too big to be portable so if you want to drop panties by a campfire it's not a logical choice.

And I personally think the Doors would have been better with a full time bass player instead of ran Manzarek's nerdy Rhodes.

[MartinT]

Good points about piano and keyboard. One drawback though is that you need power for a keyboard and piano is too big to be portable so if you want to drop panties by a campfire it's not a logical choice.

Well..... it's not that much of a jump from a keyboard to a squeezebox, although you'll risk being run out of town

[BIG--T]

Daniel, I suggest piano. Tons of good teachers around, even good teaching software. You can start with an electronic keyboard, hook it up to your computer and run lesson software to get started. If you enjoy it, take lessons from a pro and see where that leads you. Some serious advantages:
1. learn to read music in two clefs at once
2. Play many notes at the same time!
3. You are your own accompaniment
4. keyboard players are always wanted in many types of bands
5. You can make the bass player feel useless by just playing chord arpeggios with your left hand6. If you get good at it (or even if not), a grand piano in your living room looks great
7. Play any (ANY) style of music
8. Transposing on an electronic keyboard is as easy as hitting a switch
9. You're always in tune
10. You'll make nice sounds from the very beginning

As a contrabassist, I always envy the keyboardist who just needs to rake a few chords here and there to sound professional, while I need to work on every note, bowed or pizzed, to make sure it is in tune, on time and sounds good.

I'd get back to piano if I had the time for it right now - maybe in a few years when I'm retired.

Martin

The best thing about a keyboard in you don't have to tune it!

Now for some comments:

4. keyboard players are always wanted in many types of bands
The same can be said about guitarist and bassist

5.You can make the bass player feel useless by just playing chord arpeggios with your left hand
Now why would you WANT to make the bass player feel USELESS hotshot?? You get a good bassist and I don't think so!

7.Play any (ANY) style of music
The same can be said with most any instrument.


8. Transposing on an electronic keyboard is as easy as hitting a switch
Don't need a switch, it should already be in your head!

I have played with people with your attitude and you know what - most of them weren't as good as they thought. I've also watched these "hotshots" get embarrased by people that were better. I've been playing over 40 years and learned a long time ago....there's always someone better! That applies to any sports figure, factory worker, just anybody in anything you do!

You're also wrong on #7. I've never yet heard or seen a piano in a bluegrass band! 

[BIG--T]

Daniel, People has been giving some good advice and as I said before, sound is subjective so play the instrument you really really like and has the sweetest sound you've ever heard and I guarantee you'll be playing in no time, no matter your choice! 

[Quicksilver]

Get a mandolin! Small, highly portable, fits on motorcycle, same tuning as fiddle. There are many classic fiddle tunes you can play on it without too much trouble. If you have an ear for music you can pick out a tune without learning a bunch of chords. I bought one to carry with me in my truck when on the road. I could sit in Drivers seat and pick a tune quite comfortably.

[Hoser]

I still break out my trumpet from high school band when I want to irritate the wife and the dogs.  Can't hardly read music anymore, but I'm purty good on bugle calls!     My oldest grandson plays the trombone in HS band.  Hoser

[Dozer]

Good points about piano and keyboard. One drawback though is that you need power for a keyboard and piano is too big to be portable so if you want to drop panties by a campfire it's not a logical choice.

Well..... it's not that much of a jump from a keyboard to a squeezebox, although you'll risk being run out of town

Mama plays a squeeze box: Daddy never sleeps at night...The Who 

[BIG--T]

Good points about piano and keyboard. One drawback though is that you need power for a keyboard and piano is too big to be portable so if you want to drop panties by a campfire it's not a logical choice.

Well..... it's not that much of a jump from a keyboard to a squeezebox, although you'll risk being run out of town

Mama plays a squeeze box: Daddy never sleeps at night...The Who 

I don't believe Roger was talking about that kinda of squeeze box...sure ain't talking about ivory!

[The Anvil]

While keyboard/guitar/bass players can find jobs they're a dime a dozen. I know because I play all three and there's never been a shortage of competition. All three are pretty easy instruments to develop a reasonable level of competence in.

But really good drummers are BY FAR the hardest positions to fill. For one thing, drums are relatively expensive for beginners as opposed to guitar/bass/piano/woodwinds etc. so less beginners choose it. Also it takes a lot of dedication and until recently practice was a noisy affair that had to be planned for. But it's true; the instrument does not lend itself to writing melodies. HOWEVER, listen to a band like Tool for an example of how a great drummer can affect songwriting and make rhythmically centric music very appealing.

