I've managed to reach 57 years of age and know nothing about music. I listen to loads of it (Spotify age is 24) but don't understand how it works. Since being a child, I can recall my mum telling me... "You're tone deaf". I always believed that and so avoided musical instruments throughout my life, despite enjoying listening to them.
I now find myself at a bit of a loose end. My ongoing cancer treatment has caused my bones to become osteoporotic and so I'm looking for a new hobby rather than spending endless hours on the bike (exercise will still be my main thing until I cannot continue). I always need a focus or goal and have been thinking what new thing I could do... Learn music!!
So, how do I go about this? I know nothing other than music is made of notes?! I've heard of scales, chords and similar. I'm thinking a piano might make sense? An electronic one isn't too expensive and surely it stays in tune? A guitar appeals but looks complex. Do I learn from a book or videos? Is an actual teacher essential? I'd rather learn properly than just know what buttons to press.
Where do I start?!
Thanks in advance.
Get yourself an electric keyboard and I'll add to you my Yousician family account FOC. That'll get you up and running.
A guitar appeals but looks complex.
It's actually pretty easy to learn the basics to a point where you can strum along to many of your favourite songs.
Justin is the man, both for the practical playing side and the music theory stuff.
Learn how to play guitar with JustinGuitar.com | JustinGuitar.com
Edit: actually you can use any instrument but a keyboard will teach you the nuts and bolts of music which you can apply to everything else.
A cheap acoustic guitar combined with the chord trainer will get you strumming through a few easy tunes in no time.
Edit: Edit: that was supposed to be an edit not a new reply. Nevermind.
I'm biased but a keyboard is a decent way to start - unlike a lot of instruments you can see the notes laid out in front of you in a really linear way, which helps. From there you can then build out to anything else you like really
I started with guitar and then moved to other instruments. Guitars are great, cheap, the acoustic ones don't need any extra stuff like amps etc and relatively easy to figure out the basics. Electric guitars do have the benefit of being able to be used with headphones when connected to an amp though which is worth considering if you want to keep the family and neighbours happy.
Hearing the same chord/3 notes over and over for hours can be absolutely maddening (so I'm told anyway 😉 )
Now though, I mostly make music with my computer and a MIDI keyboard that connects to it. I can make my keyboard sound like any other instrument and I can make more complex pieces as I can record and do all the other stuff. Can also run tutorial programs to help you learn to play. I used to use a chords app on my phone when I first started, meant I could practise anywhere and at any time. handy for train journeys etc
Important to note that a lot of electronic keyboards don't feel the same as a proper piano and the ones that do are normally quite expensive. Just something to be aware of if you plan to graduate to the real thing
My current rig is Ableton Live & an AKAI MPK Mini MK3
Which one excites you more? Both are pretty accessible to learn.
You can’t pose with a piano in front of the mirror.
Which one excites you more? Both are pretty accessible to learn.
You can’t pose with a piano in front of the mirror.
keytar for the win? probably not 'cool' since a very small slice of the early 80s
I've got a drumkit sitting doing nothing in the attic, and you have a detached house so...
Longer term (and for anyone else thinking of learning) if you have any aspirations to be in a band:
Guitarists are ten a penny. There'll always be someone better than you
Singers are harder to come by, but still not that rare
A good rhythm section is always in demand. Drums are a bugger to transport and set up / tear down, and a band can get by with a drum machine. Bass is not as common as the guitar, so a little more in demand
If you play keyboards to a reasonable level, then you will ALWAYS be in demand to join bands. We spent 5 years rehearsing with the band we set up at work and went through multiple guitarists (our bassist started on Guitar and learnt the bass as we had 5 guitarists trying out at one point) and several singers, but couldn't find a decent kayboard player for love nor money.
I do sometimes get a hankering to start rehearsing again but the issue, as always, is time - I'm still working full time, trying to ride bikes, and very much enjoying acting, directing and helping out at the local theatre.
Anyway, I'd say keyboards.
If you want dead easy AND fun.... Buy a bass and learn the Joy Division back catalogue.
Liking Joy Division is a key element of this though.
If you want dead easy and even more fun...
Cigar box guitar and just thrash away at it.
NBT - If you ever start jamming again and need a 2nd guitarist or bassist let me know. My last band collapsed during covid and i too get a hankering every now and then.
@Blackflag unlikely, but I've always got your number. You do realise who @Stanley is don't you? Used to have The Shed Of Dread...
CFFAGFGAGFFACDDCAAFGFGAGFFACD
Never learned an instrument, but still remember the names of the notes to Auld Lang Syne that I learned in first year of comp. I tried learning harmonica when I was 16 with no success but if there was a way that worked for my learning style I'd try again.
If you want to learn music - what chords are, how the notes relate, what a scale is etc. get a keyboard.
If you want to play songs, get a guitar.
If you want to annoy everyone around you, get a harmonica.
