Sqeezebox maybe?

[papayahed]

OK, everytime I see good live music (ok, any live music really) I go home thinking that I'm going to learn how to play an instrument. Usually I'm thinking either drums or guitar. What say you guys? Fiddle maybe? Accordion?

[Helga]

I tried to play guitar but didn't have any patience and gave it up. I want my boy to play a accordion and he wants to but the school make you learn to play a flute first and he doesn't want to.

I think about this when I listen to 'lo-fi' music cause I love the roughness and the simplicity.

[cacian]

I like the idea of the drums because you get a lot more out of them like youcould play solo or even better with a band.
The others can be a bit difficult if you wanted to play in a group.
Good luck in whatever you chose:)

[tonywalt]

In the British schools it was required to learn the recorder (a flute like instrument) which was kind of cool. I think it is outdated now, but in the colonies some of these school traditions stuck longer, certainly until the 90's.

So, although I learned keyboard and wanted to play the Cure - I should have carried on with the Flute.

[Hawkman]

Ah the torture of playing the recorder as an infant. I started to learn to play trombone at school, but had to give it up because of the howls of laughter generated whenever I played a gliss. I did play 6 string guitar for a while and still play bass occasionally and I can get a tune out of a flute. Even played a clarinet for a bit. I never could get on with violins or fiddles though.

[Whifflingpin]

Stop thinking - start playing - anything except drums and banjos - keep playing. But you need to do an hour a day at least for a month before you decide whether the instrument is for you or not.

[Emil Miller]

In the British schools it was required to learn the recorder (a flute like instrument) which was kind of cool. I think it is outdated now, but in the colonies some of these school traditions stuck longer, certainly until the 90's.

So, although I learned keyboard and wanted to play the Cure - I should have carried on with the Flute.

You are right about the recorder in British schools. I wasn't in the school orchestra consisting of recorders and violins and led from the piano by a teacher but I still remember hearing them practice Bach's Sheep May Safely Graze in the hall while supposedly learning in the classroom. I sometimes play it on the piano now but it doesn't match my memory of the sound that wafted into the classroom all those years ago.

[kiki1982]

Oh, yes, in Belgium they still teach recorder in school. Not to very high standards, but at least people learn to read music.

I studied piano ad recorder for a while and then learned accordion on my own.

What I would urge you to do is identify your purpose. Playing the piano I chose when I was 8. I liked to push buttons... :rolleyes:. The problem with the instrument is that you need to be brilliant at it or you get nowhere. It is not an instrument that you can play a lot of stuff on, and playing in an orchestra (apart from Jazz and company) is non-existent.

Recorder suited me better because you could play together with other people which gets your motivation going (you don't want to let them down) and you fade in the background. Albeit the scope of music is pretty narrow: folk and baroque. Beautiful, but pretty narrow and everyone thinks it's easy :rolleyes:. Not so...

Accordeon I learned to play because there was a little student band going in my folk dancing group. Needless to say that it fell flat on its face as soon as things became serious (as things like that often do), but now my motivation is gone, so I am thinking of selling the instrument.

My advice would be, if you choose and instrument, know what your purpose will be. Can you pluck up the motivation every day to practice, for yourself, alone, or would you like to acquaint the world with your skills? If so, then what music would you like to play? Would you like to play pop? Then choose keyboard, drums (requires an incredible lot of regularity), or guitar (electric). Would you like to play classic or folk, I would say choose flute or fiddle. They are the widest instruments and they can play other genres as well, although limited. But the scope of also styles of music is wider than with recorder, drums or whatever.

[Annamariah]

Our whole class learned to play recorder too in elementary school, so Finland joins the club :D I think it's not as common nowadays as it was 10-15 years ago, though. On one hand it's a pity, though on the other hand, the sound produced by a classroom full of students who are only just learning to play a cheap recorder can be really awful...


Playing the piano I chose when I was 8. I liked to push buttons... :rolleyes:. The problem with the instrument is that you need to be brilliant at it or you get nowhere. It is not an instrument that you can play a lot of stuff on, and playing in an orchestra (apart from Jazz and company) is non-existent.

