What instrument should I learn to play?

[leftist_rebel1569]

Poll question: What instrument should I learn to play?

Okay, recently I decided i'm gonna learn to play an instrument, to give me something else to do with my time. Since I can't get a job, cuz no one will hire 15 yr olds in my local area because the job market sucks (THANKS A LOT, BUSH...FUCKER!), I have some time to spare. But...I dunno what instrument to learn to play! So...i'm turning to DU to help me decide. Now...what should I learn to play?

[Champion Jack]

1. kazoo

be the first on your block

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. Tinwhistle.

You can walk into the store, ask for the same model used by Mary Bergin, and leave with change from a ten dollar bill.

Try that at the guitar store.

More on the tinwhistle at http://www.chiffandfipple.com

[Ediacara]

3. the Parasaurolophone

basically PVC piping shaped in the same way as the internal nasal cavities of Parasaurolophus walkeri. It's better known and easier to play cousin is called a Tuba :-)

[Pert_UK]

4. The Freedom Horn.........

I used to play the French Horn in local orchestras, but gave it up at about 18......Lots of fun though, and it give you excellent firm lips and good breath control....

P.

[priller]

5. Banjo

It's such a happy sounding instrument. We need more happiness right now!

[REP]

8. Banjo Is A Hard Thing to Start With

A very cool instrument with some kick-ass music (Rhapsody in Blue has a banjo line!) but tremendously difficult as a first instrument.

[geniph]

46. It's also extraordinarily LOUD

which can be unpleasant for those within earshot while you're learning!

Other instruments which beginning musicians should only play in soundproof rooms include trumpets, drums, and bagpipes.

[REP]

6. Piano/Keyboard Is An Excellent Thing to Learn First

and if you like it, great! If not, you've still taught yourself some valuable musical skills that will come in handy no matter what you end up playing.

[VelmaD]

68. gotta agree here..

The musical scale used with every other instrument is tied to the way a piano is put together. Plus with piano you have to learn to read both bass and treble clef which will stand you in good stead no matter what other instrument you decide to learn later on. And piano is a good way of building up your manual dexterity, especially on your non-dominant hand, which also comes in handy with other instruments.

Darth Velma

[LincolnMcGrath]

7. Didgeridoo

[LoZoccolo]

9. Guitar...

Classic starter guitars:

http://www.squierguitars.com/

[REP]

10. Don't Forget Voice!

Learning bel canto, even if you have no interest in singing opera, is a very cool thing. It teaches you how to breathe, breath control, projection - and though singing might sound easy, doing it right isn't. Once you've learned the basics, it never leaves you, so if you become old and asthmatic (like me), you will still be able to breathe! Plus, the instrument is cheap.

Better yet, learn an instrument and train your voice!

[leftist_rebel1569]

14. hmm...I might consider that.

Although i'm not exactly interested in opera singing, I might consider training my voice somehow. I think my voice is ok, and it may also give me something else to do if I don't like the instrument I pick. But, I might do both...is there some other form of voice training other than that?

[REP]

28. Not That I Know Of

There are some Speech classes that teach some of the basics, but if you're interested in any kind of singing at all, classical voice training is the way to go. Besides the stuff I mentioned, it also teaches you how to 'place' (head, chest, nose, throat, etc) your voice, and how to avoid singing so you damage your voice. Plus, once you know the rules, you know how to break them.

[mitchum]

11. piano and drums...

piano for theory
drums for gigs

playing guitar is just the lazyman's way to pick up girls (and I should know) Honestly, guitarists are a NICKEL a dozen

[salin]

12. Harmonica

when you are a little older - some folks will find the blues played on a harmonica casaully pulled out of the pocket to be quite a draw.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. Oh I thpught it was for Raindog's reasons

[dweller]

13. Drums, aka rhythm

get outside and listen to the sounds of the Earth, the wind and trees, and especially the silences in between... and pay attention to birds and insects, animals at play and in the day to day life you might miss if tuned into, well anything other than the Earth.
eventually you'll pick up a bass beat, a harmony will come in. You'll find a symphony in play.
Time is NOT an element. Sometimes the beat is in quarter time, what humans call seasons.
But if you try, you'll hear it and get in tune.
the rest will be easy, such as picking an instrument.
good luck

dp

[iluvchicago86]

16. Homer Simpson is CRYING!

You didnt include his beloved "saxomophone"! I say good day, sir!

[Kenneth ken]

17. Tamborine

you could say Bob Dylan wrote a song about you (Mr Tamborine Man)
or
you could be the next Davy jones
or
you could be the next Tracy Partridge

"...the future was wide open..."

