Deciding on a musical instrument...

[Rudee]

The electric guitar has gotten more geeks laid then any other instrument. If you get good enough that people pay to hear you play, you basically will have your pick of the litter.

 

[amoeba]

It will take a while before you can play Moonlight Sonata all 3 movements on the piano. I say 5 years minimum if you are starting at this age.

you might be able to do first movement of moonlight in 2 and a half years as thats its the least technical.

 

[everman]

The piano is great, you'll definitly learn a lot about theory which can apply to everything else. I think it really depends on how serious you are though.
Personally I don't really like unweighted keyboards, although the real thing can be very heavy. Years ago I got a nice upright grand in nice condition, about 85 years old, and sounds great, weighs a ton

 

[FoBoT]

oboe

 

[Platypus]

I guess a better question is.. what are you looking to gain out of it?

If you want to be able to pick something up and learn pretty quickly then perhaps piano isn't for you. Piano takes an insane amount of dedication and practice. Hours of playing the same little riff over and over, finger techniques, etc. If you have the patience to do it and want to better yourself as a musician for the future then it's definetly the way to go. I just don't want to see you think you can sit down and crank out those kinds of pieces right away like you might be able to do on guitar. A lot of this depends on your natural talent as well.. I have an ear for music, I understand it and it comes naturally to me. You can always teach someone to play it, but you cannot teach them how to 'feel' it if that makes any sense.

 

[Baked]

You'll be popular among guys by learning the flute.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: Baked
You'll be popular among guys by learning the flute.

It'll bring all the boys to the yard :Q

 

[Phoenix15]

Originally posted by: rdubbz420
drums

Nice.

I have a Yamaha Maple custom myself. I've played professionally since I was 16. I've put it aside mostlyfor the last few years, but nothing compares to making music. Some of the best times in my life have been the time spent on the road, touring and just being enveloped in music. If someone can host it I'll put up a mp3 from my latest band.

 

[Phoenix15]

Originally posted by: jamesbond007

Originally posted by: Skoorb
For a model example see Clocks by Coldplay.

This song is beautiful! I heard it a while back when it came out and it's sooooo good. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

I definitely know I want a piano now. I guess the guitars and other instruments just cannot compare when my heart is the one making the decision. Did I mention I'm pretty passionate about music? How about Rocket Man by Elton John? AWESOME!!!

Originally posted by: rdubbz420
drums

WOW! Nice drums! I bet they cost more than $350 though! I was looking at some last night and they seem to be a ways out of my price range. With the versatility I'll have with an electronic keyboard, I'm not saying I can replace drums completely, but I can recreate similar effects. My uncle used his drum machine to replace his drummer when he quit a while back before he got a new guy for his gig.

I always joke that the drummer gets screwed all the way around. Most expensive equipment, the HEAVIEST and he gets put in the back.

 

[huesmann]

Skin flute.

 

[imported_Ziggy]

Dude - pick the piano.

My recording of the Prokofiev 1st piano concerto here

 

[Horus]

Trumpet. Not only can you learn some classic jazz/swing, but your lips/tongue get very strong. TRUST ME, your girlfriend will love you.

 

[PianoGirl]

Prepare to do a lot of practicing. I teach piano lessons and I've taught a few adults. Most of them get frustrated and quit early on because they aren't progressing as fast as they would like. Are you going to take lessons or are you going to try by yourself? Lessons aren't cheap. The average rate here is $50-$60 a month, not including books. If you have the dedication and practice EVERY day you can do it, but it takes most people several years before they can play pieces like Moonlight Sonata.

As for a piano or keyboard: 76 keys will be fine for awhile. Not having weighted keys is a real disadvantage. But I wouldn't recommend buying a piano until you play for awhile and see if it is something you are really going to stick with.

Good luck!

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: PianoGirl
Prepare to do a lot of practicing. I teach piano lessons and I've taught a few adults. Most of them get frustrated and quit early on because they aren't progressing as fast as they would like. Are you going to take lessons or are you going to try by yourself? Lessons aren't cheap. The average rate here is $50-$60 a month, not including books. If you have the dedication and practice EVERY day you can do it, but it takes most people several years before they can play pieces like Moonlight Sonata.

As for a piano or keyboard: 76 keys will be fine for awhile. Not having weighted keys is a real disadvantage. But I wouldn't recommend buying a piano until you play for awhile and see if it is something you are really going to stick with.

Good luck!

How many lessons per week is that at $50-60?
Did you take any teaching courses before you started doing lessons?

 

[mordantmonkey]

Originally posted by: Horus
Trumpet. Not only can you learn some classic jazz/swing, but your lips/tongue get very strong. TRUST ME, your girlfriend will love you.

true, i am a trumpet player.

if you're going to play guitar, play acoustic. if you can play acoustic then you will be able to smoke the electric. Acoustic will build up finger strength/endurance much better so that you can rip on an electric when you get good.
plus acoustic is much more romantic.

 

[mooncancook]

Acoustic guitar because it is more portable than others. Then when you save enough add an electric guitar and/or bass. Besides i think guitar is more masculine than piano. Once you get into guitar and bass you would want to know about drums too coz they work so well together.

 

[imported_Ziggy]

pwnd

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Ziggy
pwnd

?

 

[PianoGirl]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: PianoGirl
Prepare to do a lot of practicing. I teach piano lessons and I've taught a few adults. Most of them get frustrated and quit early on because they aren't progressing as fast as they would like. Are you going to take lessons or are you going to try by yourself? Lessons aren't cheap. The average rate here is $50-$60 a month, not including books. If you have the dedication and practice EVERY day you can do it, but it takes most people several years before they can play pieces like Moonlight Sonata.

As for a piano or keyboard: 76 keys will be fine for awhile. Not having weighted keys is a real disadvantage. But I wouldn't recommend buying a piano until you play for awhile and see if it is something you are really going to stick with.

Good luck!

How many lessons per week is that at $50-60?
Did you take any teaching courses before you started doing lessons?

That's one 30 minute lesson once a week. So for around $55 a month you get four 30 minute lessons.
I took piano lessons starting at age 8 all the way up through college. I have a bachelor of music degree with a concentration in piano performance.