I have to disagree about the "it is not an instrument that you can play a lot of stuff on" part when we are talking about the piano. You can play pretty much anything with a piano, since it has such a large range. It suits classical music as well as popular music. Piano is a very versatile instrument: it's easy to learn the basics (and unlike violin, it's impossible to play off-pitch, even though you can produce some horrible "chords"), yet there is always room for improvement. Piano can be an accompanying instrument for song or other instruments, or you can play solo pieces with it.

The downsides to piano are that it's expensive and you can't carry it with you. And if you're into classical music and want to play in an orchestra, piano isn't the best choice for instrument: there are several violinists in an orchestra, but only one pianist.

I played the piano for nine years, and even though it's been almost ten years since I took lessons, I still like to play it, and every now and then I learn to play new songs, which I can do since I took lessons long enough to learn the basic skills and technique. My piano is also a great help to me when I'm learning my choir harmonies :)

I think guitar is a good choice for several reasons: the basics are easy to learn, guitar's aren't the most expensive instruments and you can carry one with you quite easily. It's the ideal instrument to take with you if you're gathering around campfire to sing songs :D

[kiki1982]

Yes, I know I should have worded that idea better :).

You can play a lot of styles on it, but you have to be brilliant. You can't fade into the background with it. That's what I was supposed to say ;). Orchestra pianists in classical music are rare or they are (brilliant) soloists and all the major and nice pieces are pretty much difficult to very difficult. Even a Kreuzer sonata (a violin accompanied by a piano) I would not attempt.
Oh, and don't underestimate the size of your hands. If you can't grab at least an octave (8 notes) comfortably, preferably one or two notes more from thumb to pinky, it's hard.

I followed lessons for 7 years. Maybe my teacher wasn't very good or I wasn't interested at the right time (hmmm ;)), but I personally find Jazz and pop pretty hard. Virtually any pop song with a prominent piano is either hard (for a perosn like Jerry Lee Lewis or Scott Joplin I take my hat off) or balads (like Yesterday by the Beatles).

It is true, you can never be off key, but you can push the wrong button ;) and then you can be horribly off key.

[Annamariah]

You can play a lot of styles on it, but you have to be brilliant. You can't fade into the background with it. That's what I was supposed to say ;). Orchestra pianists in classical music are rare or they are (brilliant) soloists and all the major and nice pieces are pretty much difficult to very difficult. Even a Kreuzer sonata (a violin accompanied by a piano) I would not attempt.
It depends on what kind of music you attempt. Playing a piano with a band to accompany a song doesn't really require much skill, you just need to know the basic chords. You see that kind of piano playing a lot in any place where people gather together to sing. It doesn't sound that great, but it's adequate, and knowing you don't need much to begin with, it's easy to build on that basis and leave classical music and the Kreuzer sonatas for later :)


Oh, and don't underestimate the size of your hands. If you can't grab at least an octave (8 notes) comfortably, preferably one or two notes more from thumb to pinky, it's hard.
I used to think so too, when I first started, but actually it's not as much about the size than flexibility, and the latter you can learn. I can reach two notes over an octave with my both hands, and my hands are by no means big. I know grown men with large hands who can't reach that much. I'm not very flexible otherwise, I can hardly reach my toes without bending my legs, but at least my fingers are pretty much as flexible as they can be :)


It is true, you can never be off key, but you can push the wrong button ;) and then you can be horribly off key.
I know, but still, listening to someone practise their first violin lessons is much worse than listening to first piano lessons :D

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Stop thinking - start playing - anything except drums and banjos - keep playing.

??????????

[Idril]

My dad just recently bought a banjolele. That would be quite a conversation starter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banjo_uke

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

The Recorder is still employed at least within my son's school district as of about five years ago. All students were introduced on the recorder at the elementary school level. Those who took further interest in music were then taken over to the Middle School for a tour through the orchestra and band departments. There, they were allowed to hear and sample various instruments. In my son's case the violin "spoke to him." My son began the first few years on the violin utilizing the Suzuki method.
Mastering an instrument takes much time and determination and a passion for the instrument you will share a great part of your life with, unless perhaps you intend to play a kazoo or Zeideco wash board.