Rick Beato has some great music theory stuff on YouTube if you want to get into the "why" as well as the "how"
If you want to learn music - what chords are, how the notes relate, what a scale is etc. get a keyboard.
Or a guitar, or any instrument with notes. Music theory is music theory
Or a guitar, or any instrument with notes. Music theory is music theory
A keyboard is probably better to understand chords though it can be done on a "single note" instrument.
If you want to learn music - what chords are, how the notes relate, what a scale is etc. get a keyboard.
Or a fretboard, I fail to see the difference. Except that when you can see the strings the physics of it is much more obvious - string full lenght a note, half that length same note an octave higher. You can see where the notes in a scale are on a guitar string. Chords, well they're just a combination of notes and you soon learn the different shapes to make them on either a guitar or a keyboard.
The guitar then has advantages. Its notes aren't fixed because you can bend the string to the frequency you want. Changes of notes by sliding and bending make things more fluid than the hammering of a keyboard. You can add vibrato by wiggling a string.
Here's a quick test of your musical knowledge. How many seconds does it take you to find the 440hz we all tune to these days on this table. 🙂
https://musicordes.fr/tableau-frequences-notes/
La aka A
The idea was the number of seconds it took people to find it. Spoil sport. ;(
I've got a drumkit sitting doing nothing in the attic, and you have a detached house so...
An unbeatable offer.
An instrument that inspires you, that makes you WANT to play, rather than one that you 'should' else all that is likely to happen is you'll start, muck about for a while then give up.
As for how to learn, there are plenty of self taught musos, there is no obligation to learn the theory (I mean enough to read) - it really depends what you want to ultimately do.
Lessons will, with the right teacher give you the absolute best start and progress but if you are disciplined then it is possible to achieve lots with YouTube tutorials etc
The most important thing is to enjoy it
If you go with a digital piano then ideally you want one with 88, weighted, touch sensitive keys. The Yamaha P45 and Roland FP10 are two that are commonly recommended for beginners. They're not exactly cheap (£300-£350 new + you'll need a stand, maybe a stool & headphones) but it'll be years before you need to upgrade, if ever.
For learning, most people recommend getting a teacher who will in turn recommend you some books to learn from in your own time. But if you want to self-learn then there are many beginner books to choose from.
Two of the most popular are the Alfred and Faber series of all-in-one method books. They will teach you to read music, music theory, and get you playing short pieces, the whole shabang.
With the osteoporosis I'm inclined to recommend that you should see a teacher at least every now and again if only to check on your technique. It is possible to get injured from playing piano with poor technique, so keep that in mind. I dare say the same goes for other instruments too.
I'd be learning the instruments that are most closely associated with the music I listen to. In my case that's rock blues and indy, so I've given guitar, bass and drums a go at some point.
Guitar is definitely the one I'd suggest, you can play in your lounge, round the campfire, lead a sing along in a pub if someone rocks up with one. In all my years I've never seen anyone rock up to a camp fire with a bass or drumkit!
If however you want to be in a band, as has been pointed out, guitarists are ten a penny, so go drums or bass. Drummers are like gold dust. And whilst any guitarist can play bass to some degree, they choose not to as bassists are well known to be weirdos..
Either way, learning guitar isn't that hard. However becoming really good at is a very rare talent
I can look at a keyboard and identify any note pretty much instantly. If I point to a random fret on a random guitar string, how many guitarists could do the same?
On a keyboard, the root/third/fifth are obvious - and then adding 7ths etc just an extension. It's much less obvious on a guitar.
FWIW, I play guitar pretty much exclusively now, but started many many years ago on a keyboard. It could just be my experience but I found understanding theory far easier on a keyboard.
That's just me though. Anecdote doesn't equal evidence.
The best advice above is probably "play something you want to play"
I can look at a keyboard and identify any note pretty much instantly. If I point to a random fret on a random guitar string, how many guitarists could do the same?
On a keyboard, the root/third/fifth are obvious - and then adding 7ths etc just an extension. It's much less obvious on a guitar.
FWIW, I play guitar pretty much exclusively now, but started many many years ago on a keyboard. It could just be my experience but I found understanding theory far easier on a keyboard.
That's just me though. Anecdote doesn't equal evidence.
The best advice above is probably "play something you want to play"
Sounds about right... I can't play piano at all, but play a bit of guitar - cant read music either (unless you count TAB) but I can play by ear and 'feel'.
If you want to learn to read music, then I would say piano/keyboard is the way to go, especially if you have in -person lessons. Guitar sits at the other end of the scale... you can learn to play simply by pattern, and a rudimentary knowledge of basic music theory.
Don't muddle "reading music" with "music theory", because if you are playing what others have written you only need to read, not analyse the music. By learning to play and reading music, the necessary theory will make it into your mind more or less by osmosis.
