I figure this is the closest thing we have to an instrument thread I wanted to ask a question to anyone who plays an instrument
I want to learn an instrument in my free time, preferably something i can learn online with maybe an hour on it a day. I'm not learning to join a band, just as something nice to do with my free time that isn't video games, I also want to be able to make my own songs for any animations i plan to make in the future.
I was thinking a ukelele since they're cheap for a starter one and I've always liked songs with them in.
Any help? Anyone have a reason why my plans will ultimately fail?
Most people I know who into the ukelele don't bother to learn about music theory at all because they can literally pick up random songs in minutes by learning ridiculously easy to play chords. If you're willing to learn theory for the uke and think you can apply it to other instruments in the future then there's no problem, but imo a more stable instrument to start would be a guitar.
If you are thinking of getting a uke get a decent one or you will have intonation problems. I got a cheapo one when I was in high school and the distance between the nut and first fret was all out of whack so open chords would never sound right and it drove me nuts. Later on I purchased a slightly longer and more expensive tenor ukulele and it is pretty sweet. You can tune them up to G C E A like a regular uke but I'm pretty sure the most common tuning is down a perfect fourth from that at D G B E which is basically like a guitar with the A and low E removed.
Having said that, I picked up the guitar long before the ukulele so my preference for a more guitar-like range and playing experience definitely stems from that.
[editline]7th October 2013[/editline]
It just occurred to me that the ukulele is an excellent gateway instrument into the charango. I played one of those in a south american band when I was still in school also. It was a loud little fucker and it didn't impress girls as much as I hoped it would but it was still really fun to play.
Thanks for the help guys! Anyone know of a certain brand i should look at getting? Also anyone have any books i can download on the theory side?
Uke's are only for following fads. Just buy a guitar and avoid being a dork.
I personally am trying to learn the guitar. The learning curve when you first start playing is extremely difficult and discouraging (atleast it was for me). I tell people I've been playing for a year, (because that's when I really started playing) but I've owned my guitar for almost 2 and a half years.
I've gotten over that initial curve (sort of, I still need alot of practice) and can play some of my favorite songs (sloppily) and it is extremely fun.
plus, you can translate the electric guitar to acoustic, (or vice versa if you start with acoustic) to mandolin, ukulele, probably even piano if you put in the effort.
tl;dr I think the guitar would be good for you
[QUOTE=gerbile5;42431509]I personally am trying to learn the guitar. The learning curve when you first start playing is extremely difficult and discouraging (atleast it was for me). I tell people I've been playing for a year, (because that's when I really started playing) but I've owned my guitar for almost 2 and a half years.
I've gotten over that initial curve (sort of, I still need alot of practice) and can play some of my favorite songs (sloppily) and it is extremely fun.
plus, you can translate the electric guitar to acoustic, (or vice versa if you start with acoustic) to mandolin, ukulele, probably even piano if you put in the effort.
tl;dr I think the guitar would be good for you[/QUOTE]
This.
The first year or so of guitar is surprisingly difficult, but once you practice every day to the best of your ability, it'll givbe you a lot of freedom in many other ranges.
Personally, I didn't learn music theory until well into my 3rd year. But I knew which notes were where by that time and it made learning scales and keys that much easier. From thereon, I moved to bass guitar, to mandolin, to piano with relative ease.
While it may be cliche, guitar's the best for you. Don't be the hipster uke guy.
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