Which Second Instrument?

[scheme]

Hi all,

I recently thought about „learning“ another instrument. The goal is not to become a virtuoso, this will be more of a vehicle for me to learn music theory, chords, harmonics etc. To give a better understandig of this topic and eventually allowing me to contribute more to songwriting.

Any recommendations? The obvious choices would be guitar or piano. Any other ideas? If you have to choose between those two, which one would it be?

Budget is limited, I don‘t want to spend a lot and I want to focus on the music theory aspects, so instruments „hard“ to learn are not my first choice.

 

[Rock Salad]

A keyboard seems cheapest and easiest to start out on. Plus a the notes are right there. With guitar you still kind of have to learn keys and your chords are limited to what you can finger. But guitar has microtone capacity and rhythm is more in the fore. I love guitar but sometimes wish I had gone for keys instead. Both?

 

[brokenstick]

Always surrounded by guitar players so I picked up on guitar.

 

[aarono2690]

Piano. Wider musical range, much higher probability of you learning how to read sheet music, I assume it’s a less common skill than guitar, etc.

 

[RyanLovesDrums]

IMO piano is easier than guitar. Maybe try bass too. Bass is a lot easier than guitar, some songs only require a few notes on the bass. You sometimes only need to use a couple fingers.

 

[Lazmo]

I’m biased because I play guitar, but who carries a piano or a keyboard around…? A guitar goes anywhere, can be used around the campfire, the back deck, pretty much anywhere.

OK, it isn’t layed out in front of you like piano, but once you begin to see the shapes, the patterns repeated along the neck, the inversions… it suddenly gets a whole lot easier.

I have no idea what music you are into or want to play, but the bulk of most popular pop rock c&w etc is guitar based. And something worth noting, is that most popular guitar songs are based on things that are inherently easy to play… that’s how it was initially figured out.

Plus playing guitar, is even improved even more by playing bass too. I’ve played guitar for thirty years, but in the last five years or so, I’ve really taken to playing bass too.

But piano is awesome too.

Regardless, don’t rush there… make sure you enjoy the journey.

 

[jlzisk]

Bicycles. Seriously. Building and repairing vintage racing machines, and riding them thousands of miles each year. I amateur raced seriously back in the day (read: 1970s onward), and learned much about rhythm on a bike. And staying in the pocket. And playing in the groove. All of which help one to ride (play) well, and all of which have the same muscle-memory and meditative aspects. So, bicycle.

 

[larold]

Theremin, which I play through a million effects pedals.

 

[Steech]

Bicycles. Seriously. Building and repairing vintage racing machines, and riding them thousands of miles each year. I amateur raced seriously back in the day (read: 1970s onward), and learned much about rhythm on a bike. And staying in the pocket. And playing in the groove. All of which help one to ride (play) well, and all of which have the same muscle-memory and meditative aspects. So, bicycle.

Agreed.

 

[HHammerHeadD]

The OCARINA small greyblue3 holed 1.
And a ten holed key of c6.
Wind instruments.
The small one mimmicks the intro to "Black Sabbath" by Black Sabbath. .... The 10 hole plays like a flute, clarinet fingering, almost. Not quite the same, but, similar.
The sound of greyblue was masterfully made by my friend Brother John Rhodes, in his kiln, baking clay.

 

[Azoth]

Hi all,

I recently thought about „learning“ another instrument. The goal is not to become a virtuoso, this will be more of a vehicle for me to learn music theory, chords, harmonics etc. To give a better understandig of this topic and eventually allowing me to contribute more to songwriting.

Any recommendations? The obvious choices would be guitar or piano. Any other ideas? If you have to choose between those two, which one would it be?

Budget is limited, I don‘t want to spend a lot and I want to focus on the music theory aspects, so instruments „hard“ to learn are not my first choice.

Long time ago, when I first moved into an apt and didn't have my kits in walking distance, I picked up guitar. Best thing I did for my musicality. Also, incidentally, I finally "got" the piano, so now I can utilize that too when writing.

 

[Jayson]

I'd like to get more into bass guitar.

 

[Sequimite]

Guitar here, love shaping the notes with my fingers. If the goal is to learn about music theory though, nothing beats a keyboard.