Instrumental Indecision Crisis

Guybrush · 09-16-2009, 01:06 PM

Drums are a lot of fun, even from the start, but unless you're rich and have a lot of space and live someplace people will put up with it .. it may not be the most practical thing to pick up.

Arya Stark · 09-16-2009, 01:16 PM

Practice, practice, practice.

End of story.

I've been playing guitar for years now. And the reason I'm not good is cause I don't practice.

TyrantSong · 09-16-2009, 01:55 PM

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.

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!

~~Farfisa~~ · 09-16-2009, 02:32 PM

Ukulele... a good one will cost you 50 bones and if you're already familar with the guitar it's pretty easy to pick up. I'd recommend the Lanikai LU-21.

TyrantSong · 09-17-2009, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loose_lips_sink_ships

Ukulele... a good one will cost you 50 bones and if you're already familar with the guitar it's pretty easy to pick up. I'd recommend the Lanikai LU-21.

That would actually be interesting...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burning Down

Have you ever tried the clarinet? Cheap, easy to learn, and it lends itself well to different styles of music.

The use of the flute in genres like rock is underrated. I guess because the instrument was not intended to play that type of music!

I sold my first flute to a beginner student for $100, which is a steal considering it was evaluated at $400. I kept it in good condition.

They are relatively cheap. That depends on one's definition of "cheap." My first flute, a beginner's flute, was $600 Canadian. I wouldn't have a clue about how many Euros that is

The flute that I have now cost $2500. It's an intermediate level flute! I've seen the real professional ones go up to $16,000...

I may look into the flute, but I don't know if I can see myself dropping 300-600 on an instrument I'm unsure of.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

JETHRO TULL.

Anyway - Tyrant, we're giving you a hard time on the practice thing because its something we've all seen before, as musicians, and we know that a lot of young musicians will pick it up, and they'll make an effort, and try, but they'll only do it for a month or two. Or they'll do it for a long time, but they'll never get anywhere because they only practice maybe once a week, and it becomes something they don't like doing purely because they arent any good at it. The thought process goes from 'lets try this' and more towards 'I've been doing this for ages why aren't I good?'

And lets not forget multiinstrumentalists. The fact is, in my opinion, nobody has an instrument that is 'their instrument', its all a matter of the willingness to do what it takes to learn properly. Even a guitarist who practices regularly for a whole year will sound comparitively awful next to someone who has done it for 3, and that IS discouraging to some people, and it leads to one of two things. Either dropping the instrument, or in some cases, developing a level of scorn towards those people who are technically more skilled. (IE, Punks reaction to glam excess and technical musicianship) For me, it was a drive to get that good, and keep going after that.

I can understand this, maybe I just romanticized the idea of a "soul Instrument"..but even so, I feel a certain degree of disgust when I pick up my guitar. I'm just extremely unwilling to even practice on it.
Maybe I should stick with the harmonica, at the very least, I enjoy playing and practicing it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtwilliams

I would also suggest the drums, since you seemed to like the bass more than the rest of the instruments you tried, I would try sticking to percussion.

I may look into them in the future, but as of right now, space and money are quite limited.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AwwSugar

Apparently practice isn't his problem.

Just his ability to stay with one instrument.

Pretty much the nail on the head here. I don't mind putting the time in to practice, I just really haven't found a comfort zone outside the harmonica.

multi-quote win.

You guys have really helped so far, thanks so much.

mr dave · 09-17-2009, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TyrantSong

I can understand this, maybe I just romanticized the idea of a "soul Instrument"..but even so, I feel a certain degree of disgust when I pick up my guitar. I'm just extremely unwilling to even practice on it.
Maybe I should stick with the harmonica, at the very least, I enjoy playing and practicing it.

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)

jtwilliams · 09-16-2009, 11:08 PM

I would also suggest the drums, since you seemed to like the bass more than the rest of the instruments you tried, I would try sticking to percussion.

Arya Stark · 09-16-2009, 11:29 PM

Apparently practice isn't his problem.

Just his ability to stay with one instrument.

Astronomer · 09-16-2009, 11:46 PM

So many people mention this idea of "finding your instrument." The idea that you will try many instruments, and finally you'll pick up one particular one that just clicks with you and you have 'found' the instrument that you are apparently meant to play forever.

I don't think it works like this. I have dabbled in many instruments but I don't think I have one particular 'one' that suits me. Usually the ones that I am better at are the ones that I tend to practice more!

Sometimes I also find that if I hit a plateau in my learning I often get the same dejected feeling you seem to have... I feel that I am not very good and feel unmotivated to play or learn more. The key to getting that enthusiasm back is to just keep practicing and trying until you master a new technique for example and feel that buzz again.

09-16-2009, 01:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Drums are a lot of fun, even from the start, but unless you're rich and have a lot of space and live someplace people will put up with it .. it may not be the most practical thing to pick up. __________________ Something Completely Different

09-16-2009, 11:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
jtwilliams Lost In A Purple Haze Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Middle Of No Where Posts: 433	I would also suggest the drums, since you seemed to like the bass more than the rest of the instruments you tried, I would try sticking to percussion. __________________ Dirty Life & Times - Warren Zevon Rate Your Music Ramblings & Musings

09-16-2009, 11:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	So many people mention this idea of "finding your instrument." The idea that you will try many instruments, and finally you'll pick up one particular one that just clicks with you and you have 'found' the instrument that you are apparently meant to play forever. I don't think it works like this. I have dabbled in many instruments but I don't think I have one particular 'one' that suits me. Usually the ones that I am better at are the ones that I tend to practice more! Sometimes I also find that if I hit a plateau in my learning I often get the same dejected feeling you seem to have... I feel that I am not very good and feel unmotivated to play or learn more. The key to getting that enthusiasm back is to just keep practicing and trying until you master a new technique for example and feel that buzz again. __________________

09-16-2009, 01:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
TyrantSong Didn't kill nobody. Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Atlas, PA Posts: 144	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.

09-16-2009, 02:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
~~Farfisa~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,773	Ukulele... a good one will cost you 50 bones and if you're already familar with the guitar it's pretty easy to pick up. I'd recommend the Lanikai LU-21.