[Feanorcurufinwe]

18. Mandolin

Mandolin

They sound good even if you can barely play 'em.
Small so they are easy and convenient to carry and play.
Different sound so you are not just adding another guitar to the jam.

Over the years I have played sax, guitar, mandolin, bass, and keys - the mandolin is the most fun.


http://www.mandolincafe.com/

[Bake]

34. Is that an F-4 on the right?

I LOVE those old Gibson F-4's with the oval soundhole!!! What's the vintage?

Bake

[Feanorcurufinwe]

51. It's an F2 - 1925

[JVS]

35. Good choice. It has a bonus feature too.

The stringing is identicle to the violin, so if you learn to play one of them learning the other is easier because you know the board fingering already.

[Bake]

41. Except that a mando has frets

And a violin just has that blank fingerboard. And the BOW!!! Learning to get a note with the bow that doesn't sound like a cat dying a painful death is just HARD!!

Bake

[JVS]

48. yeah but at least you know where to put your fingers

I've played both. Not too hard to switch. A beginner on violin might want to have someone put some white tape on it for some guidance on figer placement.

[Devlzown]

19. Dulcimer

[Melsky]

20. dude, seriously DRUMS

I have known a lot of people in bands, and good drummers are rare. You can always get work or get in a band if you have a drum set. Not as glamorous as guitars, but much less competition and your arms will look great!

[leftist_rebel1569]

24. hmm...

good point. That's also a factor I was considering...the amount of competition for that instrument. I was hoping that I could join a band with whatever instrument I learn, but I don't want to compete against 20 other people for a spot in a band.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

26. If

If you don't want to play mando, I would recommend drums or bass, both are more in demand than guitar or keys, and really, a tight rhythm section is what makes a good band usually.

Remember though with drums, they are loud, practicing is not as easy as with a string instrument - you can even practice bass unplugged and it's super quiet. And drums are a lot of stuff to carry around. And then there's all the drummer jokes. But it's true, good drummers are rare. Not as rare as good mandolin players though.

[tarkus]

21. PLAY BASS

The world needs more bassists, and bassists are the coolest if you really think about it. Look at Tony Levin, Chris Squire, P-Nut,Jaco Pastorius, Flea, and others. I am actually a guitarist, but I play bass in a band and I wish I had started out playing it because then I would have more options open to me. You will probably pick up guitar anyway, but don't say I didn't warn you.

[wtmusic]

22. 5-string banjo n/t

[leftofthedial]

23. harmonica

all the others are heavy

[Feanorcurufinwe]

27. You gotta carry all those different key harmonicas though

[Bake]

42. Easier than carrying drums around ...

:-)

Bake

"I used to be a drummer before I became a musician."

[Aristus]

25. The tuba, my young friend.

You'll enjoy geek-chic for life. I should know.

[msu2ba]

61. Tis True

After all, Tubas Go Deeper.......according to our old section t-shirts, anyway<G>.

[leftist_rebel1569]

29. kick

:kick:

[JVS]

30. Zither

Here is a picture


You would then be cool. Like this guy

[LanternWaste]

31. Bass Clarinet

Bass Clarinet. You can never go wrong with the Bass Clarinet.
It tatses great. It's less filling. It's good for you and you can pick up chicks with it...

O-kay, maybe I'm stretching it a bit on that last one.

[sujan]

32. piano

[catpower2000]

33. Mandolin.

Seriously. You could play in a bluegrass band, an alt-country band, even a super-cutting endge indie rock band. It's a great instrument and provides a unique addition to any music. Plus, chicks dig mandolin players.

If you think I'm insane, just go play the bass. It's easy and clearly you don't have any imagination. :) Just kidding, I play bass.

Cat

[tridim]

45. Mandolin AND violin..

They're almost the same instrument. Learn both. :) I started on the violin, then took bluegrass fiddle lessons, then learned the mandolin by myself. I also play guitar, piano, drums, harmonica and the flute. Quantity over quality is fine in the music world IMO.

[Bake]

36. You don't choose the instrument, it chooses you

Play the one that speaks to you. The one whose sound stays in your head even when you're asleep. The one that you think sounds like YOU. That depends on things like, what kind of music you like, and what do you want to do with it.

Also, key point: pianos are hard to take around with you. Guitars, mandolins, banjos, violins/fiddles (funny, nobody mentioned this... they are a BITCH to play!!), are all readily transportable. Upright basses (the big "doghouse" bass) are not, however. Electrics of any description need, well, electricity and amplification.

Bake

[Karenina]

38. Na, Du, Dbaker41

Yours is the only sensitive, sensible post so far. Sooooo, LR, ya wanna play an instrument? That you have to ask tells me you're NOT all that serious and don't "feel the call." That said, and I don't mean to dis you that your goal is to be a hobbyist- playing music is one of the best things one can do for the soul. I throw the same qustion posed above. What "SPEAKS" to you? First tell us that.

