Instrumental Indecision Crisis

storymilo · 09-19-2009, 12:46 PM

The first instrument I ever tried learning was the piano, and I have enjoyed it very much since. I guess it just "stuck with me". Recently I have been picking up guitar which, if anything, I seem to connect to even more than the piano. But I don't believe I could have achieved this love of instruments without the teachers I had and have. If you find yourself enjoying an instrument but struggling to get it playing right, I would definitely seek out a teacher. Be careful though, I've been lucky but others I know have gotten teachers that don't know anything.

mooosik · 10-04-2009, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TyrantSong

I've already said I get the practice part.

And again, why practice on something you don't love?
I'm in it for more than looking cool.

That's why I posted all this, in hopes my horizons would be broadened to new instruments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

this a hundred time over.

go with what you like, not with what you feel you need to do. playing music is about expression. if you don't enjoy a particular instrument anymore then don't play it. it's not like the knowledge you've gained from playing it in the past is erased if you don't play it in the future.

besides, if you want to play in a band eventually you'll have WAY more options as a multi-instrumentalists that someone who can't do anything besides play guitar (like the other dozen potential band members)

I think that most of the people on this thread would agree that they never really found an instrument that 'clicked' (with the exception of vegangelica). i agree; playing music IS about expression, but how can you do that if you drop the instrument at the sight of obstacles? if you stay determined, you'll realized that the fun of music comes out of being good.

you might argue that the "right" instrument for you will give you the motivation to practice, but that's not true. Studies show (you can search this up if you'd like) that even professionals dislike practicing just as much as beginners...but professionals succeed because they have the will to do it. And if they're good, then they have the motivation to continue because, like i mentioned, the fun comes out of being good.

for example, I took private piano lessons for eight years...i hated it. even to this day, i experience a slight dread for tuesdays because that's when i used to have piano lessons. finally, i quit lessons....YET, i play and love piano more than ever! I play to relax, to have fun, to express myself. i love it!

i also play the flute and vibraphone. i dabbled in trumpet but stopped not because i didn't love it but because it would ruin my embouchure for flute. even so, none of these instruments 'clicked for me'. i love all of them, but i enjoy the most the ones that i'm better at.

My advice to you is to think it over for a bit. research. then...pick an instrument. just pick it, dedicate, and PROMISE to yourself not to get discouraged. dabble a little in some other instruments, but realize that for any instrument, the initial thrill of learning them will eventually wear off, and you will be left only to your own WILL to learn. not only will you become great at an instrument...but you'll also be teaching yourself a great life skill: dedication.

i hope this helped!

kouki · 10-05-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

Sounds to me like your problem is practice, not instrument. Nobodies fingers can do anything on guitar when they first start to play. Hell, I think most people I know agree I'm a good guitar player. Certainly a couple of people have mentioned I'm the best they know, but when I picked it up I was tone deaf and I had to use my right hand to literally FORCE my fingers into chord shapes. The fluidity and so on only came with extensive practice. Now I'm going on 10 years strong. I didn't begin to make anything remotely musical until I'd played at LEAST 4 months, playing most days.

Listen to this^^. I was once like you(orig poster) I started playing guitar at 14 and then gave up because it was too hard.I started again in May of this year(now im 25)and actually tried and practiced this time.Till now I learned about 43 chords all the notes on the fret and I love playing now,its an addiction. I just learned 13 major scales too.Just dont give up,be patient.

TheCunningStunt · 10-06-2009, 06:40 PM

The guitar > all.

Bass and drums are okay, but to really appreciate them, you need to play them with people in a band.

A guitar, it's fun to practice.

Banging away at drums on your own would get tedious, many drummers I know say they don't practice when they're alone, they have to have someone there, jamming with them.

Where as with a guitar, you can just play it, and play your favourite riffs after you've learnt them, I picked up a guitar a while ago and liked the idea of it but never got into it, then one day I just thought I want to play guitar, and now I do and it feels right, I've fallen in love with the guitar.

Arya Stark · 10-06-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

The guitar > all.

Bass and drums are okay, but to really appreciate them, you need to play them with people in a band.

A guitar, it's fun to practice.

Banging away at drums on your own would get tedious, many drummers I know say they don't practice when they're alone, they have to have someone there, jamming with them.

