Anyone play an instrument, or fail to?

o1s1n

Bought an acoustic and an electric guitar 17 years ago - still can't play them!

I found that I could imitate and learn other people's stuff but seem to lack the creativity to make anything of my own.

Know a few scales and a load of chords but can't really do very much with any of it.

I do pick it up now and again and play about with some scales, but end up getting frustrated.

We also have an Alesis electronic drumkit in the house, the girlfriend is great with it but I haven't a notion.

I also have a really nice modded Gameboy for creating chiptune music but am fairly rubbish with that too.

piano cello singing
Would love classical guitar too if I had time

Wordless

Bass guitar I have been playing it for about 22 years now!

Dave!

kippy wrote: »

I can play guitar but I have awful trouble remembering chords to songs and apparently have absolutely no ear for figuring out chords and how they form a song. I doesnt help that I am a crap singer.

Learned the basics from a few mates I lived with in college and everything else from either Justin Sandercoe (http://www.justinguitar.com/) or Marty Schwartz ( http://www.guitarjamz.com/) via their youtube channels. They have tonnes of really really good resources on their sites/channel so would recommend them highly to anyone starting out.
I generally pick up the guitar once a day and throw a few chords together, to try and make something sound "nice" as the amount of songs I can remember is limited.
I've an electric and fancy pedalboard thingy as well but haven't used that in a while.

It's defo something I wish I was more accomplished at but at the same time I know enough to be happy to strum away.

Learned loads from justinguitar.com too – spent one summer years ago learning a load of theory from that website. I plateaued after that, but that was a productive summer!!

Kaycee2

Have a guitar gathering dust in the attic, i had a few lessons b.c (before children) and then had another stab at it a few years ago trying to teach myself and as soon as I'd get it tuned and left it down for a minute the kids would turn the keys.

I'm gonna hold onto it though i really wanna be able to play just need to make the time for it.

kippy

Kaycee2 wrote: »

Have a guitar gathering dust in the attic, i had a few lessons b.c (before children) and then had another stab at it a few years ago trying to teach myself and as soon as I'd get it tuned and left it down for a minute the kids would turn the keys.

I'm gonna hold onto it though i really wanna be able to play just need to make the time for it.

Am hoping to give the option of playing it to my two young lads - with the aim that one or both of them become the next Bruce Springsteen or something = retirement plan for me.

I was sorry I hadn't had a chance to pick one up when I was younger to be honest.

Herb Powell

Playing guitar since I was about 11, electric of course, and I've played bass since I was 16. Bass is absolutely incredible craic to play at a gig.

I've been told I'm class altogether, but IDK, I jam with some incredible musicians. I think I have a long way to go. What I am proud of is my ear, I can tune from my head and it's almost always perfect, I can learn a song just from memory, and if I'm listening to something new trying to figure it out it usually only takes a few seconds. I remember being absolutely amazed at my guitar teacher's ability to do this so effortlessly when I started off! I have absolutely no bother mimicing the exact rhythm of a piece either, and it really annoys me when people play something with the rhythm way off, haha :o There's only so many notes, but the rythmic possibilities are endless!

Despite this, I can't sing for ****, or play drums to save my life. I'd absolutely love to be able to drum, but I can't seem to.

kippy

Herb Powell wrote: »

Playing guitar since I was about 11, electric of course, and I've played bass since I was 16. Bass is absolutely incredible craic to play at a gig.

I've been told I'm class altogether, but IDK, I jam with some incredible musicians. I think I have a long way to go. What I am proud of is my ear, I can tune from my head and it's almost always perfect, I can learn a song just from memory, and if I'm listening to something new trying to figure it out it usually only takes a few seconds. I remember being absolutely amazed at my guitar teacher's ability to do this so effortlessly when I started off! I have absolutely no bother mimicing the exact rhythm of a piece either, and it really annoys me when people play something with the rhythm way off, haha :o There's only so many notes, but the rythmic possibilities are endless!

Despite this, I can't sing for ****, or play drums to save my life. I'd absolutely love to be able to drum, but I can't seem to.

That's a great statement, "there are only some many notes/chords etc but the rhythmic possibilities are endless".
That's my main issue at this point. I know lots of chords, bits and pieces and can play them, but when it comes to making it sound like the piece you are trying to cover I fall down - even trying to remember how basic three chord songs go I fall down on. I just dont think I have an ear for it.
So that is my question I suppose - do you think this can be "learned" or do you think its something you just naturally have - but you might need some time to hone it?

Temptamperu

I'm trying guitar but studying takes up to much time.

Knex*

kippy wrote: »

That's a great statement, "there are only some many notes/chords etc but the rhythmic possibilities are endless".
That's my main issue at this point. I know lots of chords, bits and pieces and can play them, but when it comes to making it sound like the piece you are trying to cover I fall down - even trying to remember how basic three chord songs go I fall down on. I just dont think I have an ear for it.
So that is my question I suppose - do you think this can be "learned" or do you think its something you just naturally have - but you might need some time to hone it?

