Should I switch to drums?
 

I've been playing guitar for about half a year now. Before getting the guitar, I was already thinking about playing drums instead. After I got it, I enjoyed the guitar for... a month or two? Then, I started thinking about drums again. Lately, my want to play drums has just increased and increased, and guitar has just become boring for me; drums just seems like an EXTREMELY attractive instrument.

So, what's holding me back from buying drums? For the most part, money. I've been spending too much; I'm running low on cash, and I'm not sure if I could afford a drum kit, especially if a beginner one costs $350 and I'm not even sure if I'd stay with it for awhile (though I'd plan to.)

My ideal situation would be to play both instruments, but there's no way I'm getting lessons for two instruments at once.

Think I should stay with guitar or try to switch to drums? If drums, how do you think I could get the cash to get them and what's a cheap beginner set? If guitar, when does it actually start to get "fun"? Thanks.


Also, I've been playing on an acoustic constantly. My neighbor lent me an electric, but I need an amp (the amp he gave me was trash.) So, I'm not sure whether I should get an amp or not because I'm not completely sure how much I'll use it, being that... yeah.

Thanks for any responses.

should i eat a hamburger or a chicken burger for lunch?

beef or chicken. hmmm.

that's pretty much what it boils down to. it sounds as though you're looking at the guitar as being a chore that will eventually transform into fun. until you change that perspective it will never be anything more than a chore.

as for the drums, how you handle your cash is up to how much self discipline you have. another option is to rent a kit for a month and see how you like it.

Drums.

Buy a drum pad, they usually run for around $40.Then you'll experience the tedious part about playing them (I.e rudiments, technique, etc.). If you think you can bear through that, then save up and buy a kit.
Or play both, just take lessons for one and self-teach the other.
Drums are a ****LOAD of technique though, so they require at least basic lessons.

Well I've been playing guitar for about half a year now as well, I've been having fun with it on an absolutely terrible amp (£30, with just the ability to change the bass and treble settings) since I first got it.

How good are you at guitar? (For example the hardest thing I can play is the solo from Sweet Child o Mine) Because alot of the time it can be frustrating if you keep struggling to complete things, in which case it just needs more work put in.

As previously said, I'd get a practice pad for the drums to see if you can bear all the rudimentary stuff first, then look into getting lessons as you probably won't need a kit to start off with because you obviously won't be taking a kit to the lesson.

Clockworkmice

Thanks guys. I'm going to get the practice pad and start lessons. Then I'll save up if I find it okay, I guess.

Thanks again.

There's no reason you can't play both.

Take lessons from someone reputable, play along with your favorite music on a practice pad, and learn good technique before you have bad habits.

Listen to this man, he knows what he is talking about.

Like the world needs any more of either
play a theremin or something interesting.
Then you won't even need to be that good.

I was actually thinking about getting a theremin when I have money to spend. Wait, would I have to invest in a synth as well?

no. you will need an amp though, a bass amp works fine, keyboard amp would be better, i wouldn't risk using a guitar amp with one though. you could run one through a synth if you wanted to though, or you could run it through effect pedals just as easily.

unlike FiC's comment though, you do need to have a REALLY good ear to play the theremin properly, otherwise you just end up sounding like crappy feedback trying to sound like a bad sci-fi soundtrack. i guess it ultimately depends on whether you want to use it as a novelty (like jimmy page) or as a lead voice (like the guys in Air).

You sound like a little girl. Make your own mind up. And who said you need lessons to learn an instrument?

I was mainly joking.

my bad hehe (you need to stick a smilie in with the jokes or something hehe).

i've had a few friends try their hands at theremins, DIY kits are pretty much useless unless you know your electronics inside and out. it's not as complicated as building your own synth but it's significantly rougher than changing a 9volt battery connector.

it IS a simple instrument in the sense that any who physically gets close to it has no choice but to accept that they are actually playing it. doesn't have to be your fingertips either as the past holiday season hip thrusts proved (to much hilarity as well haha).

you do need to develop a very keen ear to get it right when playing with others though. it's kind of like making the jump to a fretless guitar or keyless synth.

you can also get pretty cool sounds out of a theremin if you run it through a bunch of guitar pedals hehe.

I would rather stay modern day Bill Murray-esque.

as cool as that thing looks i feel like i would get aggravated not having something physical to touch. i feel like there is a very strong connection between the physical act of playing an instrument and how well the music sounds.

i totally hear ya, it's definitely an adjustment. it's one of those things you pull out here and there to add a little extra color to the music, kind of like vibes / marimba etc. i can't think of any piece of music that wasn't specifically composed as a solo theremin piece that features the instrument as a root element. also using a guitar with an ebow can produce very similar results.

and FiC - bill murray? really? he's still alive? last time i remember him being funny was 'groundhog day' :p:

I do both better at guitar than drums. Love them both.

We can't tell you, it's something you have to decide on your own.

I'd say try em out for a while (maybe practice at a local music store or a friends house?)

I don't know if a store would let you; probably not, though.

Naked hit the nail on the head, too.

I find him so much better now, he's gone more deadpan.
Check out a Wes Anderson movie, Lost in Translation or Dead Flowers.