I've been singing since I was 7- I cannot actually remember being taught how to read music, and am blessed with the ability to sight-read nowadays. I've only really started to try and learn music theory in the last few years since picking up the bass.
someone told me once learning an instrument is like learning how to use a word processor and being a pool typist. you play what someone else has written. doesnt necessarily help you understand music. one of my favourite books is 'how to play the piano despite years of lessons' which gets to that point a bit.
i dont particularly agree with that premise however, i think start with a keyboard. learning actual 'music' is a slightly different proposition but its very nice being able to play along to your favourite songs. i had years of piano lessons from about 7 years old and i do find picking up other instruments really easy.
I used to play the guitar.
Well i say 'play' but what I think i was actually doing was torturing anyone within earshot.
Amazing! Thanks for all of the input, suggestions and very generous offers.
I think I'd maybe prefer to be able to play guitar but think I'll learn slightly more easily by starting with a keyboard. Also, my wife has suggested she would "chip in" on a decent keyboard/piano.
I'll update on any progress!
Thanks again, much appreciated 🙂
Good news. Go full send and pre-order one of these...
https://www.andertons.co.uk/behringer-jn-80-polyphonic-analogue-synthesizer/
I can look at a keyboard and identify any note pretty much instantly. If I point to a random fret on a random guitar string, how many guitarists could do the same?
Does that mean anything at all? Does it mean that you enjoy playing your instrument more, or make you a better musician? You could well be the worst musician on this thread, having no feel for music or tempo, but be the only person who could point to all the B# keys/frets on your instrument.
(Yes, I know, that was deliberate! 🤣 )
On a keyboard, you can see the notes. For me, it meant I could understand the relationships between notes, chords and scales far easier than on a guitar, as I could see what notes made up each chord. It helped with theory.
A simple example - A major to A minor - move the middle one down one key (assuming basic triad). Same for C to Cm. Oh, so a minor is like a major with the third a semitone less. I can see what a 7th is, and understand inversions.
Why does the A pentatonic sound good in the key of C major? Oh, all the notes are in the C major scale, the white keys! A pentatonic over C major sounds cool. C pentatonic over C major sounds country. Now I'm thinking about scales and modes a little.
I like knowing the theory. Others may not. I thought it useful when songwriting. Others may not.
It made it more enjoyable for me. Others may not care.
I understand next to no music theory. Been playing guitar for about 14 months and doing just fine with a mix of tabs and youtube tutorials on how to play songs. What I can't do is compose anything. I pick up my guitar pretty much any time I get chance.
Music theory is the enemy of enjoyment. Some folk are hell bent on over analysing stuff and taking all the fun out of it. Learn some chords and then learn some songs you like. Play them. Smile.
Music theory is the enemy of enjoyment.
For some, maybe. For others, not. I, for one, found it interesting.
Double post
For some, maybe. For others, not. I, for one, found it interesting.
Maybe a slightly inflammatory post, sorry. But i do think that the theory is highly off putting for a lot of people who simply want to create / play music. And its certainly not needed.
Maybe a slightly inflammatory post, sorry. But i do think that the theory is highly off putting for a lot of people who simply want to create / play music. And its certainly not needed.
I agree. But I also agree with IHN in that I too find it interesting. In fact in my case "wanting to know about what made music sound the way it does" led me to study music theory in some depth which then lead to some serious practical study as opposed to the noodling I had been doing on and off for years previously.
Speak to musicians who are shit hot at improvising and like as not they will run rings round you with talk of scales, arpeggios, dims and doms, chord progressions, inversions, etc.
Though yes, of course to play a few tunes you like you don't need that in depth knowledge.
On a keyboard, you can see the notes. For me, it meant I could understand the relationships between notes, chords and scales far easier than on a guitar, as I could see what notes made up each chord. It helped with theory.
You can do the same with a bass guitar. You learn intervals pretty quickly, because they form a pattern, with all the strings tuned in 4ths in standard tuning. I play a lot of music from notation, and as my sight-reading skills improve I can simply read a note, fret it and play. I'd say that's an advantage compared with learning from tab, because with tab you don't need to know what you're playing, just hit the number shown on the diagram. At the same time, as you're reading the next notes along the stave, you recognise intervals, arpeggios, and because you know the fretboard, and where to fret those intervals, so your speed of reading increases. At the same time, you recognise chord changes, and your fingers fly to the next note.
I taught myself to play the ukulele during Covid lockdowns. Inspired by mr b the gentleman rhymer, I bought one in Feb 2020, not knowing if I’d have time to teach myself…. Cue many months of not going anywhere at the weekend, learning the uke and a very long suffering husband. Check out “paper plates”, mr b’s genius version of paper planes by MIA.
I can’t play the guitar, but I did learn to play the piano many years ago. I found the ukulele relatively easy to learn and am quite proficient after 5 years, fewer strings, cheap to buy, very portable . My first one was about £30. I taught myself by learning the pictures that make up a chord, I don’t know music theory. I can really recommend it as a fun instrument to play, difficult not to smile when playing and singing. Helped me to keep some sanity during lockdown and lots of beginner friendly tutorials on you tube.
"This is not a song about my Brompton."