Learning to Play a Musical Instrument
Learning to play a musical instrument is one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. You get so many benefits, to your sense of well being as well as the social connection you can enjoy by playing music with other people or just playing for your friends and family. The focus and discipline you acquire by practicing regularly will have knock-on benefits into other areas of your life, and you will also get a tremendous sense of satisfaction every time you learn a new song, skill, or piece of music. Once you have learnt to play a piece, you can come back to it any time you like and get a boost by playing it, even if you prefer to play on your own at home.
There are many different instruments to learn, and they all have different plus points depending on what kind of music you like. Keyboards are intuitive to play, and they fit with nearly any kind of music, plus modern keyboards can be compact and played with headphones, so that’s a great option to consider. Drums are also featured in most kinds of music, but you need a good domestic situation to be able to practice at home.
Stringed instruments are very popular for a variety of reasons. They are compact, you can take them out with you for picnics and performances, and they don’t take up much space in your apartment. Guitar is the most popular of course, but it has six strings which can be a handful. Violin is a great choice if you want to play traditional folk music, but that will take a lot of dedication to get the bowing right.
Banjo is a great choice for a beginner because it has fewer strings and you can play songs using only a few fingers of each hand. Some banjos are even tuned to a chord, so unlike the guitar, you can play a chord very easily. The banjo is used in traditional American music and also Bluegrass. One of the best things about this type of music is the strong tradition of joining in and playing with other musicians. Many larger towns and cities have regular public jam sessions where experienced and not so experienced musicians can play together. If you are enthusiastic and polite, you will be welcomed into these kind of public sessions once you have learnt the basics.v
Learning to play a banjo doesn’t have to be complicated. You can play a lot of songs with just a few simple techniques. The are some great websites specialising in banjo for beginners which will get you off to a flying start. You can even learn your first few songs for free and start getting those important basic skills down. With just a few fingering positions and pick strokes you can play a song you, and your friends, will recognize. And after just a few months regular practice you can start to sound like a real banjo player!
