if you could learn an instrument, which would you learn?
By jedimind
@jedimind (200)
Singapore
November 25, 2008 10:36am CST
hi, just wondering given the ability to choose which instrument you would like to learn, which one would you pick.
currently, the only instrument i can play is the guitar. i feel it is a really good instrument because it is a good way to express your feelings. I've always wanted to learn the piano though, only problem is, it looks really hard to me. i just don't know how anyone can play the bass notes on the left hand and then play a complex melody with their right. it's like having to have two different brains.
so what instrument would you learn?
5 people like this
38 responses
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
26 Nov 08
Well I already know how to play guitar and bass and those were the instruments I wanted to learn the most. Drums would be cool to learn or being able to become a better vocalist would be awesome but that takes practice. I also like the eastern sound of a sitar or however you spell it. That would be a very cool instrument to learn how to play.
1 person likes this
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
25 Nov 08
I would like to learn how to play the organ. I would like to be able to play for my church. I think the organ is a complicated instrument to learn. Your fingers are going as well as your feet. My husband plays the guitar at our church. He actually owns three guitars, and I have one even though I do not know how to play. Wish you well with your music
@jedimind (200)
• Singapore
26 Nov 08
hi armrd829, the bass guitar is a good choice! i like it too, it really adds feel to songs. in fact, i actually started out playing the bass for my church. it was only a few years after that i progressed to playing the acoustic.
hmm, when you ask what guitar is good for a beginner, you were referring to what bass guitar is good for a beginner? i'm not sure actually, but i guess something which is affordable is good enough. it doesn't have to be too expensive because you're just using it to learn
@armrd829 (74)
• Singapore
26 Nov 08
Yes, basically playing the keyboard is similar to playing the keyboard. I learned to play the piano up to 6 years ago when I had to stop because I moved overseas. Since then I have lost the touch of playing the piano, even though I still do play keyboard in church, cos playing keyboard doesnt require much piano 'skill'. Because nowadays keyboards come with pre-set tunes and all kinds of programs, eg: one can use the transposition program so that he can play any song on C. Besides, one doesn't have to move much of his left hand when he's playing keyboard, because the keyboard will play the pre-set tunes. But keyboard is useful in a band and is very easy to master (different brand is somewhat different in using the programme). Just need to be familiar with your own keyboard.
Back to your qn, I'd like to learn piano again if possible, and also the bass guitar. The latter appeals to me somehow,because i like its sound. But I have no knowledge of playing guitar. Which guitar should I take if I'd like to learn as a beginner?
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
11 Dec 08
About twenty years ago I tried to learn the piano. It is hard to have one hand play something completely different than the other.I play the guitar too. With the guitar and my first instrument the violin, both hands work together.I would like to learn Bass guitar.The problem? I need to learn Bass clef.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
12 Dec 08
Bass clef is the bottom notes on sheet music for piano, the part your left hand plays. I would need to know it to read music for bass. I already play guitar so the actual playing will be easy to pick up.
@android (895)
•
25 Nov 08
I have been playing the piano since the age of eight and I was classically trained up to Grade 5. I can tell you now that learning to play the guitar is a LOT harder than learning to play the piano! The piano is probably one of the easiest instruments to learn to play. You say that you cannot understand how a person can play the bass notes on the left hand the melody on the right hand at the same time, yet the same principal applies with guitar. You have to place your left hand fingers in the right places and keep changing them, while at the same time you are using your right hand to pluck/strum/fingerpick the correct strings. The strings on a guitar are also a lot harsher on the fingers than piano keys on a keyboard. I personally found the guitar ten times harder to learn to play than the piano. I can now play both very fluently. Also don't be put off by the way that music theory (written music notation) looks, it might look complicated at first but it really isn't! It's actually quite easy once you know how it all works. Give it a go and stick at it and you will get there eventually!
@android (895)
•
25 Nov 08
I also forgot to mention that I teach both guitar and piano! As for music notation, all you need to remember is that there are only 8 notes in music. Being able to play fluently just from reading a musical notation score basically comes from years of practise of doing just that. A few years to learn to play a musical instrument may initially seem like a long time, but it goes quick and of course the more you practise and continue to learn, the better you will become.
