Alto saxophone and EWI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUtdP3jQKUA No, I'm not Jeff Kashiwa, but I play the same instrument >.>)
Do you play an instrument?
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Cello is a pretty awesome instrument. I've played it for almost exactly eight years now, but you'd be surprised how hard cello, violin, etc. are to play compared to guitar and e-bass. I feel like I've been playing it an eternity, was second chair throughout high school, and still need years of improvement. I've just recently started playing the acoustic and electric guitars, and they're very hard to get used to and gain the technical skill at, but as my other cellist friend says, "Frets are cheating". You don't have to spend near as much time worrying about tuning because of frets. It's a real difference going from one world of string instruments to the other. I still can't get used to all the coordination you need from your right hand on the acoustic guitar...Anarchemitis said:
I took piano lessons for six years and sang for five, but high school has pretty much destroyed my skill in those areas. I sing in the car and play fur elise, and that's about it.
Im not.. As I said before I played Classical upright for a year and it was freakin hard =| The only thing it had in common to E-bass was the notes..isjusterin said:
Oh and if frets are cheating what if I play a fretless e-bass? Do I get bonus points?
Maaan I want a fretless!
Yeah, my same friend was a fretless e-bass. She has two really nice ones, one's an antique from the fifties that's pretty sweet.
But for any people that have no conceptions of the difficulty of classical string instruments, here's what I call Erin's super-string challenge: watch this video >> http://youtube.com/watch?v=_PqhwUOQGt0 once or twice, then go to your closest classical music store and pick up a cello, or to feel even more ham-handed, a violin or viola.
I personally think guitar's easier, but a totally different beast; being good on a classical string instrument or guitar certainly helps pick up the other, though. I think guitar's nice in that it's more accessible--the technique won't screw you up for life if you start out wrong, and it's much cheaper--and it's incredibly versatile. But for any beginner musician, I would start out with the piano just because it teaches you theory better than most instruments. It's both the easiest and hardest instrument to play, in my opinion.
But for any people that have no conceptions of the difficulty of classical string instruments, here's what I call Erin's super-string challenge: watch this video >> http://youtube.com/watch?v=_PqhwUOQGt0 once or twice, then go to your closest classical music store and pick up a cello, or to feel even more ham-handed, a violin or viola.
I personally think guitar's easier, but a totally different beast; being good on a classical string instrument or guitar certainly helps pick up the other, though. I think guitar's nice in that it's more accessible--the technique won't screw you up for life if you start out wrong, and it's much cheaper--and it's incredibly versatile. But for any beginner musician, I would start out with the piano just because it teaches you theory better than most instruments. It's both the easiest and hardest instrument to play, in my opinion.
Argg.. The fingering on Upright is what messes me up the most. I have pretty decent technique when it comes to fingering and bass (stop snickering) but upright is a totaly diffrent game.
The Piano is defently the best place to start.. If only for the fact that you learn to read both clefs.
I disagree that the piano is "both the easiest and hardest instrument to play." I think that E-bass is. Any monkey can jump on it and play straight eight root notes through a song but if you want to play bass WELL it takes time, good tech, and a pretty big sence of improv (I make up most of the basslines I play nowdays). Once you look past the perception of bassists in top40 music you'll see some pretty amazing stuff and fantastic potential for a solo instrument.
I've found, now that I've starting playing Piano (or rather.. Keyboard) Im having trouble getting both hands to do stuff, reading treble clef and remembering chords. I can play "Oh when the saints" pretty well though =P
PS: isjusterin you defently know what your talking about.. Well done *pats*
The Piano is defently the best place to start.. If only for the fact that you learn to read both clefs.
I disagree that the piano is "both the easiest and hardest instrument to play." I think that E-bass is. Any monkey can jump on it and play straight eight root notes through a song but if you want to play bass WELL it takes time, good tech, and a pretty big sence of improv (I make up most of the basslines I play nowdays). Once you look past the perception of bassists in top40 music you'll see some pretty amazing stuff and fantastic potential for a solo instrument.
I've found, now that I've starting playing Piano (or rather.. Keyboard) Im having trouble getting both hands to do stuff, reading treble clef and remembering chords. I can play "Oh when the saints" pretty well though =P
PS: isjusterin you defently know what your talking about.. Well done *pats*
I started playing Alto Saxophone in Junior High for band, kept it up until graduation. And I taught myself to play guitar in Highschool as well, It's the only instrument that I still play now though.
Haha, I guess I think piano's so difficult because I just cannot force my hands to multitask at an equal pace. I should probably take lessons again, but I'm too stubborn to pay someone to teach me anymore...
I don't, but when I go golfing instead of using a ball marker or a coin, I pull out a guitar pick so people think I do...I have too much time on my hands.
TheBenMan - Make sure you use your little finger on your neck hand properly, I didn't and now it just curls up and cowers every time I play so I'm down one finger there 
Also, start with full chords, starting with power chords will handicap you when you move on.
Also, start with full chords, starting with power chords will handicap you when you move on.Electric guitar, Bass Guitar, drums, and sing.
Just bought a Gibson Sg, it is by far the nicest thing I have ever purchased.
Just bought a Gibson Sg, it is by far the nicest thing I have ever purchased.
I play African Drums. I also play Westtern drums pretty well, last time I tried anyway like 3 years ago, but I don't own a drum set so I don't get much practise.
I have no idea why but this thread reminds me of this sketch by Eddie Izzard. In particular the later bit where he's describing all the instruments. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fi7Y6MFWns
I have no idea why but this thread reminds me of this sketch by Eddie Izzard. In particular the later bit where he's describing all the instruments. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fi7Y6MFWns