It can certainly be learned. Perhaps you do need, or rather it helps, to have a certain ear for it from the off, but the difference between my ability to pick up and play along to a song now, and say 5 years ago, is remarkable.

I always did my own interpretations of songs, and I do think that helps when it comes to varying things up, and that came naturally to me. But outside of that, I definitely think that the more you immerse yourself into it, by playing more music, transposing songs up and down to suit your voice, etc, then the better you invariably get. Or rather, the more honed your "'ear for it" becomes.

Also, if you asked me to play a simple arrangement of say, Am, C, G, and D, or something similar, the difference between how I can make that sound now, and what I could do before, is staggeringly apparent.

Savage Tyrant

I bought a guitar about a month ago.
I've learned 6 or 7 chords... But I just can't for the life of me make an song out of them as moving between them takes too long for me to keep my strum pattern.
It's getting a bit disheartening now as I hoped to be able to play a few bits within a month or so.

Anyone any idea how long it usually takes to learn to move between chords at a decent enough speed?... I don't expect to be Hendrix or Slash, but I wanna at least sound "musical"

danniemcq

Got to grade 8 on Piano but lost all interest in it
Played drums and was decent enough but they are kinda loud to practice and college kinda got in the way. Some day i'll het an electric set... someday....
Tried guitar and can play bits of songs but meh, I can't sing (was told to mime in the school choir) so playing without singing is a downer

Knex*

Savage Tyrant wrote: »

I bought a guitar about a month ago.
I've learned 6 or 7 chords... But I just can't for the life of me make an song out of them as moving between them takes too long for me to keep my strum pattern.
It's getting a bit disheartening now as I hoped to be able to play a few bits within a month or so.

Anyone any idea how long it usually takes to learn to move between chords at a decent enough speed?... I don't expect to be Hendrix or Slash, but I wanna at least sound "musical"

Its quite tough at first. Been so long since I was at that stage, that I barely remember it now though, being honest.

However, I do remember just sitting for hours, going between say three chords at first, Em, D, G, or something similar, until my fingers were close to bleeding.

I found that continuing to strum even while I was changing the chords, helped get me over the hump. All it is, is practice. Finger numbing practice.

A month isn't that long at all, and being on 6 chords already would probably be decent progress (Anyone else able to chime in here?).

Stick with it. I certainly wouldn't be disheartened at being where you are now.

Crumpets

Love playing a bit of music

I play piano and I'm quite serious about it too. Hoping to go for a diploma in the next few years. My piano is like an oversized child to me.

Did a few grades on the flute years ago as well but only really play it now when the mood gets me.

I've a dusty guitar as well that gets played about twice a year. :pac:

Herb Powell

kippy wrote: »

That's a great statement, "there are only some many notes/chords etc but the rhythmic possibilities are endless".
That's my main issue at this point. I know lots of chords, bits and pieces and can play them, but when it comes to making it sound like the piece you are trying to cover I fall down - even trying to remember how basic three chord songs go I fall down on. I just dont think I have an ear for it.
So that is my question I suppose - do you think this can be "learned" or do you think its something you just naturally have - but you might need some time to hone it?

I think it can be learned alright, I was absolutely awful when I started.

Metal and blues in particular are very very rhythm-heavy, and practicing triplet rhythms (the galloping, Iron-Maiden type sound) is a decent way to learn some control, because it's not easy at the start. I don't really have any tips in particular though, I suppose just practice the living ****e out of loads of different-sounding songs til you can nail many rhythms. I think I easily clock up 2 hours a day messing around on the guitar, even more when I was younger :eek:

Knex*

Herb Powell wrote: »

I think it can be learned alright, I was absolutely awful when I started.

Metal and blues in particular are very very rhythm-heavy, and practicing triplet rhythms (the galloping, Iron-Maiden type sound) is a decent way to learn some control, because it's not easy at the start. I don't really have any tips in particular though, I suppose just practice the living ****e out of loads of different-sounding songs til you can nail many rhythms. I think I easily clock up 2 hours a day messing around on the guitar, even more when I was younger :eek:

Aye, there's no substitute for practice, really.

That's the biggest disadvantage I find in people who are trying to pick it up later on in life, than those who start when in school and can viably spend 20+ hours a week playing at times.

Maximus Alexander

I used to be a pretty serviceable guitarist but I only ever break it out for the odd house party now, so most of my ability is gone sadly. I've a reasonably good set of pipes on me though, so I can still entertain when needs be.

kryogen

I play guitar, bass and a bit of keys, I am a mean box player but thats a different story also

Herb Powell

Knex. wrote: »

Aye, there's no substitute for practice, really.

That's the biggest disadvantage I find in people who are trying to pick it up later on in life, than those who start when in school and can viably spend 20+ hours a week playing at times.

