What Intrument to learn?

[downtown]

Poll coming.

Okay, so I recently had to sell my drumset, and I would like to learn a new instrument. I am considering the Guitar, the Piano and the Tenor Sax, although I am open to other suggestions. Here is what I need to consider:

Practicality of the instrument. My goal is to quickly become good enough at an instrument to play with a group (albiet not in a leading roll)...so it would make the most sense to pick an intrument where I would have those oppertunities (so...no Cello).

Initial Investment: Does a beginner version of this instrument cost a zillion dollars? Can I get lessons? Will it fit in my place?

Difficulty

How much I happen to like how it sounds

Do you play any of these instruments? What would you recomend? Do you play another instrument thats worth recomending? How was your process of learning a new instrument?

Discuss.

 

[Synobun]

The Tenor Sax is very similar to the Alto Sax, although the Tenor is larger and has a more coarse tone to it.

It is, however, easy to learn if you get the screws right. Just be sure to use your tongue for the notes and do the slurs properly...

 

[nonconformist]

Everyone and their sister plays the guitar. Unless you learn a particular style, get very good, or play a long time, it's kinda a poisoned chalice.

 

[Mirc]

In my opinion, I would have to choose between tenor sax and guitar.

That's just my opinion.

Everyone and their sister plays the guitar. Unless you learn a particular style, get very good, or play a long time, it's kinda a poisoned chalice.

The interesting thing is that's true for the piano in the kind of music I play (which I know downtown isn't going to play, so no, I'm not making any proposal with this, just saying a random fact related to what you said), the guitar being just the opposite (an instrument nobody plays).

 

[zjl56]

The tenor sax is probably the best instrument out of those you listed. It has semi ease of learning, and is pretty versatile as both a solo and a support instrument. The piano is probably the most versatile instrument period, but it will take a lot longer to reach any level of competency.

 

[Trajan12]

Everyone plays the guitar, but about 10% of all guitar players I would actually say are good. Most don't know jack . .. .. .. . about theory or proper technique.

A decent guitar would probably only run from 400-700. A beginner, well....I wouldn't recommend those. They typically come with poor craftsmanship since they're hugely mass produced. My first acoustic guitar would buzz at each of the first frets and one of the frets was almost completely dead. to be safe, go no less than 300 or you'll just end up selling and/or smashing it.

Plus people leave out the fact that electric guitar is so friggin versatile that it isn't hard to come up with innovative uses.

Piano, I'm not too experienced. But if you go that route then you could also learn to use other more versatile keyboards, some pretty badass sounding organs, etc. But I know it isn't as hard as people say it is if you play Jazz or Blues styles. Now of course if you want to lean Rostropobachovic's 63836 piano concerto in F# harmonic minor.....

If you want to know anything about guitars, ask away.

 

[Perfection]

Do you already know how to play the triangle?

 

[nonconformist]

Dude, learn slide guitar. Perfect for blues style. It's something I've had pretty minimal expereince in myself (but I've had a fair bit in other guitar styles ranging from crawhammer and Irish triple/quadruple time, to your more mainstream type solo stuff), but it's got a good sound, is [fairly] quick to pick up, and you get to use a frkking knife on your gee-tar.

 

[pau17]

Guitar most definitely. It's widely applicable, from classical/acoustic to electric/rock, very "cool", and you can practice it very quietly (especially on electric). There's also the factor that you can cover pop songs on it; you can play both melody and chords on guitar, soft or heavy.

I mean, seriously, on what other instrument can you do this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pHRioPqAqe4

Or:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4TmxfHbd-M0

 

[downtown]

Everyone and their sister plays the guitar. Unless you learn a particular style, get very good, or play a long time, it's kinda a poisoned chalice.

Yeah, that is an issue, although it also means that there is plenty of work availble.

In my opinion, I would have to choose between tenor sax and guitar.

That's just my opinion.

I love all three intruments. I dont think I would be doing much classical performance though...I'd like to learn to play some chords, accompany others, and then work up to soloing a little bit.

My only real concern with the tenor sax is the initial cost of the instrument, and finding a teacher (i think it would be the hardest to teach myself)

 

[West 36]

I want to learn guitar, pretty badly, and while I've been teaching myself a little any help or tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Trajan12]

I want to learn guitar, pretty badly, and while I've been teaching myself a little any help or tips would be greatly appreciated.

What specifically do you need to learn about? There's a vast variety of tips I could give you and a vast array of resources for any issue.

 

[pau17]

I want to learn guitar, pretty badly, and while I've been teaching myself a little any help or tips would be greatly appreciated.