@jedimind (200)
• Singapore
25 Nov 08
i actually do want to learn music theory but just as you said, whenever i look at those lines and music notes on them, it just looks so complicated and i just end up not learning it. i think spend a few hours one of these days to get a friend to explain them all to me.
it also amazes me how people side-read from piano scores. all they need is the piano scores in front of them and they can play the song immediately without even know the song. for me, i have to know the tune of the song first before i can attempt to learn it on the guitar.
i know that playing the guitar is painful to the fingers but the good news is, the more you play, the more calloused your fingers becomes and eventually it hurts less. thanks for sharing.
@fellynice (8)
• Nigeria
26 Nov 08
I have tried to learn so many instrument, but sometimes it is not easy.Sometines nature determines what instrument that one can be good at. Some people are good on the hand while some on the leg.I would like to learn how to play piano and guiter.
@SeishiroX (1093)
• Philippines
26 Nov 08
I think some people are naturally talented at some things. However, there are a lot of things that can be learned and acquired. Musical talent is also one of these. I'm academically inclined, for example, but I have learn martial arts (sporty) and piano (musical). Practice and perseverance are the keys to that.
@jedimind (200)
• Singapore
26 Nov 08
i think to some extent you are correct. some people are musically talented while others are not as musically talented. it's the same thing as how some people are more sporty as compared to others. and also how some are more academically inclined than others.
@tammytwo (4298)
• United States
26 Nov 08
I have never had the opportunity to learn to play any instrument but have always been interested in the guitar, drums or piano. I would love to be able to say that I could play at least one of the three. But with so much on my plate and so little free time I am sure that will never happen.
@jedimind (200)
• Singapore
26 Nov 08
yea, it is quite hard to find time learning an instrument when we are always caught up in having to either study or having to work to make a living. but if you do ever have some free time, do try picking up an instrument to learn. it can really help you to de-stress from a long day of work.
@aisaellis22 (6445)
• United States
29 Nov 08
Hello jedimind! I know how to play piano and now I am trying to learn the guitar. I can play some songs now I have some songs that it's really hard for me to play. It's hard for me to do different kinds of strumming and I only knew the basic chords.
@jedimind (200)
• Singapore
29 Nov 08
hi aisaellis, i think my blog will be a good resource for you to learn how a bit about playing the guitar. you can check it out at http://basicsofguitar.blogspot.com
for now i've only made 2 entries, but more will be coming soon. hope it helps in your quest to learn how to play the guitar
jedimind
@agrant10 (1476)
• United States
26 Nov 08
If I could learn how to play an instrument it would be the saxophone. This is a instrument that has alway interest me. I think that is a sexy instrument. The sound is so soothing and seducing. Especially the slow love songs.
@23uday (2997)
• India
26 Nov 08
Hi
I love to play a musical instruments.If given a chance, i would love to learn,VEENA , which is an important instrument in INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC.Its really very nice and the music of it is really very soothing and very divinely.
I would also like to learn piano and jazz drums.piano is really cool,hope i learn it very quickly.
Bye!!!!!!!!!!
@SeishiroX (1093)
• Philippines
26 Nov 08
I'm currently learning the piano. Yes, it's very difficult but it does develop the brain. You learn how to coordinate two parts of your brain, and use that skill to coordinate both hands separately. It's also like seeing with both eyes in different directions. I love it! It's very challenging. It's even better to learn using a real piano than a keyboard. You have to use varying strengths of your hand to produce different timbres plus coordinate your hands.
Cheers~
@jedimind (200)
• Singapore
26 Nov 08
you can use your each eye to look in different directions??? i never thought that was humanly possible. whenever i watch movies or shows that has a scene on that, i always just think it's some effects or contact lens to make their eyes look different directions.
@Undertheoath (365)
• United States
26 Nov 08
I would learn the piano because it is beautiful. It is perhaps the only instrument I can truly say I would like to learn.
@jedimind (200)
• Singapore
26 Nov 08
so i take it you haven't learned how to play the piano yet? i would recommend you learn it when you have the chance to. you know how they say it's harder to learn new skills when you get older, or the phrase "you can't teach an old dog new tricks"?
yup, go for it, since this is the instrument you really want to learn :)
@TallGeese3 (35)
• United States
12 Dec 08
Personally, I would love to play the Guitar(I already do) and thats because I love all music. I play many different insturments and teach Band in the Middle School level. I play in a Jazz/Blues Group but like all music. Should you need anything feel free to contact me. Well thats my 2 cents worth.
