McMickey McMouse

I started out on the drums a few years back but couldn´t get into my local music school. So I talked to a local drummer who offered to teach me, and that was a lot of fun and he showed me new beats in some sessions and made me play to songs while wearing headphones in others. Then he got real busy with his band and didn´t have time anymore, so I lost interest for about 1-2 years. Then, early this year, I got an interest in it again and gave been pretty active, have a band now too. Anyway.. You have to be active yourself in learning, but having a teacher is very good and alot of fun too..I´ve heard from a friend of mine who plays the drums also and learns in the music school, that it´s kinda boring being in that school, while being taught by some local drummer is more fun. What I´m saying is: Music is about fun and enjoyment, so I´d ask around if anyone would offer to give you a few lessons while still fooling around and as some people have mentioned, youtube is a fine way to go (spikeydrummer and others).
I´m new here, this is my first reply (a long one, I know :P) - Thank you - Mickey.

BTown

I found that me playing the piano for around 8 years has really helped me with other instruments and understanding them.
I think the piano is one of the most beneficial instruments to learn, what do you guys think?

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gunnels

Most definately.
Especially when you want to learn theory. It makes it infinitively easier when you can actually see which notes are what.

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Let's Play TF2 Sometime.|Unrepresentative Last.fm.|Puns, Pokemon, and Miscellany

HuskyInDenial

Here's the thing.

Different methods work for different people, and neither one makes you more badass than the other.

Self-taught people who are actually decent at what they do either have musical intuition, or they're diligent and work hard to learn what they want to know.
The downside is that it's a lot of homework on your part, and unless you learn to read music proficiently, you will have a hard time communicating your musical thoughts to others.

People who learn music have the advantage of guidance and motivation from an outside source, as well as a wealth of information from experts and books. They can also read music better.
The downside, though, is that many people who are taught an instrument have a hard time writing music. They can play other people's, but they can't make their own.

All this I speak from experience. I'm a happy blend of both worlds. Teaching myself my instruments allowed me to bypass the extensive learning process, and to explore the instrument freely. Learning after that, though, opened up a world of possibilities, as i could now "speak music" with the people with whom I played.
I am of the intuitive variety. My old guitarist, Ping, taught himself with books and magazines, and practiced everyday. So while I played strange chords, and he could run slick riffs over them.

There's my two cents.

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[and the little ones chewed on the bones]

Freebase Dali

I kind of agree, Husky.
I mean.. I would have liked to learn scales because it would help on my solos (if I wanted to do them regularly), but I feel as though playing music through intuition only leaves me with a lot of room to explore and be creative.
I also feel a lot more accomplished when I learn based on self discovery and am doing things not so much "better" than a classically trained musician, but "different" in an individual sense.
I feel like the things I come up with are more based on myself than a formula.

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sambo

I used to have a teacher but then I decided to do the self taught thing I find it just the same only hard thing is concentrating when I am trying to learn something new.

Shivs

I was wondering, if I wanted to create songs to go along with my lyrics, would it be better to just go with a teacher or teach myself over a period of time?

Astronomer

It all comes down to what you think your ability is. Do you think you NEED a teacher or do you think you can teach yourself on your own? When I first started writing songs, I'd start with a simple set of chord progressions. I'd chose a series or chords that I like the sound of when played in a certain sequence/ pattern. I'd add my lyrics to these patterns, and then eventually stray from the direct chords and mix up the notes a little.

If you can teach yourself chords in my opinion you'll pretty much be set.

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NumberNineDream

i''m trying to play the guitar, it's been 3 days now. i'm trying to teach myself, but it's still too soon to know if it's working or not.

the problem with me getting a teacher is, that every time i try to get a teacher for anything, i'm not able to commit to the appointments, for the simple reason that anything i'm trying to learn becomes a sort of a chore that i feel obliged to rebel against.

but that's just me ... i sorta have a psychological problem or something.
but for now, the plan is to get with friends for some help, as the majority plays the guitar.

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Schredds

Use guitar tabs to teach yourself bro, a very easy way to learn, you need to start somewhere. I used tabs when I first started playing and IMO its a good and easy way to learn, eventually you wont need them and everything should come natually, depending on how well you learn things and retain them. Practice practice practice my friend