Suggestions for a beginner wanting to play a musical instrument?

Berserker

Hey, I know there are a lot of music oriented people on this site, so I was wondering if anyone can give me any tips on how to get started in playing a muscial instrument. Currently, I don't have any sights set on joining any sort of bands/orchestras/etc., so this is just for my solitary free time (next to video games.) I'm looking for an instrument that I can play just to relax and that won't be too disturbing to people around me (but for a beginner, this is kind of inevitable.) I'm fine with any instrument, but for now I'd probably focus on acoustic guitars (models, where to begin, w/e). Note that I have no musical experience except for the piano from 3rd to 6th grade. My birthday's in around a month, so I'd appreciate any help from now to then.

Since the topic is vague, it can probably apply to anyone else wanting to get into an instrument
 
I've been playing guitar for a while, and when I started it out, it went like this.

1. Went to guitar store with someone who knew alot about them; my uncle.
2. Bought guitar, and signed up for 1 month of lessons
3. Practiced everyday for 30 minutes in the beginning
4. Kept on going to lessons, followed teachers advice.
5. 2 years later, I play one and a half hours a day. I grows on you.

After about 2/3 lessons, you begin to learn songs, which I find fun to play while sitting at your computer. Just something to do while browsing.

EDIT: Sorry for double post, internet problems.

Btw, your first guitar, if that's what you want, shouldn't be high quality at all. Just buy a cheaper one. I think there are some nice Ibanez acoustic-electric that are going for around 150$
 
Play the Guitar. I would get an electric one, since it can play rock and clear types. I have been playing the guitar since hte Fifth grade, and I really like it. For your first guitar, dont listen to the retailers. They will sell you the expensive one. Instead, bring someone who you can trust and knows guitars. I would suggest getting an Ibanez, Washburn (My first one was a Red Soild Washburn X-10 series). I would get a relevtily cheap one, but not a peice of junk. Junky guitars can teach you bad habits such as pushing on the fretts too hard and making the nots come out too sharp. But playing the guitar is great. Do it. Now.
 
you could always take back up piano with a little electric keyboard action. then upgrade eventually or find a nice grand piano somewhere to steal for an hour or so someday.

also, what kind of situation are you in? like a dorm or a house? can you afford lessons?
 
I play the trumpet in middle school, however it can be really disturbing without a mute. I like it alot because you can also go into jazz as well as classical music. It's a great starter because later on, you can switch to Tuba, trombone, baritone or any other brass instrument
 
The most important thing about starting a new instrument is to keep at it. Chances are you'll get a bit discouraged at first, but stick to it. You won't regret it.
 
Make sure you have a nice place where you can be to practice. Nothing is more annoying then listening to somebody playing a song badly over and over again.
 
Guitar is a pretty good instrument for a casual musician. It's versatile, its portable, its easy..

I'd definitely start with an acoustic.. TBH I havent got any real recommendations on particular guitars, but try second hand stores.. Guitars are common..

You definitely should get some lessons.. Unless you have some musical background or someone with some kind of background to help you, it might be very hard to self teach yourself..

Yeah, and practice scales. Lots of scales.

Have a nice day.
 
What Hip says about scales is right, yes it isn't as fun as blasting out songs but it is what improves your technique. When I started on guitar 5 years ago I had a pretty crappy teacher and just played songs - I then almost failed my grade 2 and switched teachers. My technique - playing everything with one finger and dodgy left hand positions - was then so bad that it needed a lot of work to get back to square one.

On recommendations for instruments, just get a cheapo - although don't be tempted to go for an electro-acoustic. Jack of all trades, master of none!
 
I'm a guitarist myself and I have to agree that the best way to learn (and learn to enjoy) playing guitar is learn some scales and improvise. It's really great fun and obv. is practical for bands etc.
If you're looking for a good acoustic, I've heard the Lorenzo L449 is pretty good, and looks great (http://www.guitar.co.uk/documents/1495/1495-large.jpg) as far as electrics go, I dunno, there's an awful lot of good stuff to chose from so I'd look into it myself if I were you
 
I play the saxophone.
It's cool cause you can change the type of sax you play (mine being tenor) and not change the notes.

But basically try to join a group like I did and you get experience and also have fun.
 
I play the flute and love it. There are so many cool flutes or instruments played similarly to the flute it's ridiculous (tin whistle, recorder, pan flute, piccolo, bass flute, Irish flute, American Indian flute, etc.)

I don't know that the flute is all that easy to learn without a teacher. Regardless, I would check out http://www.eriktheflutemaker.com/ and see if any of those intrigue you. I think he has some decent instructional videos, too.
 
I like the drums and have played them for a while but ...