But since you are really interested in songwriting then I'd say to follow your instinct and pick a melodic instrument, at least for now. Piano really is the best instrument for songwriting IMO. It's the one I really wish I paid more attention to.

Also, the only thing you really need to write a melody is a voice. That's another instrument that you could try out (assuming you haven't already).

[bassman]

Cheap way to explore piano...

Scott Houston the Piano Guy....had a short series on PBS that was interesting....



http://www.amazon.com/Play-Piano-Flash-Favorite-Whether/dp/1401307663

http://www.amazon.com/Play-Piano-Flash-Full-Video/dp/B00009A8ZX

http://www.amazon.com/Play-Piano-Flash-Full-Video/product-reviews/B00009A8ZX/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

You can only get out of it what you are willing to put into it.....

GOOD  LUCK  !!

[BIG--T]

Cheap way to explore piano...

Scott Houston the Piano Guy....had a short series on PBS that was interesting....



http://www.amazon.com/Play-Piano-Flash-Favorite-Whether/dp/1401307663

http://www.amazon.com/Play-Piano-Flash-Full-Video/dp/B00009A8ZX

http://www.amazon.com/Play-Piano-Flash-Full-Video/product-reviews/B00009A8ZX/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

You can only get out of it what you are willing to put into it.....

GOOD  LUCK  !!

Yes I watched him on PBS and like his approach and style . 

[MartinT]

I have played with people with your attitude and you know what - most of them weren't as good as they thought. I've also watched these "hotshots" get embarrased by people that were better. I've been playing over 40 years and learned a long time ago....there's always someone better! That applies to any sports figure, factory worker, just anybody in anything you do!

What attitude are you referring to?

[The Anvil]

I have played with people with your attitude and you know what - most of them weren't as good as they thought. I've also watched these "hotshots" get embarrased by people that were better. I've been playing over 40 years and learned a long time ago....there's always someone better! That applies to any sports figure, factory worker, just anybody in anything you do!

What attitude are you referring to?

I think he's being a bit too sensitive regarding your having to pay careful attention to technique when playing an orchestra string instrument.

[Michael K (Az.)]

.
I'd suggest you begin with guitar or keyboard.  I think you get a  good basic music education, that way.  People learning guitar can see  progress early in the game.
Learn three chords and you can play a country song, learn two and you can play "Achey Breaky Heart", learn one and you can play the Palestinian national anthem (really).
.

3 chords and you've got "Wooly Bully"!

[BIG--T]

I have played with people with your attitude and you know what - most of them weren't as good as they thought. I've also watched these "hotshots" get embarrased by people that were better. I've been playing over 40 years and learned a long time ago....there's always someone better! That applies to any sports figure, factory worker, just anybody in anything you do!

What attitude are you referring to?

 Why would you want to make someone feel useless and put someone down, to make you feel better about yourself??
5. You can make the bass player feel useless by just playing chord arpeggios with your left hand

[The Anvil]

I have played with people with your attitude and you know what - most of them weren't as good as they thought. I've also watched these "hotshots" get embarrased by people that were better. I've been playing over 40 years and learned a long time ago....there's always someone better! That applies to any sports figure, factory worker, just anybody in anything you do!

What attitude are you referring to?

 Why would you want to make someone feel useless and put someone down, to make you feel better about yourself??
5. You can make the bass player feel useless by just playing chord arpeggios with your left hand

Actually I shook my head at that one too. The left side of the keyboard is no substitute for a good bass player.

[BIG--T]

I have played with people with your attitude and you know what - most of them weren't as good as they thought. I've also watched these "hotshots" get embarrased by people that were better. I've been playing over 40 years and learned a long time ago....there's always someone better! That applies to any sports figure, factory worker, just anybody in anything you do!

What attitude are you referring to?

 Why would you want to make someone feel useless and put someone down, to make you feel better about yourself??
5. You can make the bass player feel useless by just playing chord arpeggios with your left hand

Actually I shook my head at that one too. The left side of the keyboard is no substitute for a good bass player.

[/quote]

Actually I shook my head at that one too. The left side of the keyboard is no substitute for a good bass player.
 

[Jess Tolbirt]

for those that think a bass is easy or could be played on a keyboard or guitar take a listen to the first 58 seconds of this song,, its only drums and a bass,,, i work with the bass player and yep he is great,,,

Candy Pig - Nonsense	powered by Aeva