Stop thinking - start playing - anything except drums and banjos - keep playing. But you need to do an hour a day at least for a month before you decide whether the instrument is for you or not.

'taint nothin wrong with a banjo or drums in the right hands:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jn3KCZEqxc


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjiOtouyBOg

"Squeeze Box" sorry I couldn't refuse...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG3Re60iWUY

.

[Sancho]

Well done, Gill.

Here’s the case against the banjo and snare drum:

Stan Freberg, The Yellow Rose of Texas
http://youtu.be/3VSa7W8zBOU

How about a Uke:

IZ, Somewhere Over the Rainbow
http://youtu.be/V1bFr2SWP1I

[Revolte]

No Banjo no game, give that one a whirl.

[JuniperWoolf]

Well, it takes 10,000 hours to get really good at something apparently. I want to play the violin really well, so I'd better get on it before I'm too old.

Oh yeah, also, I play drums - terribly.

[papayahed]

Well, it takes 10,000 hours to get really good at something apparently. I want to play the violin really well, so I'd better get on it before I'm too old.



But I'm quick.

[Sancho]

I’d probably go with a fretted instrument. I tried the fiddle once, but only succeeded in terrorizing the cat. And if you decide on a fretted instrument, I’d go with one that has pickups. A Fender Stratocaster plays like butter, but spend some time with it in the store first. Make sure it fits well in your hands and just feels good. Get one with a whammy bar, and a few distortion pedals wouldn’t hurt – Stevie Ray once said, “Play it fast, play it hard, and pedal-pedal-pedal.” Oh yes, and buy yourself a full Marshall Stack – the neighbors might as well enjoy your guitar lessons too.

[prendrelemick]

Having had three daughters - clarinet, violin, and flute - all practicing different tunes in different parts of the house, I'm just glad we lived somewhere remote.

[Whifflingpin]

"'taint nothin wrong with a banjo or drums in the right hands:"

Drums are OK for consenting adults in private, but they are bad for your ears and raise stress levels so they should not be played where there are children (or grown-ups).

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

"'taint nothin wrong with a banjo or drums in the right hands:"

Drums are OK for consenting adults in private, but they are bad for your ears and raise stress levels so they should not be played where there are children (or grown-ups).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z6PPrr29ts

.

[kiki1982]

"'taint nothin wrong with a banjo or drums in the right hands:"

Drums are OK for consenting adults in private, but they are bad for your ears and raise stress levels so they should not be played where there are children (or grown-ups).

Ear plugs are a must, yes.

Because other people do not really like to hear other people drum (badly), they have now invented electric drumkits which are totally silent and have earphones so the player himself can hear what he is doing without troubling the rest of mankind.
One of our neighbours' sons drums (very well too, after years and years of practice and a good teacher) and he's got a genuine drumkit which he sometimes uses, but mosty he practices on such an electric one.
Bliss...

The son of our previous apartment's owner got a genuine drumkit too and terrorised the neighbourhood with his bad practice runs. And I do mean two bars and then stop, the same two bars and then stop, because he couldn't get the hang of it. Why is always those that play aloud?

Violins are difficult, because, indeed, they don't have frets and you have to calculate where your have to put your finger. Put it one milimeter out and it is slightly off pitch. That is if you have mastered your bow action and have cut out the early scratching and whining...
Once you can play it, though, it is easy, because modulation is a matter of the same hand positions, only further up or down or on a different string.

[Emil Miller]

Once you can play it, though, it is easy, because modulation is a matter of the same hand positions, only further up or down or on a different string.


Some people make it look easy as shown here. Despite the fact that it turns out to be a race between the orchestra and soloist, it remains one of the most committed virtuoso performances ever on DVD.

http://youtu.be/y5ZSzwFtQvM