Learning a second instrument

[wcap]

Originally Posted by fazool

I will say, the mandolin intrigues me. I love the paired and octave doublet strings. .....

I'm confused. The two strings in a pair of strings on a mandolin are normally tuned to the same pitch (not an octave apart).

Originally Posted by fazool

The problem I have is that there are relatively few songs for the mandolin.

I'm not sure what you mean. You can play lots and lots of different things on mandolin. Or are you are talking about using mandolin to accompany singing?

[wcap]

Regarding playing multiple instruments: Though spreading your time among different instruments might slow your progress on any given one of them, you won't be slowed as much as you might think. Each instrument (especially if you are playing all stringed instruments) will help you to develop skills, approaches, and musical ideas that you can transfer to the others. And if they are all stringed instruments you will be working on some of the exact same skills on all of them. I'm a much better guitar player today because I played some mandolin, and a LOT of 5-string banjo for several decades prior to getting serious about guitar.

[gardens_guitar]

Originally Posted by gardens_guitar

Sitting in its case on the floor next to the piano is my younger brother's 40 year old student trumpet. .. It must be getting lonely or jealous because lately it has been calling me whenever I sit a the piano to practice scales or play guitar. So far, with my plate full, I have resisted its siren calls.

I broke down and opened up the trumpet case. It was sad. The instrument needed help, a lot of help. I took to a professional repair shop. Unfortunately, it was too far gone. I had to have it put down.

So it is back to the guitar, piano, harmonicas and hopefully a uke.

[clintj]

I dabble a bit with a concert size uke from time to time, but don't enjoy it as much as guitar. I have played drums for several years though, and got a lot of experience in timekeeping and rhythm from it. Picking up guitar has improved my drumming in the band as well. I find myself anticipating what our guitarist is up to and recognize the transitions from verse to chorus to bridge very well now, much better than I did a couple of years ago. Both instruments have taught me a lot about simplicity in playing, and selecting an approach that will best serve the song.

[slewis]

It's all music, in my book. Go forth!

[Roselynne]

I picked up ukulele right after I re-started on guitar. To my shock, playing one instrument does help with the other. (But I need to play more ukulele!)

I love many music styles and instruments, but guitar and ukulele are the only 2 instruments that ever called me to play, and they've been calling since I was little. Not into keyboard at all ... nope. Not in the slightest.

That said ... my husband talked about re-starting guitar, himself, but it turned out he was far more interested in keyboard. Cool! He picked one up. Gotta say, it doesn't get used much. Hmmmmm ...

[Blueser100]

I also play uke and just this week took up the bongos.

[DJ in FL]

Poor, pitiful me...I am still stuck on trying to learn ONE...

[neomastino]

I play both guitar and uke. While i love the guitar, the uke really has my heart. I just finished learning me and julio down by the school yard as taught by aldrine guerro on ukuleleunderground.com . it's a blast as it has strumming and fingerstyle mixed.

when i switch back to my steel string or my classical it only takes a few minutes for my brain and fingers to make the switch.