[TXlib]

37. Glass Armonica

http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/musician/virtualarmonica.html

[Breezy du Nord]

39. THE SAXAMAPHONE

Best damn instrument ever.

[BlueJazz]

53. Here's a woman after my own heart....

I was a Professional Jazz Musician for 15 years. (Tenor Sax)

[MiltonLeBerle]

40. Trombone

no valves to finger, or strings to pluck.

[bbernardini]

43. Piano...Miles Davis says so!

At least I think it was Miles. Pretty much any accomplished musician will tell you that a basic knowledge of the piano is necessary to understand the theory behind what you're doing. Believe it or not, I find that knowing the theory helps me to appreciate the music even more.

Of course, Miles may have been wacky on the crank when he said that. :)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

52. All musicians should learn piano

All musicians should learn piano.

Everything's right there for you in black and white.

[WilliamPitt]

44. Bass or drums

Everyone's a guitar superhero...which means that bass players and drummers are in need. If you want gigs, go that way.

[geniph]

47. I think it's important to learn to read music

and, of the instruments you listed, piano (keyboards) is the most likely to teach you that. Learn keyboards and basic music reading first, then consider those instruments that speak to you.

[slackmaster]

49. Try the Harry Partch instruments - ONLINE - Do it now!

This is WAAAAAY too cool for school:

http://www.musicmavericks.org/features/feature_partch.html

[bbernardini]

67. Not too cool for school!

I show my 8th graders a shortened version of the Partch documentary film every year!

[Mr. McD]

50. Bagpipe's

[Bake]

54. Lotsa gigs for bagpipers, fer sure

Unfortunately, they're all playing Amazing Grace at funerals.

Bake

[maxanne]

63. no way dude

bagpipes are the new cool instrument, especially at Celtic festivals, and Scottish Game meets. There's a whole phenomenon of "Braveheart" bands - young wild men wearing rough kilts playing drums and pipes. It's very primal and tribal - and women love it. People love to see someone play a bagpipe - it's a great conversation starter.

Bagpipes are versatile - they sound good alone, in a band, or in the formation of massed bands.

Only a piper with no imagination plays Amazing Grace at a funeral. Give me Scotland the Brave any day. Or Sargeant MacKenzie, which is what I've requested to be played at my funeral.

[nuxvomica]

55. Drums, definitely

It always seems like drummers are more at peace than the rest of us. I'll wager the rhythmic battering must release a lot of pent-up frustration. (Maybe we should all become drummers till regime change.) Perhaps you could even affix images of the BFEE on the drumheads. And it's also good exercise but make sure you learn it correctly or you'll end up with some repetitive stress condition.

P.S. Make sure you got rhythm, first. I am rhythmless and cannot play them myself.

:kick:

[tridim]

56. Yea, tell that to John Bonham

Great drummer, but nowhere near 'at peace'. Crazy mofo he was.

I've known lots of drummers and most are normal, some are in their own world, some are cokeheads, some are assholes, some are clowns/pot smokers. IMO, Hammond B3 players are most at peace.. Well, besides sitar players obviously. :)

[jonnyblitz]

57. the accordian! you will be a big hit at the polkas!!

:hi:

[alfredo]

71. The accordian is universal, you can play it anywhere

with just about any instrument.

The Dulcimer is very cool. I love my Ledford Dulcimer.
http://upbeat.dawggone.net/people/homerledford.html
http://members.aol.com/hlccb/
He's the one with the mandolin.
He made that mando.
http://www.berea.edu/Publications/Alumnus/Summer99/RudeOsolnik.html



Edited just to pass the time.

[theemu]

58. Accordion

Seriously. SERIOUSLY. The rock potential of the accordion is as yet untapped, but it's there. Just don't play it on the subway.

[HEyHEY]

59. Mandolin

I am in the market now, but traditional instruments will have more apeal when you get older. I wish I could play one now...I guess being a guitar player I could but, it would be proper.

[leftist_rebel1569]

60. kick

:kick:

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

62. Piano is always useful

Piano will help you learn more about music, after you master piano- you'll be able to master a lot of different instruments.

Though guitar and bass may look cooler. ;)

[morstyranni]

64. Piano, definitely

Guitar may be cooler, but you'll get a much better foundation in musical theory from the piano.

[BarbaRosa]

65. Bass

..All the eyes were on the star, but the rumps were shakin to the bass guitar.

[PunkinPi]

66. Cowbell!!!! You can never have too much

[ProfessorGAC]

69. If Anything, I Need MORE Cowbell

The Professor

[PunkinPi]

70. "I have a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell."

hehe. :)