Learning to play
Discussion
oldagepensioner said:
Is there anybody else besides me that would love to learn to play an instrument but does not feel they have either the talent or patience.In my case the piano.
If you really feel that, there is another way in - assuming you have a piano keyboard and a computer. You can then mess about as much as you like and record and manipulate what you do (ie play stuff as slow as you like then speed it up). Loads of free software out there that are pretty simple to use.Assuming you find that enjoyable, you'll feel the need to get better at the keyboard ... then you might consider some lessons as you'll have a reason to improve.
That's how I started in the 1980's and it's been my career ever since. (I was originally a bass player, so had lots of musical experience, but was a complete novice at the piano).
I now write stuff like this - which you might like or might hate.. (but it makes me money!)
Not me playing, it's a mate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVm-sECpppU
Yes. Would love to bang a tune out on a a guitar but I cba.
I also remix stuff in my head and would love to be able to actually do it but again I cba.
Funny thing is my brother has the equipment and software,can do everything I'd want to be able to do and more and so could teach me but again I can't really be bothered
I also remix stuff in my head and would love to be able to actually do it but again I cba.
Funny thing is my brother has the equipment and software,can do everything I'd want to be able to do and more and so could teach me but again I can't really be bothered
oldagepensioner said:
Is there anybody else besides me that would love to learn to play an instrument but does not feel they have either the talent or patience.In my case the piano.
How do you know without trying, you might have an aptitude and quickly become a very good player.I often wonder if it's the reading music aspect of tuition that bores and puts people off learning the piano, we all know good players who never had a lesson and can't read a note of music.
If there was a way to hook equipment up to record music straight out of my head I'd have about a hundred albums out by now! Getting round to actually recording and producing it in my spare time is another matter altogether. Unless this mind-reading equipment is invented the music will die with me!
GetCarter said:
I now write stuff like this - which you might like or might hate.. (but it makes me money!)
Not me playing, it's a mate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVm-sECpppU
Very nice, and - to me - akin to Philip Glass (and I love Glass' work)Not me playing, it's a mate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVm-sECpppU
Chauffard said:
How do you know without trying, you might have an aptitude and quickly become a very good player.
I often wonder if it's the reading music aspect of tuition that bores and puts people off learning the piano, we all know good players who never had a lesson and can't read a note of music.
I played the guitar from about 16 but never learnt to read music. even all through school music lessons, it just didn't make sense to me.I often wonder if it's the reading music aspect of tuition that bores and puts people off learning the piano, we all know good players who never had a lesson and can't read a note of music.
I'm now mid 40s. 2 years ago I bough ta piano and started lessons.
the music was dead easy to read when it was on a piano! it just made sense there. For previous instruments it just hadn't for me.
I practiced really hard for about 12 months and had weekly lessons, but let it slip unfortunately. I bought a car that needed a lot of fixing so had to pause the lessons for a bit. As soon as I can get back to lessons, I am going to. I loved it, it's great. even playing stupid simple stuff like frere Jacques can be done musically with great pleasure to be derived from it.
so I agree with you in regards to the OP - give it a go.
oldagepensioner said:
Is there anybody else besides me that would love to learn to play an instrument but does not feel they have either the talent or patience.In my case the piano.
Not a piano but just taken to learning to play the ukulele. A reasonable starter ukulele can be picked up for about £60, there's loads of good on line tutorials, generally do a couple of hours a day. It's quite addictive once you can put three or four chords together and play along with some tutorials.lancslad58 said:
Not a piano but just taken to learning to play the ukulele. A reasonable starter ukulele can be picked up for about £60, there's loads of good on line tutorials, generally do a couple of hours a day. It's quite addictive once you can put three or four chords together and play along with some tutorials.
That's champion. (George Formby accent)Wacky Racer said:
lancslad58 said:
Not a piano but just taken to learning to play the ukulele. A reasonable starter ukulele can be picked up for about £60, there's loads of good on line tutorials, generally do a couple of hours a day. It's quite addictive once you can put three or four chords together and play along with some tutorials.
