Learning ze instruments ja!

[Imposter]

Recently I was reflecting on my life and realized I severly lacked in the musical abilities department so I've started to try to learn an instrument or two. More or less I think it's just me trying to teach myself rhythm.

Anyways the first is the uke! I've just started about a week ago and strumming patterns are quite challenging. The second will be a Cajon drum, I asked my pops to make me one for a gift. So once that is finished I'll be playing it. I own a didgeridoo but I have a hard time even trying to play it because the breathing techniques seem impossible, and it really isn't an instrument for jamming with friends anyway.

So the question TFF what instruments do you play and any advice for a music noob?

[Michael Swayne]

I can play the drums and piano. The main thing is practice, practice, practice. And learn to keep time. That's very important. If you can't keep time, then how would you know how long each note lasts.

[Alpha]

I'm teaching myself the bass guitar. I'm still shit, but what keeps me going is learning to play songs I love. Has to be fun.

I'm also learning the ukelele, after my dad saw me learning the bass and realised he never learnt an instrument either, and bought one. We're learning together, although I spend more time with my bass.

[ZantetsukeN]

I can play a few instruments, mostly string. I can play guitar, bass, ukulele, mandolin and keyboard.

I agree, ukulele can be quite challenging due to strumming patterns. Also myself having fairly long thin hands it can be a bit of a struggle with the chords. But I overcame that and can play it well. However, if you want more of a challenge, go for mandolin. I have learned most of my chords, but some of the strumming is a nightmare due to it having 8 strings.

Advice? Just practise whenever you can. I still have stuff to learn with all my instruments, and don't practise as much as I would like to. But definitely while you are starting off, practise is the key.

Also don't be too disheartened if you can't play certain songs straight away. I did that with guitar. I tried to learn a Metallica song almost straight away, obviously couldn't do it, and gave up guitar for a while. Definitely not a good thing.

[Hot Shot]

I can play guitar, bass and piano. The important thing is to enjoy what you do. I'm much better on bass than my other instruments and that's because it's my favourite (I had always wanted to play it)

[Maridia]

For advice just learn simple stuff to start. Get the mechanics down. That goes for any instrument. And then if you like it after some time I'd say challenge yourself, always. Keeps you on your toes and your passion up.

[Joe]

I play bass guitar, and that's pretty much it. I'm honestly not bad, but then I've been putting in a LOT of practice tiem over the last few weeks.

As far as advice, pick simpler songs to start and gradually work your way in. Once you hit a certain point where you're comfortable with the instrument it seems like it gets easier overall to learn a large number of other songs.

Also, guitar pro is so much win.

[Peachesonfire2012]

find something you like and stick with it. alot of people pick up instraments and try them for a bit then give up if they suck.so don't give up on anything...unless your really want to then, who the hell am i to judge?

[Asectic]

Piano, violin, and oboe.
Others I just know the fingerings for are the flute, trombone, and the tenor sax.

Advice?
There's nothing much to say. At first it'll suck big time. But if you're going to seriously continue it, you'll personally develop tricks of how to better play the instrument. In other words, Patience. Because most people who decide to do it eventually stops in the end, but I hope you're not going to be like that

Onwards!
Athna