Do you play a musical instrument?

I play guitar and I recommend you play as often as you can, no matter what instrument it is. If it’s not fun, it’s not for you.

the wife plays some mean slobber blues on the meat horn, btw

I have a beautiful acoustic guitar that has been sleeping in its case and a Lee Oskar harmonica that hasn’t been touched in ages. I wanted to pick them up again this summer, but it didn’t happen for various reasons. Learning music does not come easy for me, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say neither instrument is for me. I’ve always wanted to learn piano, but don’t have one to practice on.

If you want to pick up an instrument, you should at least play twenty minutes every day you get a chance. Try and give yourself long term and short term goals. Play the scales every day until you’re comfortable with them.

However @Blondesjon mentioned, if you aren’t having any fun it’s not worth forcing yourself to practice. That’s why people give up on expensive grand pianos and cellos.

I use to play several instruments, but haven’t played any recently. I started out with the clarinet when I was 8. I played every day at least 30 minutes a day and had private lessons. I loved it. Between the ages of 10 and 16 I learned to play several other instruments (saxophone, flute, trumpet, mellophone, keyboard, guitar, and bass guitar). Most of those I taught myself, but I had friends help me with a few of them.

I agree with @Blondesjon about the fun part. I loved playing music and would love to get back into it.

When I was in school I played clarinet and alto saxophone. I messed around with my BF’s flute too. I enjoyed playing instruments and always did well with what I played. The only instrument I play now is the meat horn. thanks @Blondesjon

I would love to learn guitar but I just can’t get my fingers wrapped around the neck just right. Trumpet is fun too, but it tickles my lips too much for me to continue.

Kazoo-yes,that’s right…and eventually harmonica—after that the piano in my living room—:)

I have no musical background but I have always been a music lover and fascinated by musical instruments. I would love to learn how to play the acoustic guitar, the violin and the piano for starters.

I play piano, clarinet…..bass drum in college
and was a music teacher….
find something that fits your hands.

I’ve been playing guitar for 7 to 10 years, depending on who you ask.

I started by taking rigid and stuffy Spanish guitar lessons, which I hated, but finally started playing on my own when I got my first electric guitar. After much playing, reading, and studying, I became pretty decent at guitar on my own.

I play for at least an hour daily.

I also play bass guitar, tuba, trombone, lap harp, and I’m trying struggling to teach myself violin.

I play drums, guitar, bass, piano, and synth (synth is a whole other beast!), and from all of the experiences I have been through in learned musical instruments, I have learned one thing more important than any other advice you can be given about playing an instrument:

ENJOY IT!

You will learn much faster if you actually have fun learning about all the musical and physical possibilities of your instrument, and try as hard as you can to become a master at your instrument. It doesn’t matter how amazing your instrument is or how great your teacher (if any!) is, but how much you love to play it.

What I am saying is, dont treat playing instrument as “another chore”. Think of it as MAKING ART. It should be something you look forward to doing, not something you dread! For the first three years of learning my first instrument (guitar), I made little to no progress because I didn’t ENJOY it. I just thought of it as a bunch of memorization of scales and chords, no emotion at all. Try to play as much as possible: Improvise, learn others songs, and learn new techniques, no matter how obscure!

That reminds me, don’t spend too much time learning OTHERS songs. This will not help your advancement as a musician in anything other than technique. I rarely learn other songs except when I want to see HOW they did what they did, not to imitate them. You will enjoy your music a lot more when you can put your feelings into it, which is hard to do when remembering what comes after the next chorus.

I hoped this rant has helped; to conclude, music is about having fun and using emotion. Just try your best and enjoy doing it!

—Nic

I am capable of plinking out a tune or two on piano, and I’ve learned a couple of really simple bass lines in the last few months. The “instrument” I play best is my own voice. I’ve been singing since I was 6.

If you want to really learn to play any instrument I would commit to 30 minutes a day to start and after 2–3 months then take it to an hour a day! I took piano lessons for 4 years before I felt comfortable to quit and move on my own. Then I taught myself to play guitar and play everyday for around ½ hour and it is my favorite part of my day, I also play a bit of drums, harmonica, kazoo, spoons and penny whistle! Music is a blast and I hope you find a way to take up an instrument!

