Learning is the act of acquiring or developing skills and knowledge.
5
votes
5answers
963 views
What are good beginner books to follow for classical guitar (self study or otherwise) ?
I've come across a lot of different series and 'methodologies' (Aaron Shearer, Mel Bay etc) books - and it's very confusing for the beginner when there's no teacher to guide him or her.
18
votes
16answers
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
...
2
votes
7answers
176 views
Sight reading (“two hands”) for one non-performers?
For a long time I have wanted to learn to sight-read piano music, and made a few a ttempts, but failed.
The most important reason for these failures, I think, is that I have no interest whatsoever in ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Learning to play bass guitar: Fretless vs Fretted
I took bass guitar lessons years ago, but decided I was going to start self-teaching again. I have 2 basses, a Squire P-Bass, and a Fender fretless J-Bass. I was thinking about teaching myself to ...
3
votes
2answers
170 views
A case of tone deafness or not enough practice?
I always wanted to play an instrument but ever since I was a kid I was told by my parents I was tone deaf, mostly because I have a terrible singing voice.
Now what I have read is that when your tone ...
1
vote
2answers
125 views
Ranking Interval Complexity
I would like to know the order of complexity of musical intervals (in a melody). I learned about this from an exposure to the Kodaly method, although I have not learned from nor taught using the ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
Fingering for the higher C for an Irish low whistle in D
I have got an Irish low-whistle in D, and have been searching on the internet for the fingering for the higher C, but have been unable to find a working one anywhere. I also tried experimenting by ...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
Keyboard or midi controller for learning to play? [duplicate]
I am an adult looking to learn to play music. I would like to learn to play a synthesizer but they are a bit expensive to try a new hobby on. I'm looking around the $100 range for my starter ...
1
vote
4answers
123 views
Learn music professionally, not classical and not jazz?
I'm a keyboardist with classical training since childhood, and an unresistible urge to play pop (rock, funky, ballad, progressive rock, radio pop, anything non-classical) music. I want to become a ...
8
votes
4answers
7k views
Using keyboard/MIDI controller to learn piano
I'm an adult just starting to learn music from scratch. The piano I have been using is sometimes not available for me to use, so I would like to buy a keyboard/MIDI controller so I can practice ...
3
votes
5answers
220 views
Why is the recorder a good instrument to start with?
I don't know if it's the same all over the world, but in central Europe it seems to be a tradition that every slightly music-interested child has to play the recorder to start.
Parents seem to find ...
10
votes
5answers
841 views
Do I need a teacher to learn violin?
I'd like to take up the violin, but I travel too much to take lessons.
Is it reasonable to learn violin without a teacher? And I take 'unreasonable' to mean "don't even bother- you'll be much better ...
15
votes
4answers
210 views
Teaching a student to match pitch
I'm a piano teacher and I currently have a student that is taking voice lessons from another teacher. Our lessons involve me accompanying her and discussing interpretation and style. She has some ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
Playing the hawaiian steel guitar. [closed]
I have got hold of hawaiian steel guitar. This is my first instrument. I have learned to play a simple happy birthday to you using only the first string. How do I proceed further? Links to tutorials ...
3
votes
4answers
125 views
How to keep ANY progress and have fun again
Actually I'm not even sure where to start.
I play (mostly acoustic) guitar for about 4 year now and at the beginning (lets say 2 first years of playing) I was really inspired but now I kinda lost it.
...
8
votes
3answers
331 views
Is a very cheap drum kit an impediment to learning?
A national discount chain is offering an adult drumkit for £50 (about US$80).
I've often fancied getting my hand in as a drummer. I don't ever expect drums to be my main instrument, but I would like ...
1
vote
4answers
158 views
Self learning and tips for a middle aged parent
I have played guitar as a hobby on-and-off for 18 years now. I am not an accomplished player. I took lessons when I started out. I have bought books, and early-on I learned a lot from Fretboard ...
1
vote
0answers
114 views
Realistic long-term goals for an adult piano learner? (Limits of adult learning) [closed]
I started learning to play classical piano 6 months ago, at 27 years of age. Although I did not play the piano at all prior to this, I have been listening to classical piano and attending concerts for ...
4
votes
3answers
111 views
Getting my Daughter Started in Music
My daughter is currently 3, she has a very keen interest in music. She sings a lot and "composes" her own little "songs" to her own tunes. She has apparently has a keen ear for music, she inserts her ...
6
votes
6answers
430 views
Assess child's ability or interest in music and piano
I've played the piano a while ago (24 years to be exact!), then had to stop for a number of reasons.
Now I'm 37. I want to start playing again, not just for myself, but to get my 5-year old daughter ...
20
votes
14answers
6k views
How can I best learn to play barre chords?
I've been trying to learn the F chord for a while now, and I am having a very hard time playing the barre chord. I've read that pulling back slightly with your finger and using the body of the guitar ...
4
votes
7answers
2k views
What is the right age to start learning to play violin?
I heard that it becomes very difficult to learn to play violin after a certain age (14 IIRC). Is that correct? And what is the reason?
1
vote
3answers
430 views
Instrument grade exams
How many grade exams are there for playing an instrument?
I came to know that there are around 8 grades to qualify you as a professional guitar player.
How are these grades decided and what is the ...
0
votes
1answer
93 views
What resource teaches me finger placement for violin sheet music?
New to the violin!
... So, I'm really confused now.
You see, as a hobby, this whole time I have been learning songs by memorizing the finger placement some violinists use for their pieces.
Buuut, ...
-1
votes
1answer
86 views
How does fm synthesis works compared to additive synthesis, and how to approach sound design with it?
I use regurlarly ableton analog, NI Massive and FAW Circle, whith which I can produice more or less any sound i like, but I can get, at all, how synthesis works and how to make a sound with it.
