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HOW TO CHOOSE A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT TO PLAY

Many people would like to learn to play a musical instrument, but usually would not know where to start. Well, before one can learn a new musical instrument, they must, know how to pick the instrument. The good news is that in a lot of ways, it's simpler to pick an instrument as an adult -- you know your tastes by now, and you have access to a much wider range of instruments, teachers, and options. It's not very easy for the young ones. This article will therefore address adults.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before picking an instrument

What kind of music do you like? This seems like an obvious point but thinks it through: if you really prefer listening to Jaa for example, a saxophone might not be the best instrument for you to learn. A musical instrument is a big investment of time and money, so make sure the style of music that you'd be playing fits the bill. Some instruments are more versatile than others -- once you get the basics of one, then you can play many more in that family of instruments.

In what sort of situations do you see yourself playing? Does playing in a jam session good enough for you? Perhaps the guitar would be a good choice. If you're less social, the piano always sounds good solo and makes a gorgeous piece of furniture even when it's not being played.

What are the limitations of your budget? Most instruments can be purchased in various price ranges, but some are more drastically cheap or expensive than others. It is important to choose an instrument that is within your budget. It is not always to buy a very expensive instrument only not to be able to play it and then having to sell it.

What sort of practice space do you have? Living in a shared space is also a factor to consider when choosing an instrument to learn. Brass instruments will not be a good idea if your share your space. If you live on a farm in the middle of nowhere, you can pick any instrument of choice as practicing would not be a nuisance to anyone.

How easy will it be to find a teacher? You shouldn't have too hard of a time finding a guitar or drums instructor within a few kilometers of any small town or village anywhere you live. If you want to play the harp, your options will be slightly more limited. That doesn't mean it's impossible to learn a rare instrument, just be ready to look harder and spend more to find a teacher, and bear in mind that you may have to travel quite some distance for one-onone lessons. Some instrument teachers will teach remotely, via Skype or another application, but that lesson style may or may not work for you.

What kind of time do you want to put into the instrument? All instruments will require an enormous time investment if you want to become an excellent player, but for less time, you can become a pretty good or adequate player, depending on what you're looking for. Unless you're ready to invest serious hours, don't fuss with something like the kora. perhaps choosing something like simple rhythm guitar is best for you. If you really want to make music but have very little time to invest in practicing, a simple rhythm instrument, like djembe, is a great choice.

What are your physical limitations? If you can't hoist something heavy, don't try to play upright bass. If you don't have the great lung capacity, think twice about the saxophone. Short arms? trombone may not be so easy. Certainly, if you've got the will to play something that will be physically difficult for you, you can surpass just about anything, but be ready for a bit of adversity.

Do you want to play and sing at the same time? If you really want to accompany yourself singing, especially if you want to do it solo, you might consider going with one of the two classics: piano or guitar. Sure, plenty of great musicians have accompanied themselves on other instruments, but piano and guitar can both provide fullness and range of sound that, solo, accompany a human voice well. It's no accident that they're the most popular accompanying instruments for singers.

Do you want to learn to read music? If you want to play Western classical music, you'll need to learn to read music, specifically on whichever clef accompanies your instrument. Jazz players generally need to learn to read music, as well, though it can look a bit different than classical sheet music, and some international music traditions have various styles of written music and charts as well. If you're looking to avoid reading music and play simply by ear, most genres of folk music around the world don't require any written notation.

Do you want to be the leader of the band? If you're looking to play small-ensemble music, be it classic rock or reggae or any number of other genres, where do you envision yourself fitting in? If you want to be out front, pick the instrument that takes the most solos and plays the melody within your chosen genre. If you'd rather be an unsung hero, go for something in the rhythm section.

Are there folks around to play with? Certain types of music (and the instruments that they're played on) really are best suited to social players, and you'll have a hard time keeping it up if you never have a chance to pick a tune with others. Traditional music and old-time music, for example, are really best-enjoyed session-style, so unless you want to be doomed to a life of solo banjo pickin' , consider whether or not you've got some people around to practice with, or if you're willing to seek them out during travels.

Choose your instrument carefully. If you don't really love it, you'll never stick with it. Don't compromise if you don't have to. It’ll be a while before you're any good. Have reasonable expectations for yourself and remember that the learning curve for different instruments is shaped differently. Reaching the point at which you can strum a simple set of chords on a guitar will take less time than playing a simple melody on the violin. Don't let it discourage you if it takes a while, no matter what instrument you're on. What You Need

Ultimately, an instrument and accessories

A teacher or an excellent plan for self-teaching

A lot of confidence and a sense of humor at the ready