The ideal progression to long-term ability on an instrument is usually this:

1. Learn good technique, to prevent bad habits and injury later on.
2. Learn to read music.
3. Play a whole lot of classical music. Bach, Mozart, whatever. These guys were the masters and everything about chords, harmony, voice-leading, structure, phrasing...it's all in there and today's stuff is largely derivative of it. Classical will build your technique and musical vocabulary just by the virtue of your playing it.
4. Jazz is also a good way to absorb a lot of this musical richness, especially for developing an "ear" for music and improvisation.

Once you have good technique and a solid foundation in classical, you will be equipped to do anything. Of course, you can skip straight to the easy folk songs, basic chords, etc. if you want to be a casual player but the best players pay their dues to the masters.

 

[Elrohir]

Guitar seems like it'd be the easiest, but everyone plays that. So I vote for the sax.

Downtown should learn to play with himself

That's against Mormonism. Your universe just got downgraded.

Now it's only 175 times the size of mine.

 

[West 36]

What specifically do you need to learn about? There's a vast variety of tips I could give you and a vast array of resources for any issue.

Well I'm a beginner, so anything to get me up and running. I can read tabs, but actual notes are a problem. As pau17 I guess looking at the classics first could help, but anyway to get down the basics is what I need. Some easy songs and the ability to read chords is what I have in mind. I wanna get good!

 

[pau17]

Guitar seems like it'd be the easiest, but everyone plays that. So I vote for the sax.

I don't think that's a good reason not to play an instrument...on the contrary, many people play guitar because it is so much fun and so applicable. You can't really do much with sax and I know a lot of people that get bored of it. Ultimately, it's about your personal experience with the instrument.

Also, don't underestimate the power of having a quiet instrument to practice. If you're always looking for somewhere to blow your sax without bothering people, it's going to have an effect on your motivation to play. You can practice guitar in bed.

 

[pau17]

Well I'm a beginner, so anything to get me up and running. I can read tabs, but actual notes are a problem. As pau17 I guess looking at the classics first could help, but anyway to get down the basics is what I need. Some easy songs and the ability to read chords is what I have in mind. I wanna get good!

Some sites with lessons, pictures of hand positions and good technique, etc. would be good. There are lots of lessons on youtube...look at the ones with the highest ratings and most views.

 

[Mise]

I've been playing guitar for about 6 years. Taught myself. I haven't improved in 4 years, not significantly anyway. I mean sure I've got better at what I do, but really only play simple stuff. I don't know music theory, and I don't really care about learning music theory. I kinda understand the "blues scale" or w/e, but I don't have an intuition for it (not in the same way that people who like, say, Led Zeppelin or Jimi Hendrix would have an intuition for it, or blues/jazz for that matter...). If you wanna be the next Blink 182 like I did when I was 14 you probably don't need lessons or a book on guitar music theory. If you wanna be all pretentious and claim some kind of "musical integrity" then you probably do. If you wanna write great songs then it won't matter either way.

 

[Trajan12]

Well I'm a beginner, so anything to get me up and running. I can read tabs, but actual notes are a problem. As pau17 I guess looking at the classics first could help, but anyway to get down the basics is what I need. Some easy songs and the ability to read chords is what I have in mind. I wanna get good!

Depends on your long term goals. Whether you want to create as a hobbyist or play other songs as a hobbyist, there's still a basic amount you should have down. But as You progress to wanting to create your own music a larger amount of knowledge and technique is required.

This is pretty much all the beginning theory you'll need.

It teaches you how basic chords and scales are made, and shows them to you. It's the preamble to learning much more complex(And highly useful) stuff. And it's guitar friendly.

After that, move on to this for more advanced chord knowledge, it should give you an understanding of how ANY chord is made.

That's just the start. Familiarize yourself with guitar and music sites, Cyberfret, Guitarsolo and ShredAcademy are all great since all their content is by teachers and pros. Sites like Ultimate Guitar have a few diamonds but you'll have to learn to sift through the amateurish bull.

I suggest registering on this site, Here, it's where I went as a beginner and they have gurus even wiser than thyself.

By the way, as for learning songs, tell me what your style is. Your influences, favorites, anything. But as a general rule its very beneficial to learn a bit of Jazz guitar, as the fellow above a few posts ago stated.

 

[Fifty]

WWVMD? (learn them all).

Seriusly though, learn piano so you can do cool bluesy rocky piano stuff like Chuck Leavell in "Jessica". (I can much more easily see you busting out the stuff from 1:55 onward or whatever than see you rocking out on guitar).