No but the drums fascinate me.

I play the cello and I (try to ) practice every day for 2 hours. I started young (9) and I already played the hand bells and piano, so it came easily. I really want to learn how to play the guitar. :D

@amazingme I would think you should be a duck on water picking up a guitar especially with your cello background! The finger strength and calluses are the hardest part and you should be set.

Wow! You guys are impressive! You could start you own band! Thanks everyone for the advice.

@Frenchfry that’s a great idea…

Introducing, for the first time ever…. the 356 piece progressive post-metal rockabilly jam althiphop band…..

THE FLUTHERITES!!!

crowd cheers

@Cruiser I know! But for some reason I have always had trouble with chords. /:

@amazingme Everybody I have watched try guitar has that same problem and is very discouraging for sure. More often than not people will try too hard and press or play too hard on all 6 strings and I might suggest a light feather touch approach to see how little force you might need to fret out a whole chord and go from there.

Have you tried triads or arpeggios with chords or even partial bar chords? Start small and work you way up to the bigger chords that require more muscle until you develop the hand strength to tackle the big stuff.

I drum along on the dashboard to the car radio as I drive along. I’m hoping that Bruce would put me with The E Street Band. I’m very talented at Dashboard Drumming

@Cruiser I am going to try to learn guitar, but balancing that and cello would be hard. :D But I’ll try, thanks!

Ooh, I’m late to this party! Can I add my tenpennarth-worth?

I play harp, piano, violin and viola… and have been playing since I was eight… and I teach music one to one… (gosh, I love my life!)

Practise every day that you are able, yes… but if at all possible, practise a couple of times a day – once in the morning and once later in the day… both can be short practises, c.20 mins, but you will come forward leaps and bounds if you can do this. Ideally, you want to make practise a habit, part of your daily routine… so if you can fit it in, say prior to your favourite tv show, or with your elevenses cup of coffee, then it will become just another part of what you do each day.

Generally speaking, practise little and often, rather than once a week for several hours – the more frequently you practise the more you’ll build on what you’re learning and the quicker you’ll advance… but the shorter practises will mean that you are able to stay focussed for the whole time of your practise…

And I would very strongly emphasise that getting input from a teacher as to the technique to use if vital – how you hold your body, hands, mouth etc as you play will make all the difference to a) not ending up aching or damaging yourself, b) to getting the best sound possible from the instrument and c) being able to progress…

Lastly, learing curves always include plateaus (is that the correct way to pluralise that?!), so don’t panic when you feel like you’ve reached a point and can’t get any better – stick at it, these are the times when you truly ingrain what you’ve learnt so far, before you go onto progressing further.

Ooh, it’s such fun! What are you going to learn?.... :-)

@harple That is sound advice. Violin hopefully. Thanks nobody is ever late for a party in my book.

@amazingme You sound dedicated to your cello and I have that same issue with piano and my guitar. To be good does require everyday practice but what is nice about guitar is it is a fun instrument to noodle around on and although it is nice to be able to fly and play well, it is also nice just to strum a little and not think too much about just picking away while you relax somewhere anywhere. Plus having over 2 octaves and six stings to sound out all at once is a veritable symphony compared to the cello! You should have a lot of fun with the guitar!

Most of my family plays instruments. We all started out on piano. It helped to learn the notes and such and make them happen by just pushing a key for the note to come out. After a few years of that we started to learn whatever else it was we wanted to play. I play several woodwind instruments. Praciticing daily does alot to help you improve.

I had to get rid of my electronic keyboard this year. Old Paint lost the ability to play any G and B# notes. Then I saw this one. It will be my next one, as soon as I have the dosh.

I would love to learn to play the piano. It’s a versatile instrument because you can play a synthesizer and reproduce the sound of any other instrument using MIDI. But I lost the tip of one of my fingers in a construction accident a few years ago, so I don’t think I can.