Questions about an instrument itself, rather than how to play it.
5
votes
3answers
133 views
How do I assess the value of a guitar when I'm preparing to sell it?
How do I go about researching the value of my instrument before I put it up for sale? I'd like to feel like I've done a proper amount of due diligence before I put it on the used market so I can both ...
11
votes
4answers
689 views
Trumpet low C# and D
Most trumpets' low C# and D are too low, and need correcting by pulling the 1st of 3rd valve.
My first understanding was that the distance between tones in the lower register is larger than between ...
11
votes
3answers
770 views
Why do standard modern pianos have 88 keys?
I know that the piano contains 7 octaves plus a 4th. I also know that it accommodates the full circle of fifths (from C and back to C). But since a fifth contains 7 semitones, it only
"needs" 7X12 = ...
18
votes
15answers
5k views
What instruments are inexpensive, portable and not too loud?
I'm a college student, and I'd really like to start playing an instrument. But I want to find something that is:
Inexpensive
Small / portable in a backpack
Quiet enough to practice in my dorm room
...
10
votes
3answers
663 views
What's the difference between the “smooth” strings and the “rough” strings?
On my acoustic, the first 4 strings are "rough" - that is they are covered in a type of metal corkscrew. The last 2 strings though are completely smooth, and don't have a corkscrew finish.
Why are ...
2
votes
5answers
283 views
Silent, extremely portable instrument to learn music
I am currently off work for more or less a month, so I decided it could be a great time to learn an instrument and how to compose some simple tunes.
I am 29, never played anything meaningful in my ...
6
votes
2answers
121 views
Can I split guitar string gauges?
I want to know if I can split guitar string gauges, ie. using 12s on the bottom and 10s on the top, both for standard and drop tunings.
5
votes
2answers
465 views
Adjusting clarinet or saxophone reeds
How do various techniques and equipments for adjusting reeds compare? e.g.
...
4
votes
1answer
964 views
What is a transposing instrument?
I've read this term many times. However, I'm not quite sure of what it exactly is. What is a transposing instrument? What would be an example of one?
2
votes
3answers
875 views
Starting piano - which instrument to choose?
I've been playing guitar for a couple of years now, and I want to try my hand at piano - so to speak.
I'm a little stumped as to what the best instrument for me to choose is, as I've been looking at ...
0
votes
1answer
72 views
How many drop tunings can I use with one set of strings?
I want to know how many drop tunings I can reasonably use with one set of strings.
Ex. can I go from E standard to drop C on 11s?
For a given size string, how many tunings will be useable, given that ...