Where as with a guitar, you can just play it, and play your favourite riffs after you've learnt them, I picked up a guitar a while ago and liked the idea of it but never got into it, then one day I just thought I want to play guitar, and now I do and it feels right, I've fallen in love with the guitar.

So you're saying that you can't appreciate a drummer or bassist without hearing them with someone else? That's horribly ignorant.

Astronomer · 10-06-2009, 07:10 PM

^ Agreed... if you think that drums and bass need the guitar to make them sound good then you've obviously never heard a good drummer or bassist.

Arya Stark · 10-06-2009, 07:36 PM

But if you listen to ANY drummer, you can tell that if they were better, whatever they were playing would be pretty sick.

And bass is just amazing on it's own. xD

Annissette · 10-06-2009, 07:42 PM

A good example of instrumental production is on the recording Chili Dawg by David Grisham, the playing of the instruments is super and very professional. Find and listen to music by this artist at: songlist.net Chili Dawg is at; Chili Dawg by David Grisman

Kole · 10-08-2009, 12:11 AM

I didn't read everything in this thread, but maybe you should try bassoon. It really sounds great, kind of medieval sound. Or sax, wonderful instrument.

ElephantSack · 11-01-2009, 08:20 PM

In response to the original topic:
In my experience, I had to learn to love the bass. When I was a kid, there would be times where I really didn't want to play the bass. I wanted to play drums. I guess you could describe it like a relationship you might have with another person. It doesn't have to be love/hate, but there are ups and downs. But 15 years down the road, I'm happy now for the time I was forced to put in when I was younger. Dedication is a cornerstone to the foundation of any musician's ability. Sometimes you might not want to play, and it helps to have someone or some inspiration around to help keep you interested.

10-06-2009, 06:40 PM	#24 (permalink)
TheCunningStunt love will tear you apart Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 5,107	The guitar > all. Bass and drums are okay, but to really appreciate them, you need to play them with people in a band. A guitar, it's fun to practice. Banging away at drums on your own would get tedious, many drummers I know say they don't practice when they're alone, they have to have someone there, jamming with them. Where as with a guitar, you can just play it, and play your favourite riffs after you've learnt them, I picked up a guitar a while ago and liked the idea of it but never got into it, then one day I just thought I want to play guitar, and now I do and it feels right, I've fallen in love with the guitar. __________________ I don't feel and I feel great. Last FM

10-06-2009, 07:10 PM	#26 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	^ Agreed... if you think that drums and bass need the guitar to make them sound good then you've obviously never heard a good drummer or bassist. __________________

10-06-2009, 07:42 PM	#28 (permalink)
Annissette Groupie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 18	Chili Dawg A good example of instrumental production is on the recording Chili Dawg by David Grisham, the playing of the instruments is super and very professional. Find and listen to music by this artist at: songlist.net Chili Dawg is at; Chili Dawg by David Grisman

11-01-2009, 08:20 PM	#30 (permalink)
ElephantSack Man vs. Wild Turkey Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: ATX Posts: 948	In response to the original topic: In my experience, I had to learn to love the bass. When I was a kid, there would be times where I really didn't want to play the bass. I wanted to play drums. I guess you could describe it like a relationship you might have with another person. It doesn't have to be love/hate, but there are ups and downs. But 15 years down the road, I'm happy now for the time I was forced to put in when I was younger. Dedication is a cornerstone to the foundation of any musician's ability. Sometimes you might not want to play, and it helps to have someone or some inspiration around to help keep you interested. __________________ OF THE SUN

09-19-2009, 12:46 PM	#21 (permalink)
storymilo Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,845	The first instrument I ever tried learning was the piano, and I have enjoyed it very much since. I guess it just "stuck with me". Recently I have been picking up guitar which, if anything, I seem to connect to even more than the piano. But I don't believe I could have achieved this love of instruments without the teachers I had and have. If you find yourself enjoying an instrument but struggling to get it playing right, I would definitely seek out a teacher. Be careful though, I've been lucky but others I know have gotten teachers that don't know anything.

10-08-2009, 12:11 AM	#29 (permalink)
Kole Groupie Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 24	I didn't read everything in this thread, but maybe you should try bassoon. It really sounds great, kind of medieval sound. Or sax, wonderful instrument.