6
votes
5answers
562 views
What are the ABRSM graded examinations, and why would one want to take them?
I have seen several questions here about the exams offered by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music in the United Kingdom. Most questions are from the standpoint of people who are in the ...
5
votes
4answers
101 views
Memorising the fretboard when using dropped tunings? [duplicate]
I'm trying to memorise the notes on the fretboard so that I can more easily apply some of the chordal and scale theory I've been learning, but I downtune quite a lot (half-step down, whole step down, ...
1
vote
1answer
924 views
What's the best way to start learning Accordion on a budget?
Obviously, a good way to learn would be to buy an Accordion, some books, watch a few videos on youtube and just spend a few years with some hard practice. However I'm not naturally musically talented, ...
3
votes
6answers
394 views
How to learn piano improvisation
I am a self-taught piano player, played for about five years with shorter and longer breaks. I've never had any formal education, don't know chords or music theory. What should I do to learn piano ...
-2
votes
1answer
110 views
Please recommend the next piano piece I should learn [closed]
I started learning to play the piano in September last year. I am taking private lessons from a young man who is a very skilled pianist and also a good teacher, but I happen to be his first student. I ...
10
votes
5answers
2k views
Software that Transposes Music?
I would love to be able to learn the flute by playing more popular music. However, all the free sheet music that I can find for a flute in the key of C is lame stuff like "Jingle Bells."
In my search ...
0
votes
1answer
77 views
Learning about electric guitars [closed]
Not about how to play them, but about the terms associated with them. For example, I don't know what things like "pitch blend" are, or what is the difference between the various pickups or how the ...
-1
votes
2answers
102 views
Looking for advice on my self-taught music education
Until a year ago, I had absolutely no music education, and I decided to change that around this period, well more exactly I picked up on (acoustic) guitar as a hobby and from there gained interest in ...
7
votes
9answers
420 views
What instrument can an old guy learn if the main goal is to write music
At this old age I began, two years ago learning to write music. I write it using Sibelius and let the computer play it for me.
I have been strongly recommended to learn to play an instrument. I have ...
9
votes
6answers
281 views
What are good resources for learning music theory?
What is a good resource for learning music theory, especially as it relates to the guitar, coming from a completely beginner's perspective? I had a musician friend try to teach me about modes such as ...
8
votes
5answers
204 views
Can I learn an instrument just by practicing songs?
I am a working individual with tons of responsibility at work giving me little to no time to practice in the conventional way. I can't consistently keep practicing scales and stuff. I just picked up ...
3
votes
3answers
79 views
What to look for in beginner etudes for a second instrument?
I've already learned the theory, technique and notation as it applies to my primary instrument (guitar). I'd like to pick up a second instrument (viola), but I need to find exercises and etudes that ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Rhythm/Drum exercises without drums
I am a 24 year old computer engineering student who just have started playing drums. I spend on avarage 1 hour on bus to school and 40-60 min on exercise like running, biking, etc every day. My point ...
1
vote
2answers
102 views
Best process to learn a new song
I have been wondering about the best way to learn playing a new song on guitar. For example, a lot of people try to pick a small part, practice and perfect it and then repeat the procedure for the ...
0
votes
1answer
134 views
How to extract musical notes(tabs) from chords?
Is there any way to extract tabs from the chord?
I am a guitar player and i want to play some songs on my guitar. I found the chords for these songs on the internet but there are no tabs available. I ...
11
votes
2answers
434 views
How do I develop a bass voice?
I am an 'adult male human' and can sing from A2 to G4 comfortably. It would be great if I can sing up to a whole octave below this. I am in no hurry and am willing to expend time and effort. I just ...
1
vote
0answers
77 views
Repertoire recommendation for beginning viola? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What to look for in beginner etudes for a second instrument?
[Stumbled upon this on meta. So I thought I'd attempt a trial by fire.]
I just got a shipment of necessary ...
2
votes
1answer
194 views
How to learn chords for piano?
I am starting to learn some music theory and improving other things in my piano playing, and I've decided I will begin by learning chords. I've read a bit about them and I know, more or less, how they ...
2
votes
1answer
119 views
How do I go about practicing this arpeggio?
I'm an experienced guitar player, and I'm finally getting around to spending some time self-studying the piano. I've been learning a few songs by ear, and I'm wondering how to go about properly ...
12
votes
6answers
2k views
Get back into an instrument after long break?
In my youth I played lots of piano, for over 10 years, and became quite good at it. During college, however, I just didn't have the time to keep it up.
It looks as if I'll soon have access to a ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Getting back to the piano after 5 years - restart with lessons or just play? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Get back into piano after long break?
How to get back on track after long absence
Before I went to university I spent quite some time playing the piano after several ...
2
votes
2answers
123 views
What should I be trying my hand at to practice composing?
I don't really know how to play any instrument, but I do have some USB keys that I have plinked with in Garageband.
I'm not interested so much in learning to perform my works. I enjoy and am inspired ...
3
votes
6answers
1k views
Is Hanon's “Virtuoso Pianist” good for self-taught musician?
I am a self-taught painist (or keyboardist, whatever you prefer). Some time ago I came across The Virtuoso Pianist but, because I never played under an eye of a professional, I was turned away by the ...
10
votes
4answers
421 views
What online resources should I use to learn harmony and musical analysis?
I had some harmony courses and I want to learn some more about it.
Ideally, I am looking for is a KhanAcademy-like website about harmony and musical analysis. If that doesn't exist, where else should ...
7
votes
5answers
193 views
What can I do to learn violin before going to a teacher?
Well, I just got a violin today. Got it set up, tuned up (I think), aaaand... Most horrible sound ever heard in my life! :D
So, it is time to learn to play it. Apparently, it is highly advised to get ...