I did play guitar for a while as well and I played a year in a band. The most important thing is to practice everyday. I watched kids who came in for lessons when I was younger that did not practice at home, just at the lessons. They did not learn a thing. You have to practice. Also it will get boring fast after the first few weeks, but stick to it for a while and soon it will be one of the funnest things to do, just relaxing and playing guitar. Don't give up no matter what.
 
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the harmonica. It's basic, yeah, but cheap, easy to learn, and a lot of fun to play, and it's perfect for someone who doesn't want to join a musical group or anything. There's nothing more classic than busting out your harmonica and playing "Home on the Range" around a campfire. It can be used for Blues, country, classical, all kinds of music. I'd definitely recommend it, especially for someone like you who is just playing for fun.
 
as much as I love concert band, I have to say Guitar would be the best instrument to start on. You could do piano, but you are already interested in guitar.

also, make sure you get a good teacher. I currently have an amazing saxophone teacher, let's just say he made me play through 2+ years of classical music and learning technique before recently starting me on jazz technique. I would try to get a teacher with the same mentality. as much fun as songs are, technique is much more important in the long run.
 
I started off playing classical piano, then eventually picked up guitar, then started playing jazz piano, and I would say now, about 10 years later, and I don't mean to brag or anything, that I am really, really good at both of them. I'm very glad I started with piano - there are so many musical concepts which are really most clearly illustrated on piano, and really the theory knowledge you gain from playing piano translates to almost all other instruments, which I can't exactly say about many other instruments. I might be a little biased about all this considering I'm primarily a piano player, but to anybody who asks me which instrument to start with, I pretty much always, always say piano. Not only does it have the most long term benefits, it also just sounds great, and it can encompass almost every genre.

If you have your heart set on guitar, (and I don't blame you if you do, I love the guitar also), I suppose you should probably start with an acoustic. I never did, and I have never regretted this, as I can play an acoustic just fine now, but it seems most people prefer starting with an acoustic. My first guitar was actually just one of those Squier strat+amp packs for like $150, which if you're looking for an electric guitar I would reccomend, as it's really all you need as a beginner. One last thing I'll say is that many people like to say that you don't need lessons to be good at guitar etc, but I would definitely, definitely reccomend getting a really great teacher, as they can easily be the difference between you being okay, and you being great.
 
Guitar is a pretty good instrument for a casual musician. It's versatile, its portable, its easy..

I'd definitely start with an acoustic..
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I resent that post in so many ways. Guitar is not just for casual musicians, it can be for people who are playing seriously too. No, it's not easy. Let me see you play Through the Fire and Flames on the guitar. And, I would not start with an acoustic. I started with an electric and played classical note-reading for a year, then my teacher taught me rock-type-music. Acoustic guitars are a different kind of instrument, less versatile but better in their category. After five years, I'm considering getting an acoustic guitar sometime in the future.
 
Thats pretty much as bad as logical fallacies get dude.. There is no reason to infer from my post that the Guitar is unable to be used in a non casual manner.

Guitar is easy, no I probably cant play whatever that song you mentioned is, but I bet you cant even play twinkle twinkle little star on a french horn..

And Acoustic is more versatile because it doesnt require an amp.. It makes it more portable, simpler, blah blah..

Have a nice day.
 
I'm attending music school so I guess I could help you out. (trying to sound as uncocky as possible)

The instruments that will give you the greatest under standing of music are Piano and Bass, period. Piano is the best for understanding and developing essential skills for reading music, improvising, understanding keys, scales, modes, chords, beats yada yada yada.

Bass is a great way to develop you music theory skills like reading yada yada yada but most importantly developing a good sense of rhythm, which is far more important to music than you think.

I play guitar, its the icing on the cake instrument. Drums and Bass create the foundation off as song, the frame more or less, guitars just make it look nice. Its easy to pick up i think. You just need to practice alot.

I wish I could play the Viola if anything, but go with what your heart tells you, I didn't and I really wish I was half as good at drums as I am at guitar.

Its the best instrument if you just want to play for the sake of knowing how to handle at least an instrument, or if you just want to jam
 
I'm a trumpet player myself but the basics are still the same. Practice a lot, try and learn some theory if you can because it will help you to understand music more. Also, try and get a play-along music book with a CD for your favourite type of music, it really makes it a lot more fun.
 
umbarsc said:
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the harmonica. It's basic, yeah, but cheap, easy to learn, and a lot of fun to play, and it's perfect for someone who doesn't want to join a musical group or anything. There's nothing more classic than busting out your harmonica and playing "Home on the Range" around a campfire. It can be used for Blues, country, classical, all kinds of music. I'd definitely recommend it, especially for someone like you who is just playing for fun.
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I second this recommendation.
 
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