No musical talent, should I learn guitar, bass, drums, or keyboard?

Question

I am 19 years old, and the only musical experience I ever had was messing around with keyboards while growing up. I could match tunes from video games on the keyboard based off of jst my memory and my ear for the sound. I never once took lessons for anything, had a class in band during school, or anything else like that. The thing I liked about the keyboard is that I could play songs I knew without actually needing to read music, and it was always tuned. Plus, all the options to change what it sounds like, from organs to guitars to sci-fi sounds.

But, I want to take lessons. Preferably, I'd like to start with something easy. I don't think I'm very coordinated (yet), and I don't know if I have any real potential, but I'd really like to be able to play either guitar, bass, drums, or the keyboard as a new hobby.

I heard bass is easier than guitar because it's only 4 strings instead of 6. Drums...I can create a cool beat with just my hands, but with sticks, not so much. Which one?

Answer 1

It's really up to you, Man. Each one is going to take a lot of practice and hard work to get any good with. The keyboard is basically a piano, and most people that get into music first take piano lessons. Some call it the mother of all instruments, because it can play any note, and once you know piano, it's easy to get acquainted with other instruments.

Drums require stamina, and you have to train both your hands and your feet to do different things at the same time, so if you're not coordinated, it could be painstaking.

Bass isn't necessarily easy, depending on what type of music you'd be playing on it. If it's something more basic that doesn't involve fast finger movement and chord transitions, then yes, I suppose it is easier than guitar. But the two are basically one in the same. If you learn guitar, it's pretty easy to get acquainted with bass.

But, the bottom line is that each one will take time, dedicated practice, and hard work to really learn. I'd say, listen to your favorite music, and see which sound you like the best. If you think the guitar sounds the coolest, why not try to learn that? Or if you like the bass lines, try that first, and so on. Everybody's different, so it's hard to determine what's easier to play. Just give it a whirl.

Answer 2

It's really up to you! I am a singer/songwriter who dabbles a bit in everything. I started with a keyboard growing up, and always loved fooling aroung with my Dad's hamonica, jew's harp, and guitar, as well as my mother's bongos. I didn't know how interested I really was until I learned how to play the Viola. I LOVED that! Then, I realized I had interest in the drums... the guy who played drums for the jazz band let me play around on his, and taught me a couple of little things. I never actually played a guitar untill 1999, when I was avidly writing songs with a song writing partner of mine. I was given a guitar by a good friend, and bought my second guitar in 2003. Bass, I tried an upright bass back in my orchestra days. After learning to play one four stringed instrument, it wasn't very hard to understand another. Electric Bass, I tried just this year for the first time. It was so easy, and I haven't picked up a 4 stringed instrument since 1988! I learned how to play drums from various drummers between 1989 and today. I played various hand drums/latin percussion starting around 1990, got my own hand drum in 1991, and last year bought my first set of Congas.

So, if you're wanting to know what is actually easiest, and hand drum is good to start with, and I see you've already done that. Playing with stick is a whole different animal. I can play a drum set, but it's hard to learn all the fills & stuff even after the REALLY hard time trying to train each of my four limbs to play totally different rhythms! Bass is actually really easy to understand, and as well, it's easy to read the sheet music for. I have to tell you... the hardest thing to find, when you're trying to put together a band is a really good Bass player! If you learn that instrument, and you can at least sing some kind of harmonies, lead vocals, or back ground vocals, you'll have it made!

Here's the other side of it all... guitar, or piano... guitar is the hardest to play of the two. I did learn piano first, but still, remembering chords, and all the things that go along with the guitar is hard. If you think you might want to write songs in the future, either instrument would suffice. If you want to feel like the main event musically, these are the two to choose from. Apparetly, you already have your foot in the door on the keys, so that may be your direction to seek.

It all really depends on what you feel you latch onto when you hear music! Do you love Bass lines? Do you love the rhythms that make you dance? Do you love the guitar solos? Do you love the keys, or piano parts? Figure out what you really LOVE in a good song, and then go from there. If you find what really gets you going, it will keep you going while you're learning!

Answer 3

Hi there,
I am a little biased because I run a guitarist website, but I can thoroughly recommend you start to get into the guitar right now. I went through the same stage as you when I was 21, so I know what you're going through.

My reasons for getting into guitar are: It's tough, you're going to work for your music ability much harder but once you get there you will be able to transfer your new knowledge to other instruments like the keyboard, in fact switching to the bass is really easy from the guitar.

I would also recommend going for the acoustic guitar to start with, they're relatively cheap and they're portable! that's a huge plus when you're starting out, because invariably you're not going to sound so crash hot, so staying away from loved ones is a good idea! Trust me!

From acoustic the move to electric is really easy, but you would've built up a good musical discipline from the acoustic so you don't get too sloppy when you jump on the electric (the strings are so easy to press down on after a steel electric).

If you want some beginner lessons, advice, tips or news, checkout http://www.instantguitarist.com and http://www.instanguitarist.com/blog/

I would also recommend getting a guitar instructor (you mentioned getting a tutor), but take your time choosing one and make sure you ask what kind of music they're into so you gel.

Take care,

hope this helps you on your musical journey!

Answer 4

Go for the bass, you are correct about being easier.
Next would be guitar and then keyboard. If you are not coordinated drums are not for you ,yet.
It takes a deep desire to learn these .Reading the music and
being able to apply it is hard at first but the rewards are great .
My favorite is the key board but you really have to know how to read your music and I put this on the bottom because it might be harder to teach you ,because you have set it up in your head already .Try learning them all .read that music !
Good Luck .!

Answer 5

The piano(keyboard) is the mother of all instruments-that is every note you can play on other instruments can be found within the eighty-eight keys of the piano.
The bass is responsible for the melodic bottom-if you think bass is easy, you don't listen to jazz!
Drums require concentration, coordination and stamina as you are the timekeeper. (I know a duo of piano and bass that can't find a drummer to keep up with them)
Instructional books for guitar are full of chords that make your hands cramp.
What all the above amounts to is this-To play ANY instrument well requires dedication and practice. As the old joke says-- Question---How do I get to Carnegie Hall?
Answer ----Practice!

Answer 6

I say go with keyboards because once you learn how to read music using that you can go on to other instruments like I did. Now I can play the piano(got lessons), bass guitar(taught myself) and trumpet(school lessons). It is cool to say that I have good musical talents. I did the same thing as you by the way, where you used to match like tv commercials, songs and stuff like that. I am not 19 tho so I don't know if i can start on another instrument. I think I am gona stop playing the trumpet cuz my band teacher sucks! Well good luck.

Answer 7

Do the drums since you don't have any musical talent. Since you said you can create a cool beat with your hands you may more luck in this area. Plus what's a band without a drummer? Second choice would be a guitar. My neice is a kid with no previous talent in music, and she's taking guitar lessons and loves it. If you do, I'll bet $5.00 one of your first tunes will be "Stairway to Heaven".

Answer 8

it sounds to me you have an ear for music but if you can dance and follow tha beat then try drums i did and never regreted it i akso tryed bass faiked that i'm just not a guitar player but i was good on drums and back up vocal for 10 years best time i ever had

Answer 9

I know that the keyboard/piano is great for music beginners because it is basic and easier to learn.

Once you get the gist of it, keep learning then you can learn any other instrument you want after it with a solid knowledge in at least one instrument.

Most guitarists I know were grateful of their childhood forced piano lessons. Its better that you want to play it.

Good luck learning.

Answer 10

You're a natural. Keep up with the keyboards. Eventually you will become good at it. Then you will need music lessons in order to maximize your natural gifts. Then, Guitar!