How to Start Playing an Instrument

Time and time again, the question comes up from all musicians, all teachers hear this question and it's something that anyone starting with a musical endeavour will ask. That question is "How do I start playing XXXXXX?".

The truth is, you know, and I know, that practise is the very cornerstone of everything you are looking to build. If you want a career in music then you need to have a skill that will propel you to that level you are aiming for. When you have decided on your instrument the hard work begins. The world of music and learning an instrument is vast. It's full of potential pitfalls and dead ends, lots of misinformation and lots of correct information. Is  there a right or a wrong way to learn? What options do we have? Let's look at some common paths that people take when starting to play an instrument.

Teach Yourself

In 2019, the internet rules the world. There is an endless supply of websites you can visit with tutorials and lessons ranging from free to full paid services. The advantages to working in this way is that you have the freedom of time on your side. You have no time constraints and you can learn at your own pace whenever you're ready. When being a self taught musician, discipline is very important. You have to be strict with yourself and give yourself a set practise plan that you'll stick to. Many people fall into the pitfall of not working as hard as they could when teaching themselves because there is no teacher or authority figure to answer to when you've not put the work in.

Find a Good Local Teacher

Your area is probably full of fantastic teachers offering guitar lessons, piano lessons, bass lessons, singing lessons and everything else in between. Get in touch with them and see what they can do for you. A good teacher will not only give you the fundamentals to get started, they will help you plan how to practise and how to get the most out of the time you do spend practising. They will also be there as a leaning post for as long as you need them. Many people starting out on their musical journey keep their teachers around for a long time and the teacher will help them grow into the musician they need to be.

Learn From Friends

You may have friends who play instruments already and they might be willing to share some pearls of wisdom with you. This is a great way to learn a few basics and get some cool pointers but realistically a friend isn't going to be able to commit to giving you full time, on demand guitar lessons. If you have friends that play instruments, you should use their knowledge to top up on things that your teacher tells you or information that you teach yourself. The real benefit to having friends who play, and in my opinion one of the most valuable skills to learn, is being able to play music with them. If you have a friend who plays anything else, especially drums, you can learn some songs together and you will experience what it's like to listen to other musicians as you play. The first time you play with a drummer will be one of the most important music lessons you ever take.