Deciding on a musical instrument...

[jamesbond007]

Hey guys! My girlfriend is gone this summer for an internship, so I'm home alone, bored as hell for the most part. My friends are all pretty busy as most of them are college-drop outs who are working 2+ jobs to pay off their credit card debts and what-not, SO I have a lot of free time.

One of my life-long goals is to learn the piano and be able to play the Moonlight Sonata. I *LOVE* classical music and pretty much any music genre now that I think about it, minus 99% of country and rap. Anyways, I have pretty quick fingers (insert jokes here) so I think I'd personally be good at a piano. Now, I am living out on my own, going to school, paying off a car, and blah blah. Only a few basic bills, nothing extensive, no debts, nothing on my credit cards, so I'm good to go financially, at least I think. I might have to get some student loans next year...but those are the least of my worries.

Now, despite the fact that I would like to learn the piano, a buddy of mine got a bass guitar and I think it's very cool! I was listening to ACDC today and thought of how cool it'd be to get an electric guitar and be able to strum off the intro keys to Thunderstruck! My uncle has his own professional band and has taught guitar lessons and said that if I get a guitar he'd teach me, too. That's a big plus because with the piano I'd be on my own and I'd have to learn how to read music on my own.

Anyways, I'd like to keep this musical introduction into my life as cheap as possible for now so I don't have any future problems with cash flow. I'm looking to spend <$350 TOPS including shipping. I've narrowed my search down to these 3 instruments. Which would you music fans think would be a good start for me to get my feet wet?

Acoustic Guitar
Electric Guitar
Piano/Keyboard

Now, I live in an apartment now so I have to keep noise levels minimal, but I think I could use my nice headphones to plug into the amps if I get a guitar. The keyboard wouldn't be an issue ever.

Thanks for any input! Also, if you guys think I should get a different guitar/keyboard, link me to something that fits the bill and has good reputations! I've also picked up some guitars before and I feel 'at home' with them, so I am not really afraid to learn anything new. I have lots of time to put forth, so give me your hardest! (insert joke here)

 

[DainBramaged]

Go for the piano and learn about it and then if you are inclined to continue, pick up the guitar.

 

[drum]

your lack of drums make me cry.
i have drums in my apartment

 

[cjgallen]

Piano is for women.

Pick up an electric guitar and have your uncle teach you.

 

[jamesbond007]

Drums never really interested me, though...I like to tap my fingers and feet to beats, but I don't think drums interest me.

EDIT: What do you guys think of the guitar packs I chose? OK? Others? Remember, Cheap is GOOOD!

Listening to right now: Chopin - Nocturne

 

[jjzelinski]

My first vote is piano because I love the instrument,; such a versitle intrument and I simply love the sounds.

Second, try out a classical guitar. I've bought one for myself in the last several months, love it

 

[thirtythree]

Everyone plays the guitar.

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

saxomophone

 

[imported_Kensai]

Electric guitar or drums.

 

[Cpt Cupcake]

Originally posted by: cjgallen
Piano is for women.

Pick up an electric guitar and have your uncle teach you.

Thats a stupid statement.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: jjzelinski
My first vote is piano because I love the instrument,; such a versitle intrument and I simply love the sounds.

YES! Ugh, I adore the music that is played in the movie "The Pianist"!!! My girlfriend plays the viola, so I think we could do something cool sometime. Maybe even my buddy who plays the bass could come in and jazz it up a bit, kinda like what the music group "Bond" did. They are not only hot, but they play a sort of techno-ish classical music. Have you heard of them? Allegreto is my favorite by them. I have two of their albums, my favorite being "Shine".

 

[Deeko]

FVCK all three of them!!

Seriously, learn a DIFFERENT instrument! Everyone out there things they are a goddamn music genius cuz they can strum the same tired sh!t on guitar. Learn a big band instrument, or a classical string instrument...something different!

 

[upsciLLion]

Piano. You'll learn so much about theory. That's the only thing I wish I would have spent more time on when I was taking lessons.

 

[CptObvious]

This Epi acoustic looks pretty good...solid top, and $140 link

For electrics, the best deal in your price range is probably an Agile copy (rondomusic.net).

I don't know much about keyboards but the one you linked to looks pretty sweet. :thumbsup:

 

[jamesbond007]

It seems the keyboard doubles as a MIDI controller, too. I wonder if I learned this first, then got a guitar later. I could program beats like drums and percussion instruments into the recording and play along with a guitar!

 

[spaceman]

drums man.

 

[drum]

Originally posted by: ncircle
drums man.

a wise man this is

 

[CptObvious]

Originally posted by: jamesbond007
It seems the keyboard doubles as a MIDI controller, too. I wonder if I learned this first, then got a guitar later. I could program beats like drums and percussion instruments into the recording and play along with a guitar!

Even cheap keyboards should have MIDI support. My first keyboard was a Yamaha PSR-225 that was less than $200 and it had MIDI.

Right now I'm using an Evolution MK-249c2 MIDI keyboard and Reason software. I got the keyboard on sale for $100 and the software has a lot of stuff to play with...synthesizers, drums, samples, etc. That might be worth looking into if you can find Reason for cheap.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: CptObvious

Originally posted by: jamesbond007
It seems the keyboard doubles as a MIDI controller, too. I wonder if I learned this first, then got a guitar later. I could program beats like drums and percussion instruments into the recording and play along with a guitar!

Even cheap keyboards should have MIDI support. My first keyboard was a Yamaha PSR-225 that was less than $200 and it had MIDI.

Right now I'm using an Evolution MK-249c2 MIDI keyboard and Reason software. I got the keyboard on sale for $100 and the software has a lot of stuff to play with...synthesizers, drums, samples, etc. That might be worth looking into if you can find Reason for cheap.

Do you think that's a better alternative? Personally, I want to get a real digital piano...one that is like $2,000 from Yamaha someday with full weighted keys. What do you guys think of the keyboard I listed?

 

[SVT Cobra]

i play the piano and the viola...the piano has helped me a load in the music theory department....

start with the piano or keyboard then move to other stuff.....

 

[NoReserve]

Originally posted by: drum
your lack of drums make me cry.

QFT

 

[sharkeeper]

Clarinet.

<ducks>

 

[neosenate]

Originally posted by: cjgallen
Piano is for women.

Pick up an electric guitar and have your uncle teach you.

 

[jamesbond007]

Is a 76 key digital piano/keyboard like the one I posted going to be OK for a starter? What would a full-fledge 88-key one offer to me versus the 76 key, other than just more keys? I'm guessing I won't be able to make as many notes?

 

[StageLeft]

Everyone and their inbred brother "plays guitar". Pick the piano. It sounds much better anyway. My favourite music, since you asked, is rock with a heavy emphasis on piano. For a model example see Clocks by Coldplay.