Yeah, you really have to love it, and how it sounds, so you can just feck around for hours on end.

kryogen

Most of the time, watching a match that wouldnt involve my team, or a tv show or something I also have the guitar in hand, just strumming or plucking something random. It is something I would feel lost without and I have been ****ing around with one since I was about 11 but only got serious when I hit 20 so you can get into it a bit later

Tardful Slakerly II

Savage Tyrant wrote: »

I bought a guitar about a month ago.
I've learned 6 or 7 chords... But I just can't for the life of me make an song out of them as moving between them takes too long for me to keep my strum pattern.
It's getting a bit disheartening now as I hoped to be able to play a few bits within a month or so.

Anyone any idea how long it usually takes to learn to move between chords at a decent enough speed?... I don't expect to be Hendrix or Slash, but I wanna at least sound "musical"

I remember something like this at the beginning. It's one of the most disheartening stages of learning. As the above user said, what I did was take 3 or 4 chords, say A, D, C, G if you like, and just sit down and switch between them methodically without strumming, just making sure the fingering was right and then developing the muscle memory to switch through practice. With that down, then maybe strum C and make sure it sounds OK, then change and strum the next chord making sure it rings clear too. Baby steps but it's good to be solid with the basics.

Whatever you're trying to play, I know it helped me to play at half the regular speed starting off. It is a grind.

Maximus Alexander

Savage Tyrant wrote: »

I bought a guitar about a month ago.
I've learned 6 or 7 chords... But I just can't for the life of me make an song out of them as moving between them takes too long for me to keep my strum pattern.
It's getting a bit disheartening now as I hoped to be able to play a few bits within a month or so.

Anyone any idea how long it usually takes to learn to move between chords at a decent enough speed?... I don't expect to be Hendrix or Slash, but I wanna at least sound "musical"

I remember this phase all right, probably one of the toughest parts when you're starting out.

The key for me getting past it was to stick to a rhythm at all costs. Tap it out with your feet, or use a metronome if it's easier, and change chord on every fourth beat. Strum anyway, even if you haven't completed the chord change. It won't sound great, but stay in the rhythm and keep at it and at it and your left hand will catch up eventually. Then you can gradually speed up the beat.

It stands to you later on too, because if you're playing a song for people / in public, it's always better to hit a bum note than to miss the beat. The latter is much more jarring and always sounds worse.

MacBizzle

Savage Tyrant wrote: »

I bought a guitar about a month ago.
I've learned 6 or 7 chords... But I just can't for the life of me make an song out of them as moving between them takes too long for me to keep my strum pattern.
It's getting a bit disheartening now as I hoped to be able to play a few bits within a month or so.

Anyone any idea how long it usually takes to learn to move between chords at a decent enough speed?... I don't expect to be Hendrix or Slash, but I wanna at least sound "musical"

Took me 2 years.

You a fan of Red Hot Chili Peppers? Their songs are fantastic for both practising chords and getting some rhythm going, sound just as good on an acoustic as they do on electric as well. If you're a fan I'd really really suggest learning some of their stuff.

Helps that I'm a bit of a fanboy though

Also, find a metronome if you've difficulty keeping rhythm, they're so helpful.

Maximus Alexander

MacBizzle wrote: »

Took me 2 years.

You a fan of Red Hot Chili Peppers? Their songs are fantastic for both practising chords and getting some rhythm going, sound just as good on an acoustic as they do on electric as well. If you're a fan I'd really really suggest learning some of their stuff.

Helps that I'm a bit of a fanboy though

Also, find a metronome if you've difficulty keeping rhythm, they're so helpful.

The first song I ever learned to play was Scar Tissue. I've learned and forgotten a hundred songs since, but I can always play that no matter how out of practice I get. I must have practiced it for a hundred hours.

MacBizzle

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

The first song I ever learned to play was Scar Tissue. I've learned and forgotten a hundred songs since, but I can always play that no matter how out of practice I get. I must have practiced it for a hundred hours.

I did Can't Stop for my Junior Cert practical, must have spent at least 400 hours practising it I can nearly play it in my sleep at this stage :pac:

Dolbert

I've played trad flute and tin whistle since I was a nipper, always enjoyed it. I can read sheet music but I'm much faster just listening to a tune and playing it back. I play in a band now and we can all play by ear, it's extremely useful in that setting as is the ability to improvise.

I tried to learn the trumpet but only managed to make fart sounds. Swapped it for an alto sax and it's much more manageable (but boy is it is looouud).

WilyCoyote

Uke

Tar.Aldarion

I got a guitar to learn metallica riffs and the like. Did so and gave up, still worth it at the time. Still have the guitar 10 years later, reminds me of good times even though I always mean to get rid of it. I love music but have no talent in the area.

monkeysnapper

monkeysnapper wrote: »

My real problem I have learning saxophone is it's such a noisy instrument to learn and I hate anyone listening to me .

I did see a thing that looks like a maggot tho a few years ago , it's a case for saxophone and it's basically a mute , and a very good mute but you look stupid playing it .

http://youtu.be/UHBmOWP-X-w

bnt

Voice was my first instrument - I starred in school musicals before my voice broke from soprano choirboy to alto donkey. Electric bass has been my first instrument ever since, with some keyboards. Badly out of practice, though.