@motorheadbanger (441)
• United States
25 Nov 08
Well, I would like to learn the drums since most of the music I listen to has a strong drum sound to it. I think that it would be great to sit down and just starting beating up the drum kit and learning at the same time.
@jedimind (200)
• Singapore
25 Nov 08
in my opinion, the drums is really important in keeping the beat of the song. a band without a good drummer will have songs that are played without a constant tempo. hmm, not that you've mentioned it, i wouldn't mind learning the drums too.
though it does look complicated too. having to use your feet for the kick drums, and one hand for the high-hat while the other hits the snare drums. it's amazing how drummers can do all that.
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
25 Nov 08
This is a good discussion because music is very important in peoples lives because it can add color and meaning to places that are otherwise dull,boring and meaningless and if you are in a good mood,it can put you in an even better mood,and maybe even make you want to get up and dance no matter where you are or who is watching,and if you are in a sad mood,or in a bad mood,it can make things look better and make you feel better,it is also a good way to relax when you are stressed or down in the dumps,it can make things look better because it can make you forget about your worries or whatever is frustrating you,and it can take you back to a place and time,or to a certain memory,that either makes you laugh or makes you cry depending on what the memory is,since some memories are better than others,and I am sure there are a lot of people out there who have a musical instrument that they can either that they play now,and have played for many years,or that they used to know how to play,but they have forgotten how to play over the years,and I am sure there are people who have an instrument that they would love to learn to play for one reason or another,maybe because they want to be in a marching band,or because they want to be in a rock band or a country band with some of their friends to have fun or if they have a dream to be in a famous band that makes a lot of songs,and becomes very popular and also very rich,which I am sure a lot of people want to be,and then I am sure there are people who either do not want to learn to play a musical instrument either because they are not big fans of music or because they are very busy with other things around the house or busy work schedules,or they just do not want to play a musical instrument,which I can understand while people would feel the way they feel,because playing an instrument is a lot of work and it takes a lot of practice,and that is cool that you can play the guitar and that you that you think it is a good way to express feelings,and that is cool that you want to learn the piano,and it does look kind of hard,because of all the keys that you would have to learn and right now I can play the harmonica kind of,and I played the trombone for like half a semester when I was in the seventh grade,and when I was a kid I tried to learn the guitar but I got tired of it,and now if I could learn any instrument I would choose to learn the drums,because I have always liked the drums and I think they are really neat and I think that drums are a good way to express yourself,and drums do not involve having to stand up because you get to sit down,and you get to follow the beat,and my friends have always said I have potential to learn the drums because I am always drumming on things,and they said I can keep up with the beat really well which is a good thing,and I have always wanted to start a band with my friends because it would be a lot of fun,and a good way to hang out with my friends.
I think ladies who can play the drums are awesome and really cool! 
@kkthom3 (279)
• United States
25 Nov 08
I really love listening to classical music so if I could learn to play an instrument I would pick either the violin or the cello. They both sound so beautiful when some one really talented is playing. I actually tried to learn how to play the violin a few years ago but I was too busy with other things so I gave it up.
The piano does sound difficult, but I think just like with any instrument, if you practice and have a good instructor then you should be fine.
@jedimind (200)
• Singapore
25 Nov 08
wow, interesting choice there. i have a cousin who plays the violin and i must say it does sound nice, not sure how the cello really sounds like though. i think playing the violin also has a "rich image" to it. meaning most of the time, you find only the rich or well educated people playing it heh. that's what i think though.
@mano5chi (207)
• Spain
25 Nov 08
Maybe it is a strange choice, but I would like to learn the harp. Music this instrument produce is very relaxing and breathtakingly beautiful. Harp music make the forget all my problems and I would want to make people feel like that.
@jedimind (200)
• Singapore
26 Nov 08
what an interesting choice! i have a friend in church who plays the harp, and like what you said, it's really relaxing. i've heard harps are really expensive though. they can range from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. and those giant harps can be a problem carrying around.
• United States
3 Dec 08
I can already play guitar and bass but ive always wanted to be able to play the drums but i cant use my feet and my hands also i would like to be able to play keyboards