That's champion. (George Formby accent)This isn't me, maybe one day........
https://youtu.be/L9HR1cqtOvc
For anyone learning to play an instrument try to learn songs that you like from the start, and keep trying different songs too, as you progress it will give you a kind of buzz hearing what you've played, and helps pick up the bug for playing once this happens your're on your way. good luck.
After a few years lay off with life getting in the way I'm looking at going back to either guitar or keyboard (or both).
I was never very good (modesty prevails) but used to enjoy the trying until I got annoyed with myself and lack of consistency when practicing.
Anyone used the "Active Melody" on line tutorials for guitar?
I went through a phase of using the Marty Schwartz, Steve Stine and a few more online things but could never keep up with the teaching which always went to fast for an old slow learner.
I was never very good (modesty prevails) but used to enjoy the trying until I got annoyed with myself and lack of consistency when practicing.
Anyone used the "Active Melody" on line tutorials for guitar?
I went through a phase of using the Marty Schwartz, Steve Stine and a few more online things but could never keep up with the teaching which always went to fast for an old slow learner.
oldagepensioner said:
Is there anybody else besides me that would love to learn to play an instrument but does not feel they have either the talent or patience.In my case the piano.
I play drums but I have dabbled with guitar in the past and right now I have a stack of 80s and 90s synths (7 of them - it's become a bit of an addiction and I want more). Thing is, the ownership of some magnificent hardware inspires me to use it. I cannot *play* a keyboard but I can sit at mine for hours and hours making "sounds", long sequenced loops that I can then play drums to.
I admit that even the ownership of a really nice guitar never inspired me to learn more than a very few chords and I do think you have to pass a certain level before a guitar sounds good. A keyboard, on the other hand, can sound good quite early-on. But to actually make music you need to make progress, and to make progress you really should take lessons or commit time to internet learning.
But, oh boy, the feeling of getting it right is one of life's wonders.
I played around on keyboards in my late teens. Taught myself and ended up in a couple of bands doing gigs.
Then did nothing for 40 years as life took over.
About 5 years ago I decided that I really wanted to become the best piano player or keyboard player I could be so I started with lessons and now I’m just about to take my grade 8 exams at 61.
If you really want it then just go for it.
Then did nothing for 40 years as life took over.
About 5 years ago I decided that I really wanted to become the best piano player or keyboard player I could be so I started with lessons and now I’m just about to take my grade 8 exams at 61.
If you really want it then just go for it.
Trying to pick up guitar at the moment, can't understand how people can play an A chord so easily, let alone smoothly go between chords. I didn't even think I had fat fingers.
Is it just a case of spending loads of time practicing the same chords? Feels like you need to be a hand contortionist with skin like leather to do it.
Is it just a case of spending loads of time practicing the same chords? Feels like you need to be a hand contortionist with skin like leather to do it.
EBRANDON1 said:
Trying to pick up guitar at the moment, can't understand how people can play an A chord so easily, let alone smoothly go between chords. I didn't even think I had fat fingers.
Is it just a case of spending loads of time practicing the same chords? Feels like you need to be a hand contortionist with skin like leather to do it.
Repetition is the way forward. Eventually it starts to sound right, and even further on it becomes 2nd nature from muscle memory. Your fingers also get very tough on the ends which helps. Is it just a case of spending loads of time practicing the same chords? Feels like you need to be a hand contortionist with skin like leather to do it.
I'd say it took me 2yrs from scratch with lessons to feel like I could move between chords smoothly and without thinking about finger placement. (Started late at 40)
cherryowen said:
Skyedriver said:
I went through a phase of using the Marty Schwartz, Steve Stine and a few more online things but could never keep up with the teaching which always went to fast for an old slow learner.
May I ask what you're trying to learn?Blues?
Basic chords?
Popular tunes?
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